Parametric Continuous and Smooth Motion Interpolation

Abstract

This paper deals with the synthesis of a second order parametrically continuous (C2) motion that interpolates through a given set of configurations of an object. It derives conditions for blending two motion segments with C2 continuity and develops an algorithm for constructing a C2 composite Be´zier type motion that has similarities to Beta-splines in the field of Computer Aided Geometric Design. A criterion for evaluating the smoothness of a motion is established and is used to synthesize a “globally smooth” motion. The results have applications in trajectory generation in robotics, mechanical systems animation and CAD/CAM.