Learning-Guided Force-Feedback Model Predictive Control with Obstacle Avoidance for Robotic Deburring

arXiv cs.RO / 4/8/2026

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Key Points

  • The paper argues that classical torque-controlled MPC is insufficient for contact-rich industrial tasks like robotic deburring because it typically ignores real-time force feedback and has trouble enforcing collision constraints during complex motions.
  • It proposes a learning-guided MPC framework that combines force-feedback MPC with diffusion-based motion priors, using the diffusion model to provide motion “memory” for robust initialization across task instances.
  • MPC in the proposed system explicitly enforces normal force tracking, torque feasibility, and collision avoidance to safely execute circular deburring motions and precise tool insertion.
  • Experiments on a torque-controlled manipulator show reliable tool insertion, accurate normal force regulation, and obstacle-constrained circular motions in hard-to-reach configurations.
  • The authors claim this is the first integration of diffusion motion priors with force-feedback MPC tailored for collision-aware, contact-rich industrial deburring.

Abstract

Model Predictive Control (MPC) is widely used for torque-controlled robots, but classical formulations often neglect real-time force feedback and struggle with contact-rich industrial tasks under collision constraints. Deburring in particular requires precise tool insertion, stable force regulation, and collision-free circular motions in challenging configurations, which exceeds the capability of standard MPC pipelines. We propose a framework that integrates force-feedback MPC with diffusion-based motion priors to address these challenges. The diffusion model serves as a memory of motion strategies, providing robust initialization and adaptation across multiple task instances, while MPC ensures safe execution with explicit force tracking, torque feasibility, and collision avoidance. We validate our approach on a torque-controlled manipulator performing industrial deburring tasks. Experiments demonstrate reliable tool insertion, accurate normal force tracking, and circular deburring motions even in hard-to-reach configurations and under obstacle constraints. To our knowledge, this is the first integration of diffusion motion priors with force-feedback MPC for collision-aware, contact-rich industrial tasks.