Time-optimal extension or retraction in polar coordinate robots - A numerical analysis of the switching structure

Abstract

The problem of time-optimal control of robot manipulators is of importance because of its potential for increasing the productivity of assembly lines. This work is part of a series of papers by the authors on this topic using direct and indirect methods of optimization. A cylindrical robot or a spherical polar robot constrained to the horizontal plane is considered, and optimal solutions for radial maneuvers are generated. Indirect methods are employed in order to establish the switching structure of the solutions. The results show that even such apparently simple maneuvers as extension or retraction of a robot with a prismatic joint can produce very complex optimal solutions. Timeoptimal retraction can exhibit ten different switching structures with eight switching points and two singular arcs.