Abstract
An optimal simultaneous kinematic, dynamic and control design approach is proposed for high performance computer controlled machines such as robot manipulators. The approach is based on the Trajectory Pattern Method (TPM) and a fundamentally new design philosophy that such machines in general and ultra-high performance machines in particular must only be designed to perform a class or classes of motions effectively. In the proposed approach, given the structure of the manipulator, its kinematic, dynamic and control parameters are optimized simultaneously with the parameters that describe the selected trajectory pattern. In the example presented in this paper, a weighted sum of the norms of the higher harmonics appearing in the actuating torques and the integral of the position and velocity tracking errors are used to form the optimality criterion. The selected optimality criterion should yield a system that is optimally designed to accurately follow the specified trajectory at high speed. Other objective functions can be readily formulated to synthesize systems for optimal performance. The potentials of the developed method and its implementation for generally defined motion patterns are discussed.
