Solving the Geometric Design Problem of Spatial 3R Robot Manipulators Using Polynomial Homotopy Continuation

Abstract

In this paper, the geometric design problem of serial-link robot manipulators with three revolute (R) joints is solved using a polynomial homotopy continuation method. Three spatial positions and orientations are defined and the dimensions of the geometric parameters of the 3-R manipulator are computed so that the manipulator will be able to place its end-effector at these three pre-specified locations. Denavit and Hartenberg parameters and 4×4 homogeneous matrices are used to formulate the problem and obtain eighteen design equations in twenty-four design unknowns. Six of the design parameters are set as free choices and their values are selected arbitrarily. Two different cases for selecting the free choices are considered and their design equations are solved using polynomial homotopy continuation. In both cases for free choice selection, eight distinct manipulators are found that will be able to place their end-effector at the three specified spatial positions and orientations.