LATEX human motion planning based on recursive dynamics and optimal control techniques

Abstract We present an efficient optimal control based approach to simulate dynamically correct human movements. We model virtual humans as a kinematic chain consisting of serial, closed-loop, and tree-structures. To overcome the complexity limitations of the classical Lagrangian formulation and to include knowledge from biomechanical studies, we have developed a minimum-torque motion planning method. This new method is based on the use of optimal control theory within a recursive dynamics framework. Our dynamic motion planning methodology achieves high efficiency regardless of the figure topology. As opposed to a Lagrangian formulation, it obviates the need for the reformulation of the dynamic equations for different structured articulated figures. We use a quasi-Newton method based nonlinear programming technique to solve our minimum torque-based human motion planning problem. This method achieves superlinear convergence. We use the screw theoretical method to compute analytically the necessary gradient of the motion and force. This provides a better conditioned optimization computation and allows the robust and efficient implementation of our method. Cubic spline functions have been used to make the search space for an optimal solution finite. We demonstrate the efficacy of our proposed method based on a variety of human motion tasks involving open and closed loop kinematic chains. Our models are built using parameters chosen from an anthropomorphic database. The results demonstrate that our approach generates natural looking and physically correct human motions.

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Gradient Optimization of Inverse Dynamics for Robotic Manipulator Motion Planning Using Combined Optimal Control

Volume 4B: Dynamics, Vibration, and Control ◽

10.1115/imece2017-72064 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Shangdong Gong ◽

Redwan Alqasemi ◽

Rajiv Dubey

Keyword(s):

Optimal Control ◽

Motion Planning ◽

Inverse Dynamics ◽

Null Space ◽

Optimal Solution ◽

Human Motion ◽

Optimization Techniques ◽

Redundant Manipulators ◽

Robot Arm ◽

Gradient Optimization

Motion planning of redundant manipulators is an active and widely studied area of research. The inverse kinematics problem can be solved using various optimization methods within the null space to avoid joint limits, obstacle constraints, as well as minimize the velocity or maximize the manipulability measure. However, the relation between the torques of the joints and their respective positions can complicate inverse dynamics of redundant systems. It also makes it challenging to optimize cost functions, such as total torque or kinematic energy. In addition, the functional gradient optimization techniques do not achieve an optimal solution for the goal configuration. We present a study on motion planning using optimal control as a pre-process to find optimal pose at the goal position based on the external forces and gravity compensation, and generate a trajectory with optimized torques using the gradient information of the torque function. As a result, we reach an optimal trajectory that can minimize the torque and takes dynamics into consideration. We demonstrate the motion planning for a planar 3-DOF redundant robotic arm and show the results of the optimized trajectory motion. In the simulation, the torque generated by an external force on the end-effector as well as by the motion of every link is made into an integral over the squared torque norm. This technique is expected to take the torque of every joint into consideration and generate better motion that maintains the torques or kinematic energy of the arm in the safe zone. In future work, the trajectories of the redundant manipulators will be optimized to generate more natural motion as in humanoid arm motion. Similar to the human motion strategy, the robot arm is expected to be able to lift weights held by hands, the configuration of the arm is changed along from the initial configuration to a goal configuration. Furthermore, along with weighted least norm (WLN) solutions, the optimization framework will be more adaptive to the dynamic environment. In this paper, we present the development of our methodology, a simulated test and discussion of the results.

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