Analysis of dynamic performance of redundant manipulators using the concept of aspects

For kinematically redundant manipulators, conventional dynamic control methods of local torque optimization showed the instability which resulted in physically unachievable torque requirements. In order to guarantee stability of the null space vector method which resolves redundancy at the acceleration level, Maciejewski[1] analyzed the kinetic behavior of homogeneous solution component and proposed the condition to identify regions of stability and instability for this method. 'In this paper, a modified null space vector method is first presented based on the Maciejewski's condition which is a function of a manipulator's configuration. Secondly, a new control method which is based on the concept of aspects is proposed. It was shown by computer simulations that the modified null space vector method and the proposed method have a common property that a preferred aspect is preserved during the execution of a task. It was also illustrated that both methods demonstrate a drastic reduction of torque loadings at the joints in the tracking motion of a long trajectory when compared with the null space vector method, and thus guarantee the stability of joint torque.