Robotics:

Jacobians: velocities and static forces

Sami Haddadin

Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics

German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

Haddadin, Robotics: http://www6.in.tum.de/Main/TeachingWs2012Robotik

Overview

Up to now: static problems

1 representation of orientation
2 forward kinematics
3 inverse kinematics
Now: velocities
1 angular and linear velocity of a rigid body
2 motion of a manipulator
3 forces acting on a robot
4 Jacobian

Haddadin, Robotics: http://www6.in.tum.de/Main/TeachingWs2012Robotik

Notation I
derivative of a vector:
dB B Q(t + ∆t) −B Q(t)
B
VQ := Q = lim (1)
dt ∆t→0 ∆t
It is important to indicate the frame in which the vector is
differentiated.
vector expressed in terms of frame {A}:
Ad
A B B
( VQ ) = Q (2)
dt
→ velocity vector is associated with a point in space, but the
numerical values of the velocity depend on two frames:
1 one to which the differentiation was done
2 one in which the resulting velocity vector is expressed
Haddadin, Robotics: http://www6.in.tum.de/Main/TeachingWs2012Robotik
Notation II

remove the outer, leading superscript by explicitly including the

rotation matrix A R B :
A B
( VQ ) = A R B B V Q (3)

We use mostly the right hand side expression!

Important special case: velocity of the origin of a frame relative
to some understood universe reference frame {U}.

vC = U V C ,org , (4)

where the point in question is the origin of {C }. A v C is the

velocity of the origin of {C } expressed in terms of {A}. Note that
the differentiation is done relative to {U}.

Haddadin, Robotics: http://www6.in.tum.de/Main/TeachingWs2012Robotik

Frames in linear motion

Haddadin, Robotics: http://www6.in.tum.de/Main/TeachingWs2012Robotik

Example I

1 universe frame {U}

2 frame {T } attached to train traveling at 100 km/h
3 frame {C } attached to car traveling at 30 km/h
4 both vehicles head in X̂ direction of {U}
5 UR and U R C are known
T

Haddadin, Robotics: http://www6.in.tum.de/Main/TeachingWs2012Robotik

Example II

Ud
What is UP
dt C ,org ?

What is C (U V T ,org )?

What is C (T V C ,org )?

Haddadin, Robotics: http://www6.in.tum.de/Main/TeachingWs2012Robotik

Relative angular motion

Haddadin, Robotics: http://www6.in.tum.de/Main/TeachingWs2012Robotik

The angular velocity vector I

Whereas linear velocity describes an attribute of a point, angular

velocity describes an attribute of a body. Since we always attach a
frame to the bodies we consider, we can also think of angular
velocity as describing the rotational motion of a frame.
AΩ describes the rotation of {B} relative to {A}
B
at any instant, the direction of A ΩB indicates the
instantaneous axis of rotation of {B} relative to {A}
magnitude of A ΩB indicates the speed of rotation
like any other vector, an angular velocity vector may be
expressed in any coordinate system {C }: C (A ΩB )

Haddadin, Robotics: http://www6.in.tum.de/Main/TeachingWs2012Robotik

The angular velocity vector II

Introduce a simplified notation for the important special cased of a

well understood reference frame:

ωC = U ΩC (5)

again: A ωC is the angular velocity of {C } expressed in terms of

{A}, though the angular velocity is with respect to {U}.

Haddadin, Robotics: http://www6.in.tum.de/Main/TeachingWs2012Robotik

Relative translation

Haddadin, Robotics: http://www6.in.tum.de/Main/TeachingWs2012Robotik

Linear velocity of rigid bodies

Consider frame {B} attached to RB. We wish to describe the

motion of B Q relative to frame {A}. Consider {A} to be fixed.
Frame {B} is located relative to {A} described by A PB,org
and A RB
for the moment: AR 6= A RB (t)
B
→ motion of Q relative to {A} is due to A PB,org and/or B Q
changing in time
Solving for the linear velocity of Q in terms of {A}:
A
V Q = A V B,org + A R B B VQ (6)

Only valid for the case in which relative orientation of {B} and
{A} remains constant!

Haddadin, Robotics: http://www6.in.tum.de/Main/TeachingWs2012Robotik

Relative rotation of vector

Haddadin, Robotics: http://www6.in.tum.de/Main/TeachingWs2012Robotik

Rotational velocity of rigid bodies I

Consider two frames with coincident origins and with zero linear
velocity so the origins will remain coincident for all time.
orientation of {B} with respect to {A} is changing in time
rotational velocity of {B} relative to {A} is described by A ΩB
BQ locates a point which is fixed in {B}
Question: How does a vector change with time as viewed from
{A} when it is fixed in {B} and the systems are rotating?

Haddadin, Robotics: http://www6.in.tum.de/Main/TeachingWs2012Robotik

Rotational velocity of rigid bodies II

consider B V = 0
still: point Q will have a velocity as seen from {A} due to
AΩ
B

For now: intuitive approach

Haddadin, Robotics: http://www6.in.tum.de/Main/TeachingWs2012Robotik

Velocity of a point

Haddadin, Robotics: http://www6.in.tum.de/Main/TeachingWs2012Robotik

Rotational velocity of rigid bodies III

two instants of time as vector Q rotates around A ΩB (exactly

what observer {A} would see)
it is clear that the differential change in A Q must be
perpendicular to both A ΩB and A Q
From observation we see that

|∆Q| = (|A Q|sin(θ))(|A ΩB |∆t) (7)

→ these observations from magnitude and direction immediately

suggest the vector cross product:
A
V Q = A ΩB × A Q (8)

Haddadin, Robotics: http://www6.in.tum.de/Main/TeachingWs2012Robotik

Rotational velocity of rigid bodies IV

In general Q may also be changing with respect to {B}:

A
V Q = A (B V Q ) + A ΩB × A Q (9)

Using a rotation matrix to remove the dual-superscript together

with A Q = A R B B Q we get
A
V Q = A R B B V Q + A ΩB × A R B B Q (10)

Haddadin, Robotics: http://www6.in.tum.de/Main/TeachingWs2012Robotik

Simultaneous linear and angular velocity

for the case where origins are not coincident we simply add the
linear velocity of the origin
A
V Q = A V B,org + A R B B V Q + A ΩB × A R B B Q (11)

→ general form for a velocity of a point in frame {B} as seen from

frame {A}

Haddadin, Robotics: http://www6.in.tum.de/Main/TeachingWs2012Robotik

Properties of angular velocity I
up to now: geometric approach
now: mathematical approach
property of Ṙ:
RR T = In (12)
T T
ṘR + R Ṙ = 0n (13)
T T T
ṘR + (ṘR ) = 0n (14)
with In being the n × n identity matrix and 0n being the n × n zero
matrix.
Definition:
S := ṘR T (15)
Now (14) can be written as
S + S T = 0n . (16)
→ S is skew-symmetric (skew symmetry: A = −AT ).
Haddadin, Robotics: http://www6.in.tum.de/Main/TeachingWs2012Robotik
Properties of angular velocity II

Now we have a property relating the derivative of orthonormal

matrices with skew-symmetric matrices (remember: R −1 = R T ):

S = ṘR −1 (17)

Haddadin, Robotics: http://www6.in.tum.de/Main/TeachingWs2012Robotik

Properties of angular velocity III
How can we use this result? → velocity of a point due to rotating
reference frame
Consider a fixed vector B P with respect to frame {B}. Its
description in another frame {A} is given as

A
P = A R B B P, (18)
If frame {B} is rotating (i.e. A Ṙ B 6= 0) then A P will be changing
even though B P is constant.
A
Ṗ = A Ṙ B B P, (19)

or using our notion of velocity

A
V P = A Ṙ B B P. (20)

Haddadin, Robotics: http://www6.in.tum.de/Main/TeachingWs2012Robotik

Properties of angular velocity IV

A −1 A
V P = A Ṙ B A R B P. (21)
Making use of (17) we obtain

A
V P = A S B A P. (22)
The subscripts of S are used for indicating the relation to A R B .
!!The matrix S is called the angular velocity matrix!!

Haddadin, Robotics: http://www6.in.tum.de/Main/TeachingWs2012Robotik

Properties of angular velocity V
Skew-symmetric matrices and the vector cross product Assign
the elements in a skew symmetric matrix S as follows:
 
0 −Ωz Ωy
S :=  Ωz 0 −Ωx  (23)
−Ωy Ωx 0
and define the 3 × 1 column vector
 
Ωx
Ω :=  Ωy  , (24)
Ωz
then it is easily verified that

SP = Ω × P, (25)

where P is a vector, and × is the vector cross product.

Haddadin, Robotics: http://www6.in.tum.de/Main/TeachingWs2012Robotik
Properties of angular velocity V

Ω is called the angular velocity vector (see previous slides). This

makes it possible to write (22) as
A
V P = A ΩB × A P. (26)

→ it is the angular velocity vector which specifies the motion of

{B} with respect to {A}.

Haddadin, Robotics: http://www6.in.tum.de/Main/TeachingWs2012Robotik

Properties of angular velocity VI
question: What is the physical meaning of Ω?
→ we derive Ω by direct differentiation of R:
R(t + ∆t) − R(t)
Ṙ = lim (27)
∆t→0 ∆t
R(t + ∆t) is now written as the concatenation of two matrices:
R(t + ∆t) = RK̂ (∆θ)R(t), (28)
where over the interval ∆t a small rotation of ∆θ has occurred
about K̂ . (27) and (28) lead to
RK̂ (∆θ) − I3
 
Ṙ = lim R(t) (29)
∆t→0 ∆t
R (∆θ) − I3
 
Ṙ = lim K̂ R(t) (30)
∆t→0 ∆t
Haddadin, Robotics: http://www6.in.tum.de/Main/TeachingWs2012Robotik
Properties of angular velocity VII

with small angle substitution and usage of the “angle-axis”

rotation matrix
kx2 v θ + cθ
 
kx ky v θ − kz sθ kx kz v θ + ky sθ
RK̂ (θ) =  kx ky v θ + kz sθ ky2 v θ + cθ ky kz v θ − kx sθ  ,
kx kz v θ − ky sθ ky kz v θ + kx sθ kz2 v θ + cθ
(31)
with v θ = 1 − cos(θ)

Haddadin, Robotics: http://www6.in.tum.de/Main/TeachingWs2012Robotik

Properties of angular velocity VIII

we get  
1 −kz ∆θ +ky ∆θ
RK̂ (∆θ) =  kz ∆θ 1 −kx ∆θ  . (32)
−ky ∆θ kx ∆θ 1
Thus, (30) can be written as
 
0 −kz θ̇ +ky θ̇
Ṙ =  kz θ̇ 0 −kx θ̇  . (33)
−ky θ̇ kx θ̇ 0

Haddadin, Robotics: http://www6.in.tum.de/Main/TeachingWs2012Robotik