Solving Constraint Equations: Appendix A
Solving Constraint Equations: Appendix A
The analysis of planar and spherical 4R linkages, the spatial RSSR, and Bennett’s
linkage all yield a constraint equation between the output angle ψ and the input
angle θ that takes the form
There are two ways to solve this equation the trigonometric solution and the tan-
half-angle technique. √
The trigonometric solution begins by dividing both sides of (A.1) by A2 + B2 .
This allows us to introduce the angle δ such that
A B
cos δ = √ and sin δ = √ . (A.2)
A + B2
2 A + B2
2
Notice that δ = arctan(B/A). The left side of (A.1) takes the form
Because κ and its negative have the same cosine, we have that δ + κ and δ − κ are
both solutions to (A.1). This combines with the definition of δ to yield
B C
ψ = arctan ± arccos √ . (A.5)
A A2 + B2
J.M. McCarthy and G.S. Soh, Geometric Design of Linkages, Interdisciplinary Applied 411
Mathematics 11, DOI 10.1007/978-1-4419-7892-9,
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011
412 A Solving Constraint Equations
The 3RR planar and 3RR spherical platforms can be viewed formed from two 4R
linkages OAB1 C1 and OAB2 C2 driven by the same crank OA. Let θ be the angle
of the input crank OA and let φ be the angle of the coupler at A. The constraint
equations for the two 4R linkages yield
A.2 The Platform Constraint Equations 413
A1 (θ ) cos φ + B1 (θ ) sin φ = C1 (θ ),
A2 (θ ) cos φ + B2 (θ ) sin φ = C2 (θ ). (A.11)
We now present two ways to solve these equations. The first eliminates sin φ and
cos φ linearly, and the second uses the resultant to solve simultaneous biquadratic
equations.
For the first solution let x = cos φ and y = sin φ and solve the resulting linear
equations using Cramer’s rule to obtain
C1 B2 −C2 B1 A2C1 − A1C2
x= and y= . (A.12)
A1 B2 − A2 B1 A1 B2 − A2 B1
In order for these equations to define a solution φ they must satisfy the identity
x2 + y2 = 1. This yields an equation in cos θ and sin θ , given by
Introduce the tan-half-angle parameter x = tan(θ /2) so this equation becomes the
polynomial P(x) = 0. For each root x j of P(x), compute θ j and determine the coef-
ficients Ai j , Bi j , and Ci j of the platform equations (A.11). Solve either one equations
determine φ j .
An alternative approach transforms (A.11) into a pair of biquadratic equations
by introducing the tan-half-angle parameters x = tan(θ /2) and y = tan(ψ/2). This
yields the equations
D1 y2 + E1 y + F1 = 0,
D2 y2 + E2 y + F2 = 0, (A.14)
where
This equation can be solved for the vector (y3 , y2 , y, 1)T only if the coefficient ma-
trix [M] has determinant zero. Expand this determinant to obtain an eighth-degree
polynomial P(x) in the parameter x. The roots of this polynomial define x j for which
(A.16) can be solved to determine y j .
Appendix B
Graphical Constructions
The following constructions use a straightedge to draw lines and a compass to con-
struct circles and measure distances. They are useful in the graphical synthesis of
planar RR chains.
Given two points P1 and P2 , we construct the perpendicular bisector L of the seg-
ment P1 P2 , Figure B.1, as follows:
1. Construct circles C1 and C2 centered on P1 and P2 with radii equal to or greater
than one-half the length of P1 P2 .
2. C1 and C2 intersect in two points. Join these points to form the perpendicular
bisector L.
C2
P2
P1
C1
415
416 B Graphical Constructions
Given the triangle 4P1 P2 P3 , the center C of the circle that circumscribes this trian-
gle, Figure B.2, is given by the construction:
1. Construct the perpendicular bisectors L1 and L2 to the segments P1 P2 and P2 P3 .
2. The intersection of the lines L1 and L2 defines the center C of the circle through
the three points.
L2
P3 P2
L1
P1
C
Consider two lines L1 and L2 that intersect in an angle α at the point P. The line
M2 that makes the same angle with another line M1 about a point Q, Figure B.3, is
constructed as follows:
1. Draw a circle CP such that it intersects L1 and L2 in points S and T .
2. Construct a circle CQ with the same radius about Q and denote by U one of the
intersections with M1 .
3. Measure the distance ST and construct the circle with this radius about U. Its
intersection with CQ is a point V . Join Q to V to define the line M2 . The circles
intersect in two points, so choose the one that provides the same orientation for
M2 as L2 relative to L1 .
B.4 Reflection of a Point Through a Line 417
L1
L2 CP
S
α
CQ T
U
P
Q
α M1
V
M2
Fig. B.3 Duplication of the angle α about the point P from the line M1 to determine the line M2 .
CR CS
R
Q* Q
In order to find the reflection of the point Q through the line L, Figure B.4, we use
the construction:
1. Select two points R and S on L and construct the circles CR and CS with radii RQ
and SQ, respectively.
2. The circles CR and CS intersect in two points. One is Q and the other is its reflec-
tion Q∗ .
Appendix C
Spherical Trigonometry
Consider the spherical triangle 4S1 S2 S3 , where the axes are labeled in a counter-
clockwise sense around the triangle, see Figure C.1. Associated with the side Si S j
we can define the normal vector Ni j = Si × S j /|Si × S j |. The angular dimension αi j
of this side is defined by the equations
cos αi j = Si · S j . (C.1)
Thus, we can compute the three angles α12 , α23 , and α31 , which we consider to have
a positive magnitude between 0 and π, thus αi j = α ji . The sense of the angles αi j
will be determined as needed relative to the normal vector Ni j .
N12
3 S3
α31
α23
x
z
2
S1 F1
1 S2
α12
Fig. C.1 The frame F1 has its x-axis along N12 and its z-axis along S1 .
Nki × Ni j · Si Sk × Si · S j
tan φi = = . (C.2)
Nki · Ni j (Sk × Si ) · (Si × S j )
419
420 C Spherical Trigonometry
The indices (i, j, k) in this equation are any one of the three cyclic permutations
(1, 2, 3), (2, 3, 1), or (3, 1, 2).
In the following derivations, we distinguish the F-frame equations from the B-
frame. These are simply two different ways to formulate the same equations. We
will label as Fi the frame that has its z-axis along the vertex Si and the normal vector
Ni j as its x-axis. The frame Bi will also have Si as its z-axis, but its x-axis will now
be the normal vector Nki .
Our goal is to obtain trigonometric identities for the triangle 4S1 S2 S3 . We begin
with the frame F1 , aligned with the side S1 S2 , so the z-axis is along S1 and N12 is
the x-axis. In this frame, we can determine two equations for the coordinates of S3
in terms of the dimensions of the triangle. The first is defined by the sequence of
rotations
1
S3 = [Z(π − φ1 )][X(α31 )]~k, (C.3)
where π − φ1 is the interior angle at S1 , and α31 = α13 is the angular length of the
side S1 S3 . Recall that ~k = (0, 0, 1)T . The superscript preceding S3 denotes the coor-
dinate frame F1 in which we are computing these coordinates. The second equation
is given by
1
S3 = [X(α12 )][Z(φ2 )][X(α23 )]~k. (C.4)
Expand these equations to obtain
sin α31 sin φ1 sin α23 sin φ2
1
S3 = sin α31 cos φ1 = −(sin α12 cos α23 + cos α12 sin α23 cos φ2 ) . (C.5)
cos α31 cos α12 cos α23 − sin α12 sin α23 cos φ2
The three identities obtained by equating the components of these two vectors are
known, respectively, as the sine law, the sine–cosine law, and the cosine law of the
spherical triangle.
A different set of relations for this triangle can be obtained by introducing the
coordinate frame F2 with its z-axis along S2 and its x-axis directed along N23 . We
now consider the two definitions of S1 in this frame. The first is the sequence of
rotations
2
S1 = [Z(π − φ2 )][X(α12 )]~k. (C.6)
The second way to determine S1 in F2 is given by
2
S1 = [X(α23 )][Z(φ3 )][X(α31 ]~k. (C.7)
Notice that these equations can be obtained from (C.5) by permuting the indices
(1, 2, 3) to form (2, 3, 1).
Finally, we can obtain a third set of identities by computing the components of
S2 in the frame F3 located with its z-axis along S3 and its x-axis along N31 . The
same derivation as above yields the identities
sin α23 sin φ3 sin α12 sin φ1
3
S2 = sin α23 cos φ3 = −(sin α31 cos α12 + cos α31 sin α12 cos φ1 ) . (C.9)
cos α31 cos α31 cos α12 − sin α31 sin α12 cos φ1
Notice that these equations can be obtained from (C.8) by again applying the cyclic
permutation (1, 2, 3) 7→ (2, 3, 1).
Crane and Duffy [16] introduce the symbols (X̄ j , Ȳ j , Z̄ j ) defined by
X̄ j sin α jk sin φ j
Ȳ j = −(sin αi j cos α jk + cos αi j sin α jk cos φ j ) . (C.10)
Z̄ j cos αi j cos α jk − sin αi j sin α jk cos φ j
Thus, we obtain Crane and Duffy’s compact form for these identities:
X̄k sin αi j sin φ j
Ȳ = sin αi j cos φ j , (C.13)
k
Z̄k cos αi j
where the indices (i, j, k) are any one of the cyclic permutations (1, 2, 3), (2, 3, 1),
or (3, 1, 2).
422 C Spherical Trigonometry
We now perform the same analysis but with a different set of reference frames. Let
B1 be the reference frame aligned with side S3 S1 , so its z-axis is along S1 and its
x-axis is the normal vector N31 , Figure C.2. In this case, we determine two equations
for the coordinates of S2 , rather than S3 as we did above. The first equation is defined
by the sequence of rotations
1
S2 = [Z(φ1 )][X(α12 )]~k. (C.14)
The superscript preceding S2 denotes the coordinate frame B1 . The second equation
is given by
1
S2 = [X(−α31 )][Z(π − φ3 )][X(α23 )]~k. (C.15)
Expand these equations to obtain
sin α12 sin φ1 sin α23 sin φ3
1
S2 = − sin α12 cos φ1 = sin α31 cos α23 + cos α31 sin α23 cos φ3 . (C.16)
cos α12 cos α31 cos α23 − sin α31 sin α23 cos φ3
The three identities obtained by equating the components of these two vectors are
alternative forms for the sine law, the sine–cosine law, and the cosine law of the
spherical triangle.
3 S3
α31
α23
B1
2
S1 z
1
x S2
α12
N31
Fig. C.2 The frame B1 has its x-axis along N31 and its z-axis along S1 .
and
sin α31 sin φ3 sin α12 sin φ2
3
S1 = − sin α31 cos φ3 = sin α23 cos α12 + cos α23 sin α12 cos φ2 . (C.18)
cos α31 cos α23 cos α12 − sin α23 sin α12 cos φ2
where the indices (i, j, k) are any one of the cyclic permutations (1, 2, 3), (2, 3, 1),
or (3, 1, 2). Notice that we have canceled the negative signs in the y-components of
these equations.
C.3 Summary
The result of this analysis is two sets of three vector identities relating the vertex
angles and sides of a spherical triangle. The first set of equations is (C.5), (C.8),
and (C.9). The second set is (C.16), (C.17), and (C.18). The notation of Crane and
Duffy allows these sets of equations to be written compactly as (C.13) and (C.22),
respectively.
It is important to notice that associated with this triangle 4S1 S2 S3 is its po-
lar triangle 4N12 N23 N31 . We may analyze this triangle in exactly the same way
as above to obtain two more sets of three vector identities. See Crane and Duffy
424 C Spherical Trigonometry
for a complete listing of these identities, and for similar identities for the spherical
quadrilateral, pentagon, hexagon, and heptagon.
Appendix D
Operations with Dual Numbers
We view this as a product of the dual scalar k̂ = (k, kp) and the dual vector L =
(s, c × s)T . The dual vector is equivalent to a vector of dual scalars, so (D.1) implies
that the product of two dual scalars â = (a, a◦ ) and b̂ = (b, b◦ ) is given by
This may be taken as the definition of multiplication operation for dual numbers.
However, in what follows we will define it in a way that extends easily to functions
F(â) of a dual number.
Consider the function a(ε) of a real parameter ε. Define the dual number â as-
sociated with a(ε) to be the pair constructed from this function and its derivative
a0 (ε), both evaluated at ε = 0, that is, a(0) = a and a0 (0) = a◦ . Therefore,
da
â = a(ε), = (a, a◦ ). (D.3)
dε ε=0
While there are many choices for a(ε), the simplest is a(ε) = a + εa◦ .
Using this approach, we define the addition and subtraction of two dual numbers
as the dual numbers associated with the functions a(ε) + b(ε) and a(ε) − b(ε), that
is,
â + b̂ = (a + b, a◦ + b◦ ) and â − b̂ = (a − b, a◦ − b◦ ). (D.4)
We can now see that (D.2) is the dual number obtained from the function
425
426 D Operations with Dual Numbers
â a a◦ b − ab◦
= , . (D.6)
b̂ b b2
A differentiable function of a dual number F(â) can be evaluated using the chain
rule to obtain
da(ε)
F(â) = F(a(ε)), F 0 (a(ε)) = F(a), F 0 (a)a◦ .
(D.7)
dε ε=0
For example, in order to evaluate â1/2 we consider the function F(â) = (a + εa◦ )1/2
and compute
1
F(a) = a1/2 , F 0 (a)a◦ = a−1/2 a◦ . (D.8)
2
Thus, we have a◦
â1/2 = a1/2 , 1/2 . (D.9)
2a
Other examples are the trigonometric functions of a dual angle θ̂ = (θ , d), given by
We now show how to use the kinematics equation of a planar RR chain to obtain
the relative displacement [T (φi j , Pi j )] of the end-link as the composition of rotations
about the fixed and moving pivots. The kinematics equations of an RR chain define
the displacement [D] of M relative to F as the composition of local transformations
The 3×3 matrices [Z(β )] and [Z(α)] define rotations about the z-axis and [X(a)] is a
pure translation along the x-axis. The transformations [G] and [H] are displacements
from F to the fixed pivot and from the moving pivot to M.
Compute the relative displacement of the moving body M from position i to
position j, given by
[Di j ] = [D j ][D−1
i ]
= [G][Z(β j )][X(a)][Z(α j )][H][H −1 ][Z(αi )−1 ][X(a)−1 ][Z(βi )−1 ][G−1 ].
(E.2)
where
427
428 E Kinematics Equations
We now show that the transformations [T (βi j , G)] and [T (αi j , Wi )] are rotations
about the respective poles G and Wi . First notice that
The equality of the rotation matrices [B][A][BT ] = [A] results from the addition of
planar rotations. This is the definition of a planar displacement in terms of its pole.
Thus, equation (E.3), which equates the relative displacement of the floating link
of an RR dyad to the composition of rotations about its fixed and moving axes, is
the transformation equation associated with the planar dyad triangle.
A similar derivation yields the equation
where
Invert equation (E.1) of an RR dyad to obtain the position of the fixed frame
relative to the moving frame
For the pair of positions Mi and Mk of the moving body, we have the inverse relative
displacements [Tik† ] = [Tk−1 ][Ti ], where
[D†ik ] = [H −1 ][Z(αk )−1 ][X(a)−1 ][Z(βk )−1 ][G−1 ][G][Z(βi )][X(a)][Z(αi )][H].
(E.11)
An analysis identical to that discussed above for RR dyads yields the equation
This transformation [T j ][T (−αik , w)][T j−1 ] changes the coordinates of the moving
pivot w to W j . Similarly, [T j ][T (−β jk , gi )][T j−1 ] transforms the point gi in M to Gi
in F, so we have
[Dikj ] = [T (−αik , W j )][T (−βik , Gi )]. (E.14)
The kinematics equation of a spherical RR chain can be used to derive the relative
rotation [R(φi j , Si j )] of the end-link M as the composition of rotations about the
fixed and moving axes of the chain. The kinematics equations define the orientation
[R] of M relative to F as the product of local transformations
where [Z(β )] and [Z(α)] are coordinate rotations about z-axis, and [X(ρ)] is the
coordinate rotation around the x-axis. The rotations [G] and [H] are transformations
from F to the fixed axis G and from the moving axis W to M, respectively.
The relative rotation [Ri j ] of M from orientation Mi to M j is given by
[Ri j ] = [R j ][RTi ]
= [G][Z(β j )][X(ρ)][Z(α j )][H][H T ][Z(αi )T ][X(ρ)T ][Z(βi )T ][GT ]. (E.16)
where
We now show that [A(βi j , G)] and [A(αi j , Wi )] are rotations about poles G and
i
W , respectively. First notice that
where ~k = (0, 0, 1)T . In light of these relations, all we have to show is that the rota-
tion matrix [B][A][BT ] has [B]S as its rotation axis if the rotation [A] has the rotation
axis S. To see this, simply check the definition
430 E Kinematics Equations
where
Now consider the inverse relative rotation [R†ik ] = [RTk ][Ri ] for the spherical RR
chain, given by
The rotation [A(−αik , w)] has the moving axis w in M as its rotation axis. Similarly,
[A(−βik , gi )] has as its rotation axis gi , which is the fixed axis for the dyad in the ith
position of M.
Transform these equations to F with M in position M j to define
Here we show that the kinematics equations of the CC chain can be used to define
the relative transformation [Di j ] as the composition of screw displacements about
the fixed and moving axes of the chain. The kinematics equation equates the spatial
displacement [D] of the moving body M to the sequence of relative displacements
along the chain,
[D(α̂, β̂ )] = [G][Z(β̂ )][X(ρ̂)][Z(α̂)][H], (E.27)
E.3 The CC Chain 431
where [Z(β̂ )] and [Z(α̂)] are the coordinate screw displacements about the fixed and
moving axes, and [X(ρ̂)] is a screw displacement along the crank.
The relative transformation [Di j ] of M as it moves from position Mi to M j is given
by
[Di j ] = [D j ][D−1
i ]
= [G][Z(β̂ j )][X(ρ̂)][Z(α̂ j )][H][H −1 ][Z(α̂i )−1 ][X(ρ̂)−1 ][Z(β̂i )−1 ][G−1 ].
(E.28)
We simplify this expression by defining α̂i j = α̂ j − α̂i , and introduce the identity
[I] = [Z(β̂i )−1 ][G−1 ][G][Z(β̂i )] = I to obtain
where
We now show that the transformations [T (β̂i j , G)] and [T (α̂i j , Wi )] are screw
displacements about the axes G and Wi measured in F. To see this, consider k to be
the screw along the z-axis of the fixed frame. Then G and Wi are obtained from the
screw transformations
Notice that the screw transformation [B̂][Â][B̂−1 ] has the screw axis [B̂]S, because
where
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Index
441
442 Index
Gupta, K. C., 200, 358 kinematics equations, 39, 173, 253, 256, 265,
Gustafson, J. E., 121 380
3R wrist, 257
Hall, A. S., 73 planar 3R, 19
Hamilton, W. R., 197 planar PR, 17
Harrisberger, L., 13 planar RR, 18, 427
Hartenber, R. S., 91 product of exponentials, 357
Hartenberg, R. S., 13, 73, 384 spatial 4C, 273
helix, 408 spatial CC, 263, 430
Hernadez, S., 250 spatial RR, RP, PR, PP, 263
Herve, J. M., 392 spatial RS, 259
Hoffman, C. M., 14 spatial TS, 260
holonomic constraint, 3 spherical RR, 157, 429
homogeneous transform, 282 TPS robot, 261
Hooke’s coupling, 162 TRS robot, 262
Huang, C., 325 Kinzel, G. L., 52, 121
Hunt, K. H., 31, 178, 279, 326, 406, 410 Kota, S., 14
Husty, M. L., 279 Krishnaprasad, P. S., 52
Krovi, V., 388, 392
Kumar, V., 396, 410
image pole, 58
infinitesimal work, 396
Larochelle, P. M., 52, 228
Innocenti, C., 121, 332
Lazard, D., 279
instant center, 39
Lee, E., 392
instantaneous rotation axis, 176
Li, D., 14
instantaneous screw axis, 265
Liao, Q., 121, 332
inverse kinematics, 257
line geometry, 315
3R wrist, 258
line of action, 399, 401
spatial CC, 263
line-based singularities, 398
spatial RS, 259
classification, 401
spatial TS, 261
conditions for, 399
TPS robot, 261
type n, 401
TRS robot, 262
linear complex, 408
isometry
special, 408
planar, 75
linear congruence, 406
spatial, 179
elliptic, 406
hyperbolic, 406
Jacobian parabolic, 406, 407
planar RR, 40 linear product decomposition, 336–338
platform linkage, 278 circular cylinder, 343
platform manipulator, 398, 401 circular hyperboloid, 346
screw, 397 circular torus, 351
spatial open chain, 266, 267, 397 elliptic cylinder, 349
spherical RR, 174 general torus, 353
Jessop, C. M., 393 plane, 339
joint, 1 sphere, 341
joint screw, 396 lines
at infinity, 406
Kaufman, R. E., 121 axial coordinates, 397
Kennedy’s theorem axis of a screw, 286
planar, 46 bundle of, 405
spherical, 177 common normal, 291
Kimbrell, J. T., 73 intersection, 290
kinematic synthesis, 1 orthogonal components, 289
Index 445
Stephenson’s chain Tsai, L. W., 14, 152, 178, 250, 279, 325, 332,
planar, 126 397
spherical, 231 twist, 265, 394
Stewart platform, 399 partial, 265, 395
Stewart, D., 410 two-system, 325, 326, 406
straight-line linkages, 11 principal screws, 327
Su, H. J., 278
Subbian, T., 388 Uicker, J. J., 52
Suh, C. H., 73, 228, 279, 332, 383 universal joint, 2, 366
velocity analysis
T joint, 2, 366
in the plane, 38
tan-half-angle technique, 411
planar 4R, 43
tangent sorting, 51
planar RR, 39
task, 10
planar slider-crank, 41
orientations, 211
spatial open chains, 264
positions, 2, 62, 97, 307
spherical 4R, 174
three-circle diagram, 118
spherical RR, 173
time ratio, 24
virtual displacement, 42, 177
torque ratio virtual work, 38, 42, 177, 396, 397
planar 4R, 48
spherical 4R, 177 Waldron’s construction
TPS open chain, 261 planar, 118
trajectory spherical, 225
planar, 38 Waldron, K. J., 3, 52, 118, 121, 410
spatial, 264 walking machines, 393
spherical, 173 Wampler, C. W., 11, 52, 178, 246
transfer principle, 315 Watt’s chain
translation planar, 126
planar, 55, 76 spherical, 231
spatial, 180 Watt’s linkage, 11
translation vector, 281 Wenger, P., 392
transmission angle Woo, L., 305
planar 4R, 28, 37 Woods, F. S., 393, 408
spherical 4R, 164 workspace, 10, 157
tricircular sextic, 52 workspace of a linkage, 10
trigonometric solution, 411 wrench, 394, 396
TRS open chain, 261
TS open chain Yang, A. T., 303, 305
design equations, 309 Yang, R., 52
four positions, 310 Yu, H. C., 328
seven positions, 310
geometry, 308 zero reference position, 358
position analysis, 260 zero-pitch screws, 287