A method for trajectory control in the joint space is presented. An acceleration profile is proposed for each segment of the trajectory. After a twofold integration a position trajectory is obtained with advantageous characteristics. The position trajectory is completely dynamically balanced; it exhibits continuity up to the third derivative of the position. This way, minimum requirements are imposed on the actuators. The technique delivers predictable results since the trajectory deviates only slightly from a straight line connection between successive joint coordinates. Very limited computational effort is required.

One way to increase the flexibility (or versatility) of manipulators is to use links with time varying inertia. One can then control both the joint torques and the inertias of the links therefore more pliancy in the practical utilisation of the arm. The paper deals with the Lagrangian formulation of the corresponding inertia control problem which can be considered either in open loop or in closed loop form. The general equations are derived and it is shown that one so obtains a set of uncoupled Ricatti differential equations which define the dynamics of the structural inertias. Problems related to stabilization and to structural parameter uncertainty are also considered.

This paper presents a complete derivation of the combined flexural-joint stiffness matrix and the elastic deformation field of flexible manipulator arms treated in a three-dimensional fashion. The stiffness properties are derived directly from the differential equations used in the engineering beam theory. The expressions developed here can readily be used in the modeling, control and design of light weight flexible robot manipulators. A two-link arm is used to formulate these expressions and the results can be generalized to n–link manipulators. The stiffness matrix for a robotic link element in 3-D is of the order of 12 X 12, and for an n–link robotic arm the total elemental and system stiffness matrices will be of the order of the (12n X 12n) and 6(n + 1) X 6(n + 1), respectively.

This paper presents a method for automatic forming and solving dynamic equations of motion of manipulator with elastic joints and rigid segments. For the minimal configuration of a cylindrical manipulator the numerical integration of these equations is performed, and vibrations in the joints are obtained as dynamic errors with respect to the prescribed trajectory.

Considering the fact that Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS) should be able to accommodate a variety of different parts in random order, tool management at cell level and tool transportation, tool data management, tooling data collection, tool maintenance, and manual and/or robotized tool assembly at FMS system level are very important. Tooling information in FMS is used by several subsystems, including: production planning, process control, dynamic scheduling, part programming, tool preset and maintenance, robotized and/or manual tool assembly, stock control and materials storage.

The paper summarizes the major tasks to be solved when designing tool management systems for FMS, as well as gives a solution for describing the data structure of a tool data base integrated with a generic tool description method, and shows a sample transaction of the way the FMS real-time control system can access and use this data base.

This is a preliminary study to provide useful information for the design of the control of a monocycle which is one of the intelligent movable robots. In this paper, the two-degree-of-freedom monocycle is modeled by an inverted pendulum with a controlling arm pivoted at its upper end. The controlling arm is rotated to give the pendulum restoring moment.

The feedback control systems for the model have been designed using two methods – the pole assignment and the optimal control, respectively. Simulations of the control systems designed with the above methods are carried out on a personal computer. Although the pendulum can be stabilized with either of these methods, it is found that the optimal control method is superior to the pole assignment one, because in the former the control system can be designed to be suitably corresponding to the design demands based on a definite criterion.

A high-level robot programming language constitutes a general purpose interface for accessing the basic functional capabilities of a robot. On the other hand, CAD facilities give the possibility of using a subset of these capabilities in an easier fashion. In this paper, we show how a robot programming language and CAD facilities can be combined to obtain a robot programming system satisfying the need for generality, and allowing an easy connection with the basic robot programming functions. Such a connection is based on a “complete” simulator providing facilities for executing robot control programs on a graphic display, for describing manipulation tasks using interactive graphic tools, for simulating the physical world and its perception through sensors, and for displaying three-dimensional scenes as shaded pictures.