Real-Time Shape Control of Multi-Segment Soft Robotic Arms Using Koopman Operators with Global and Local Observables

Abstract

Multi-segment soft robotic arms can continuously reconfigure their body shapes for safe interaction, but tip control alone is insufficient for constrained-space tasks. Therefore, shape control is a more important task for multi-segment soft arms than tip control, but remains challenging due to the high dimensionality and nonlinear dynamics of continuum deformation. In existing work, shape control accuracy is defined by the error in the global frame (global shape error). For multi-segment soft arms, using only global shape error as the control objective is insufficient, as segment coupling, gravity-induced loading, and inertial effects become more significant. This difficulty increases with the number of segments. In this paper, we present a Koopman-based model predictive control framework that combines global and local observables, enabling real-time shape control on multi-segment soft robotic arms. The framework is evaluated through numerical and physical experiments. Numerical experiments demonstrate the scalability of the proposed controller by achieving shape control on robots with up to 10 independently actuated segments. The physical experiments demonstrate that the controller is capable of (1) real-time shape control of 3- and 5-segment robotic arms with tip speeds up to 0.6 m/s, (2) robust tracking without retraining, including distal payloads up to 400~g and recovery from a 7~N lateral disturbance, and (3) the potential for future inspection applications through a confined-space demonstration. These results demonstrate that the proposed framework enables dynamic, scalable, and accurate real-time shape control on multi-segment soft robotic arms.