There are algorithms for finding zeros or fixed points of nonlinear systems of equations that are globally convergent for almost all starting points, i.e., with probability one. The essence of all such algorithms is the construction of an appropriate homotopy map and then tracking some smooth curve in the zero set of this homotopy map. HOMPACK provides three qualitatively different algorithms for tracking the homotopy zero curve: ordinary differential equation-based, normal flow, and augmented Jacobian matrix. Separate routines are also provided for dense and sparse Jacobian matrices. A high-level driver is included for the special case of polynomial systems.
This paper presents a unique approach to the kinematic analysis of the most general six-degree-of-freedom, six-revolute-joint manipulators. Previously, the problem of computing all possible configurations of a manipulator corresponding to a given hand position was approached by reducing the problem to that of solving a high degree polynomial equation in one variable. In this paper it is shown that the problem can be reduced to that of solving a system of eight second-degree equations in eight unknowns. It is further demonstrated that this second-degree system can be routinely solved using a continuation algorithm. To complete the general analysis, a second numerical method—a continuation heuristic—is shown to generate partial solution sets quickly. Finally, in some special cases, closed form solutions were obtained for some commonly used industrial manipulators. The results can be applied to the analysis of both six and five-degree-of-freedom manipulators composed of mixed revolute and prismatic joints. The numerical stability of continuation on small second-degree systems opens the way for routine use in offline robot programming applications.
The problem of finding all four-bar linkages whose coupler curve passes through nine prescribed points has been a longstanding unsolved problem in kinematics. Using a combination of classical elimination, multihomogeneous variables, and numerical polynomial continuation, we show that there are generically 1442 nondegenerate solution along with their Roberts cognates, for a total of 4326 distinct solutions. Moreover, a computer algorithm that computes all solutions for any given nine points has been developed.
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