In this work, we consider robotic systems for which the mass tensor is identified to be the metric in a Riemannian manifold. Cost functional invariance is achieved by constructing it with the identified metric. Optimal control evolution is revealed in the form of a covariant second-order ordinary differential equation featuring the Riemann curvature tensor that constrains the control variable. In Pontryagin’s framework of the maximum principle, the cost functional has a direct impact on the system Hamiltonian. It is regarded as the performance index, and optimal control variables are affected by this fundamental choice. In the present context of cost functional invariance, we show that the adjoint variables are the first-order representation of the second-order control variable evolution equation. It is also shown that adding supplementary invariant terms to the cost functional does not modify the basic structure of the optimal control covariant evolution equation. Numerical trials show that the proposed invariant cost functionals, as compared to their non-invariant versions, lead to lower joint power consumption and narrower joint angular amplitudes during motion. With our formulation, the differential equations solver gains stability and operates dramatically faster when compared to examples where cost functional invariance is not considered.

This contribution shows a geometric optimal control procedure to solve the trajectory generation problem for the navigation (generic motion) of mechanical systems with revolute joints. The mechanical system is analyzed as a nonlinear Lagrangian system affected by dry friction at the joint level. Rayleigh’s dissipation function is used to model this dissipative effect of joint-level friction, and regarded as a potential. Rayleigh’s potential is an invariant scalar quantity from which friction forces derive and are represented by a smooth model that approaches the traditional Coulomb’s law in our proposal. For the optimal control procedure, an invariant cost function is formed with the motion equations and a Riemannian metric. The goal is to minimize the consumed energy per unit time of the system. Covariant control equations are obtained by applying Pontryagin’s principle, and time-integrated using a Finite Elements Method-based solver. The obtained solution is an optimal trajectory that is then applied to a mechanical system using a proportional–derivative plus feedforward controller to guarantee the trajectory tracking control problem. Simulations and experiments confirm that including joint-level friction forces at the modeling stage of the optimal control procedure increases performance, compared with scenarios where the friction is not taken into account, or when friction compensation is performed at the feedback level during motion control.

This article presents an experimental platform for testing friction models used by control strategies on a one-degree-of-freedom mechanical motion control system. This platform aims to carry out experiments to estimate dry friction parameters and related motion control strategies. The presented device can be built using low-cost components available in most laboratories. The platform enables both a correct friction parameters estimation and the experimental validation of related motion control strategies. The proposed platform can be applied to the validation of a wide spectrum of parameter identification and motion control procedures. Experimental results illustrate the usability of the proposed device for research purposes. However, the platform could be used as an educational device to illustrate the performance of specific friction models with various control strategies.