In this paper applications of curvilinear parametrizations (Serret-Frenet, Bishop) in the path following task have been considered. The parametrizations allow one to derive manipulator's equations with respect to a path. The full mathematical model of the path following task involves two groups of equations, i.e. the dynamics of the manipulator and the equations obtained from the parametrization method, connected in the cascaded system. Based on those relations two path following algorithms have been designed according to the backstepping integrator method (dedicated to the cascaded systems). Depending on the chosen parametrization method the algorithms differ in requirements and performance. In the paper an in-depth analysis comparing features of both considered methods has been presented. The parametric description of a path requires projection of a robot on the path. In this article the orthogonal projection has been taken into account. It introduces a singularity in the robot description. We have proposed a new form of the orthogonal projection constraint which allows a robot to not only approach the path, but also move along it. This novelty design is an important enhancement of the algorithms used so far. The problem of partially known dynamic parameters of a robot has been also addressed. In the paper we have shown how to apply an adaptive controller to the path following task. Theoretical considerations have been verified with a simulation study conducted for a holonomic stationary manipulator. Achieved results emphasized why it is strongly recommended to use the algorithm version with the orthogonal singularity outside the path. Moreover, the comparative analysis results may be used to select the best curvilinear parametrization method according to the considered task requirements.

In-orbit capture of a non-cooperative satellite will be a major challenge in the proposed servicing and active debris removal missions. The contact forces between the manipulator end-effector and the elements of the target object will occur in the grasping phase. In this paper, an active 6 Degrees of Freedom (DoF) force/torque control method for manipulator mounted on a free-floating servicing satellite is proposed. The main aim of the presented method is to balance the relation between end-effector position and force along each direction in the Cartesian space. The control law is based on the Dynamic Jacobian, which takes into account the influence of the manipulator motion on the state of the servicing satellite. The proposed approach is validated in numerical simulations with a simplified model of contact. Comparison with the classical Cartesian control shows that the active 6 DoF force/torque control method allows to obtain better positioning accuracy of the end-effector and lower control torques in manipulator joints in the presence of external forces.

We deal with the fundamental problem of path following applied to control mobile manipulators. A...

A tool for path following for a mobile manipulator is herein presented. The control algorithm is obtained by projecting a local frame associated with the robot onto the desired path, thus obtaining a non-orthogonal moving frame. The Serret–Frenet frame moving along the curve is considered as a reference. A curve resulting from the control points of a B-spline in 2D or 3D is investigated as the desired path. It is used to show how the geometric continuity of the path has an impact on the performance of the robot in terms of undesired force spikes. This can be understood by looking at the curvature and, in 3D, at the torsion of the path. These unwanted effects vanish and better performance is achieved thanks to the change of the B-spline order. The theoretical results are confirmed by the simulation study for a mobile manipulator consisting of a non-holonomic wheeled base coupled with a holonomic robotic arm with three degrees of freedom (rotational and prismatic).