24
-20 Robotics and Automation Handbook
variables). This is done by describing the continuously variable spatial shapes w(x, t)ofarmdeflection by
an infinite series of fixed basis functions (shapes) φ
i
(x) with time variable amplitudes q
i
(t).
w(x, t) =
∞
i=1
q
i
(t)φ
i
(x) (24.48)
A wise choice of the shapes achieves the necessary accuracy without a large number of basis functions,
which means the infinite series is truncated after a few terms. It is necessary that the basis functions span
the space and that they meet the geometric or essential boundary conditions. Convenient basis functions
include polynomials and unforced solutions to the partial differential equations with assumed boundary
conditions. These later shapes are known as assumed modes and can be particularly efficient choices for
the basis functions. The q
i
become state variables, along with their time derivatives.
The arm joint variables also can be used as state variables. The selection of joint variables and deflection
variables and their corresponding shape functions must be compatible. For example, if the joint angle is
measured from tangent of the preceding beam link to the tangent of the following beam link, called link j,a
clamped boundary condition is appropriate for the first end of link j . In order to permit relative deflection
and rotation of the second end of link j, a free boundary condition should be employed. Solutions of the
partial differential equation for a beam with clamped-free boundary conditions are thus a good choice for
basis shapes. This combination is convenient because the joint variables of the model are the same as a
joint angle sensor would measure.
For other applications of the arm model, it may be preferable to use as joint variables the angle between
lines that connect successive joint axes of the arm. In this case the joint angle accounts for the net deflection
between joints and the deflection variable accounts for the undulations of the shape between joints. In this
case pinned-pinned boundary conditions provide the necessary constraints and are good choices. This
is convenient if one is solving for the inverse dynamics of the flexible arm when moving from point to
point, since the joint angles and deflection variables can be calculated from simple geometry and static
deflections.
Due to space constraints the development of the equations of motion for flexible link manipulators is
abbreviated in this volume. The essence of the method will now be described, and the results will be given in
sufficient detail to allow them to be used. Lagrange’s method will be employed, although other techniques
are preferred by some. More detail on Lagrange’s method applied to structural systems in general may be
found in Meirovitch [12] or as applied specifically to arms with the more complex joint motions included
in Book [13]. An outline of the equation development procedure is now presented.
The kinematics of the flexible arm must first be described. This uses the joint variables and the deflection
variables tolocateeverydifferentialelement of mass, aswellas to expressitsvelocity in terms ofthederivative
of its position and to construct expressions for describing the elastic and gravitational potential energy
of the system as required by Lagrange’s method. Knowing the velocity of each particle of mass in a given
link, integration over the spatial domain of that link allows one to express the kinetic energy of that link.
Similarly, the potential energy of the link can be determined by integrating over the link. We then sum
over all the links to obtain the two scalars, kinetic energy (T) and potential energy (V) of the system as
functions of the joint and deflection variables. The simple conservative form of Lagrange’s equations then
states that
d
dt
∂T
∂
˙
q
i
−
∂T
∂q
i
+
∂V
∂q
i
= F
i
(24.49)
F
i
is the force that does work as q
i
is varied.
These equations hold for every state q
i
, both the joint and the flexible variables. Note that this simplified
form results when T is a function of the variable and its derivative, while V is a function of only the
variable and does not include specifically its derivative. Also note that if clamped boundary conditions are
employed, there is no work performed by the joint actuators when the deflection variables change. The
same is not true when pinned boundary conditions are used and a term for F
i
appears in each equation.