A study of neural network based inverse kinematics solution for a three-joint robot

A neural network based inverse kinematics solution of a robotic manipulator is presented in this paper. Inverse kinematics problem is generally more complex for robotic manipulators. Many traditional solutions such as geometric, iterative and algebraic are inadequate if the joint structure of the manipulator is more complex. In this study, a three-joint robotic manipulator simulation software, developed in our previous studies, is used. Firstly, we have generated many initial and final points in the work volume of the robotic manipulator by using cubic trajectory planning. Then, all of the angles according to the real-world coordinates (x, y, z) are recorded in a file named as training set of neural network. Lastly, we have used a designed neural network to solve the inverse kinematics problem. The designed neural network has given the correct angles according to the given (x, y, z) cartesian coordinates. The online working feature of neural network makes it very successful and popular in this solution.     

Singularity robust path planning for real time base attitude adjustment of free-floating space robot

This paper presents a singularity robust path planning for space manipulator to achieve base (satellite) attitude adjustment and end-effector task. The base attitude adjustment by the movement of manipulator will save propellant compared with conventional attitude control system. A task-priority reaction null-space control method is applied to achieve the primary task of adjusting attitude and secondary task of accomplishing end-effector task. Furthermore, the algorithm singularity is eliminated in the proposed algorithm compared with conventional reaction null-space algorithm. And the singular value filtering decomposition is introduced to dispose the dynamic singularity, the unit quaternion is also introduced to overcome representation singularity. Hence, a singularity robust path planning algorithm of space robot for base attitude adjustment is derived. A real time simulation system of the space robot under Linux/RTAI (realtime application interface) is developed to verify and test the feasibility and reliability of the method. The experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of online base attitude adjustment of space robot by the proposed algorithm.     

Classification of kinematic singularities in planar robot manipulators

In [13, 14] we have proclaimed a singularity theory based programme of investigations of kinematic singularities in robot manipulators. The main achievement of the programme consists in providing local candidate models of kinematic singularities. However, due to the specific form of the manipulator kinematics, fitting the candidate models into the prescribed robot kinematics is a fairly open problem. The problem is easily solvable only around non-singular configurations of manipulators, where locally the kinematics can be modelled by linear injections or projections. In this paper we are concerned with planar manipulator kinematics, and prove that, under a mild geometric condition, such kinematics can be transformed around singular configurations to simple quadratic models of the Morse type. The models provide a complete local classification of generic planar kinematics of robot manipulators.     

OPTIMAL MECHANISM DESIGN AND DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF A 3‐LEG 6‐DOF LINEAR MOTOR BASED PARALLEL MANIPULATOR

This paper presents the optimal mechanism design and dynamic analysis of a prototype 3‐leg 6‐DOF (degree‐of‐freedom) parallel manipulator. Inverse kinematics, forward kinematics, inverse dynamics and working space characterizing the platform motion are derived. In the presented architecture, the base platform has three linear slideways individually actuated by a synchronous linear servo motor, and each extensible vertical link connecting the upper and base platforms is actuated by an inductive AC servo motor. The linear motors contribute high‐speed movements to the upper platform. This kind of architecture using hybrid (linear and AC) motors yields high level performance of motions, especially in the working space. The novel result of maximal working angles is the significant contribution of this architecture. The Taguchi Experimental Method is applied to design the optimal mechanism of the platform system, and the result is used as the actual data to build this system.     

Neural networks and the inverse kinematics problem

Inverse kinematics is a fundamental problem in robotics. Past solutions for this problem have been realized through the use of various algebraic or algorithmic procedures. In this paper the use of feedforward neural networks to solve the inverse kinematics problem is examined for three different cases. A closed kinematic linkage is used for mapping input joint angles to output joint angles. A three-degree-of-freedom manipulator in 3D space is used to test mappings from both cartesian and spherical coordinates to manipulator joint coordinates. A majority of the results have average errors which fall below 1% of the robot workspace. The accuracy indicates that neural networks are an alternate method for performing the inverse kinematics estimation, thus introducing the fault-tolerant and high-speed advantages of neural networks to the inverse kinematics problem.This paper also shows the use of a new technique which reduces neural network mapping errors with the use of error compensation networks. The results of the work are put in perspective with a survey of current applications of neural networks in robotics.     

Kinematics,dynamics and dimensional synthesis of a novel 2-DoF translational manipulator

In the past few years, parallel manipulators have become increasingly popular in industry, especially, in the field of machine tools. In this paper, a novel 2-degree-of-freedom (DoF) parallel manipulator, which has two translational DoFs, is proposed. It is characterized by the fact that the output of the manipulator is two planar DoFs of a rigid body, while its orientation remains constant. The inverse and forward kinematics can be described in closed form. The velocity equation, singularity, and workspace of the manipulator are presented. In addition the inverse dynamics problem of the device is investigated employing the Lagrange multipliers approach. The dimensional synthesis based on the workspace and conditioning indices is presented. The proposed manipulator can be applied to the field of machine tools or used as the mobile base for a spatial manipulator. The results of the paper are very useful for the design and application of the new manipulator.     

An analysis of the inverse kinematics for a 5-DOF manipulator

This paper proposes an analytical solution for a 5-DOF manipulator to follow a given trajectory while keeping the orientation of one axis in the end-effector frame. The forward kinematics and inverse kinematics for a 5-DOF manipulator are analyzed systemically. The singular problem is discussed after the forward kinematics is provided. For any given reachable position and orientation of the end-effector, the derived inverse kinematics will provide an accurate solution. In other words, there exists no singular problem for the 5-DOF manipulator, which has wide application areas such as welding, spraying, and painting. Experiment results verify the effectiveness of the methods developed in this paper.     

基于解析法和遗传算法的机械手运动学逆解

研究优化机械手轨迹规划问题,机械手运动时要具有稳定性避障性能。针对平面3自由度冗余机械手优化控制问题,建立机械手的结构模型。提出用解析法和遗传算法相结合满足具有计算量小和适应性强的特点。在给定机械手末端执行器的运动轨迹,按着机械手冗余自由度,运动轨迹上每个点对应的关节角有无穷多个解。而通过算法可以找到一组最优的关节角,可得到优化机械手运动过程中柔顺性和避障点。仿真结果表明,该算法可以快速收敛到全局最优解,可用于计算冗余机械手运动学逆解,并可实现机器人的轨迹规划和避障优化控制。     

Task-directed inverse kinematics for redundant manipulators

This paper presents kinematic algorithms for resolved-rate based inverse kinematics of redundant manipulators. Efficient and robust Jacobian and weighted damped least squares algorithms are given which provide a method that allows full utilization of the redundancy to best achieve task requirements. A nominal set of task space variables is suggested and procedures for modifying this specification or their relative priorities due to changing task requirements or events are discussed. Examples are shown using a simulation of the seven degree-of-freeom Robotics Research manipulator. These simulations demonstrate the singularity robustness of the algorithms and the ability to smoothly transition between task parameterizations and relative priorities.     

一种仿人机械臂的运动学逆解的几何求解方法

运用几何方法求解一种具有7个旋转自由度的仿人机械臂的运动学逆解,并运用特定的寻优指标,搜索与指定末端位姿对应的关节角空间最优解.这种解法没有理论误差并且解算速度足够快,有利于在线实时控制机械臂的运动.     

Geometrical approach of planar hyper-redundant manipulators: Inverse kinematics,path planning and workspace

A new method for inverse kinematics for hyper-redundant manipulators is proposed in this paper to plan the path of the end-effector. The basic idea is that for a given smooth path consisting of points close enough to each other; computing the inverse kinematics for these points is carried out geometrically using the proposed method. In this method, the angles between the adjacent links are set to be the same, which makes lining up of two or more joint axes impossible; therefore, avoiding singularities. The manipulability index has been used to show how far the manipulator from the singularity configuration is. The determination of the workspace of the manipulator using the proposed method has been presented in this paper. The simulation results have been carried out on a planar and a three dimensional manipulators. The effectiveness of the proposed method is clearly demonstrated by comparing its result with results calculated by the well-known method of measuring manipulability which is used for singularity avoidance for the last two decades.     

Parallel VLSI architectures for real-time kinematics of redundant robots

We describe new architectures for the efficient computation of redundant manipulator kinematics (direct and inverse). By calculating the core of the problem in hardware, we can make full use of the redundancy by implementing more complex self-motion algorithms. A key component of our architecture is the calculation in the VLSI hardware of the Singular Value Decomposition of the manipulator Jacobian. Recent advances in VLSI have allowed the mapping of complex algorithms to hardware using systolic arrays with advanced computer arithmetic algorithms, such as the coordinate rotation (CORDIC) algorithms. We use CORDIC arithmetic in the novel design of our special-purpose VLSI array, which is used in computation of the Direct Kinematics Solution (DKS), the manipulator Jacobian, as well as the Jacobian Pseudoinverse. Application-specific (subtask-dependent) portions of the inverse kinematics are handled in parallel by a DSP processor which interfaces with the custom hardware and the host machine. The architecture and algorithm development is valid for general redundant manipulators and a wide range of processors currently available and under development commercially.     

A New Approach to the Architecture Optimization of a General 3-PUU Translational Parallel Manipulator

This paper presents a new approach to the architecture optimization of a general 3-PUU translational parallel manipulator (TPM) based on the performance of a weighted sum of global dexterity index and a new performance index-space utility ratio (SUR). Both the inverse kinematics and forward kinematics solutions are derived in closed form, and the Jacobian matrix is derived analytically. The manipulator workspace is generated by a numerical searching method with the physical constraints taken into consideration. Simulation results illustrate clearly the necessity to introduce a mixed performance index using space utility ratio for architectural optimization of the manipulator, and the optimization procedure is carried out with the goal of reaching a compromise between the two indices. The analytical results are helpful in designing a general 3-PUU TPM, and the proposed design methodology can also be applied to architectural optimization for other types of parallel manipulators.     

Task decoupling in robot manipulators

Task decoupling in robotic manipulators implies that there is a subset of joints primarily responsible for the completion of a subset of the manipulator task. In this paper, we take a novel and general view of task decoupling in which we identify link subsystems primarily responsible for completion of a subset of the manipulator task components, which is not necessarily position or orientation. Our analysis leads to the discovery of other decoupled manipulator geometries never identified before, wherein the decoupled system is responsible for a subset of degress-of-freedom involving a hybrid combination of both position and orientation. Closed-form inverse kinematic solutions for these manipulator geometries are therefore guaranteed. Task decoupling also implied singularity decoupling wherein singularities of decoupled subsystems are equivalent to the manipulator singularities. The analysis leads to a novel and efficient method for identifying the singularities and solving the inverse kinematics problem of six-axes manipulators with decoupled geometries. The practicality of the concepts introduced is demonstrated through an industrial robot example involving a hybrid position and orientation decoupling.     

Singularity loci of planar parallel manipulators with revolute actuators

The determination of the singularity loci of planar parallel manipulators is addressed in this paper. The inverse kinematics of two kinds of planar parallel manipulators (a two-degree-of-freedom manipulator and a three-degree-of-freedom manipulator) are first computed and their velocity equations are then derived. At the same time, the branches of the manipulators are distinguished by the introduction of a branch index K_i. Using the velocity equations, the singularity analysis of the manipulators is completed and expressions which represent the singularity of the manipulators are obtained. A polynomial form of the singularity loci is also derived. For the first type of singularity of parallel manipulators, the singularity locus is obtained by finding the workspace limits of the manipulators. For the second type of singularity, the loci are obtained through the solution of nonlinear algebraic equations obtained from the velocity analysis. Finally, the graphical representation of the complete singularity loci of the manipulators is illustrated with examples. The algorithm introduced in this paper allows the determination of the singularity loci of planar parallel manipulators with revolute actuators, which has been elusive to previous approaches.     

基于OpenGL的六自由度机械臂三维建模与仿真

针对六自由度机器臂,为了解决运动学分析结果不易验证以及在实体机械臂上演示成本较高的问题,设计了一套六自由度机械臂三维仿真软件.该软件以VS2008为开发平台,基于OpenGL函数库和Qt框架类,采用模块化的方法进行三维模型的创建,具有灵活性大、易于扩展的优点.结果表明,该仿真软件能够良好地仿真出机械臂的运动过程,对机械臂的研究和教学起到了促进作用.     

敏捷卫星SGCMG群姿态机动测试用例设计研究

针对SGCMG群敏捷姿态机动这一新技术,研究一种SGCMG群姿态机动测试用例设计方法。在分析SGCMG运动特性的基础上,建立了SGCMG群卫星姿态动力学模型和SGCMG群力矩输出矩阵,由此开展了SGCMG群操纵律研究及奇异性分析;结合SGCMG群卫星姿态动力学模型、运动学模型和PID控制器设计,搭建了敏捷卫星姿态控制闭环仿真系统,采用不考虑奇异规避的广义操纵律进行闭环仿真,通过遍历搜索的仿真运算,寻找分别经历无奇异、显奇异和隐奇异的典型目标姿态角组合,完成了敏捷卫星SGCMG群奇异规避算法的测试用例设计与验证,实现了对SGCMG群敏捷机动能力与系统指标的全面考核,极大提高了测试用例覆盖的全面性和有效性,具有现实的工程意义。     

基于六维线性插值的六自由度机械臂逆运动学方程求解方法

针对一般结构的六自由度（DOF）机械臂逆运动学方程求解困难的问题,提出六维线性插值理论。首先,从大量的经验数据中搜索7个相邻的非线性相关的节点组成超体;然后,利用这7个节点得到六元一次线性预测函数;最后,使用预测函数进行插值和反插值运算预测位姿和关节角。使用Matlab仿真按照正运动学方程产生100万组经验数据,并对目标位姿进行反向插值,迭代预测6个关节角。实验结果表明,相比径向基网络（RBFN）、六维线性反插值法,所提方法能够更快、更准地逼近目标位姿。所提方法是基于数据的算法,避免了复杂的理论,可以满足机器人日常应用的要求。     

基于符号计算研究一类6-SPS并联机器人运动学正解问题

并联机器人运动学正解问题是一个重要而且难以解决的问题．本文利用符号计算工具,应用Ｄｉａｌｙｔｉｃ消元法,对一类６－ＳＰＳ并联机器人的运动学正解问题进行研究．得到一个变元多项式方程,给出了正解的解析解．在此基础上确定其工作空间,求出其解范围内全部实解．此种方法对于一般６－ＳＰＳ同样适用     

保持基座稳定的双臂空间机器人轨迹规划研究

针对双臂空间机器人在轨执行任务中需要利用平衡臂稳定基座的问题, 提出了两种典型应用需求——基座质心位置稳定、基座姿态和质心位置同时稳定的协调规划方法.首 先,提出了“系统质心等效机械臂”的概念并推导其运动学模型,基于此模型的位置级反解规 划平衡臂的运动轨迹,使基座质心位置稳定在期望位置;其次,根据角动量守恒定律确定反作用飞 轮的运动速度,将飞轮与平衡臂的运动相结合,同时稳定基座姿态和质心位置;最后,建立双臂空间机器人系统的多体动力学模型并开展仿真研究.所提出的方法克服了以往基于微分运动学所无法回避的奇异问题,且不对平衡臂的质量特性和安装位置作特殊规定,仿真结果证明了方法的有效性.