Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
240 words
An apparatus for generating a signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated torque actually applied to a link at a rotary joint of a manipulator, said manipulator having a base that is connected to a reference body and a plurality of moveable links, the first being connected to said base through a first joint and each other moveable link being connected through a joint to an adjacent link that is kinematically closer to said reference body, and for each of said movable links, a position sensor that generates a position signal that corresponds to the position of said link relative to said respective adjacent link, said signal generating apparatus comprising: a. a wrench sensor that is connected between said base and said reference body to generate a base wrench signal that corresponds to the base wrench that is applied between said base and said reference body, expressed at a sensor measurement point; b. coupled to said position sensors and said wrench sensor, a gravity compensator, which generates a dynamic wrench signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated dynamic component of said base wrench signal, based on said position signals and said base wrench signal; and c. coupled to said gravity compensator and said position sensors, a joint analyzer, which generates a signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated torque that is actually applied to said link at said rotary joint, based on said dynamic wrench signal and said position signals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
240 words
An apparatus for generating a signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated torque actually applied to a link at a rotary joint of a manipulator, said manipulator having a base that is connected to a reference body and a plurality of moveable links, the first being connected to said base through a first joint and each other moveable link being connected through a joint to an adjacent link that is kinematically closer to said reference body, and for each of said movable links, a position sensor that generates a position signal that corresponds to the position of said link relative to said respective adjacent link, said signal generating apparatus comprising: a. a wrench sensor that is connected between said base and said reference body to generate a base wrench signal that corresponds to the base wrench that is applied between said base and said reference body, expressed at a sensor measurement point; b. coupled to said position sensors and said wrench sensor, a gravity compensator, which generates a dynamic wrench signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated dynamic component of said base wrench signal, based on said position signals and said base wrench signal; and c. coupled to said gravity compensator and said position sensors, a joint analyzer, which generates a signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated torque that is actually applied to said link at said rotary joint, based on said dynamic wrench signal and said position signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
84 words
The signal generator of claim 1, said gravity compensator comprising: a. coupled to said position sensors, a gravity wrench generator, which generates a signal that corresponds to the gravity component of said base wrench, based on said position signals; and b. coupled to said gravity wrench generator and said wrench sensor, a dynamic wrench signal generator, which generates said signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated dynamic component of said base wrench signal, based on said gravity wrench signal and said base wrench signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
83 words
The signal generator of claim 2, said gravity wrench generator comprising: a. means for generating, for each link for which a position signal is provided, a vector O s G j from said sensor measurement point to the center of mass of said link; and b. means for generating a gravity moment signal that corresponds to ##EQU16## where n is the number of said plurality of links, m j is the mass of link j and g is the acceleration due to gravity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The signal generator of claim 3, said gravity wrench generator further comprising means for generating a gravity force signal that corresponds to ##EQU17## where n is the number of said plurality of links, m j is the mass of link j and g is the acceleration due to gravity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The signal generator of claim 2, said gravity wrench generator comprising a look up table that relates, on the one hand combinations of link position signals for all of said links for which a position signal is provided, to, on the other hand a corresponding, predetermined gravity wrench.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
287 words
The signal generator of claim 1, said basis between said signal that corresponds to said gravity compensated torque that is actually applied to said link at said rotary joint on the one hand and, on the other hand, said dynamic wrench signal and said position signals, comprising: ##EQU18## where: τ l+1 is said gravity compensated torque that is actually applied to said link at said rotary joint; M d O .sbsp.i is the moment of said dynamic wrench signal, expressed at O i , which is the origin of the axis around which said link to which said torque is actually applied rotates relative to an adjacent link that is kinematically closer to said reference body; -z i t ! is an operator that projects the contents of the square brackets !, which is a vector, onto an axis z i , which axis is at O i ; i is the number of said movable links that are kinematically closer to said reference body than said link to which said gravity compensated torque is actually applied; and for each link j of said i movable links: I j is the inertia tensor of said link j at its center of mass G j ; ω j is the angular velocity of said link j relative to a fixed frame; ω j is the angular acceleration of said link j relative to a fixed frame; V G .sbsb.j is the linear acceleration of the center of mass of said link j relative to a fixed frame; O i G j is the vector between O i and the center of mass G j of said link j; and m j is the mass of said link j.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
256 words
The signal generator of claim 1, said basis between said signal that corresponds to said gravity compensated torque that is actually applied at said rotary joint on the one hand and, on the other hand, said dynamic wrench signal and said position signals, comprising a relationship between said gravity compensated torque and at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of: M d O .sbsp.i, which is the moment of said dynamic wrench signal, expressed at O i , which is the origin of the axis around which said link to which said torque is actually applied rotates relative to an adjacent link that is kinematically closer to said reference body; and for each link j of i links, where i is the number of links that are kinematically closer to said reference body than said link to which said torque is actually applied: I j , which is the inertia tensor of said link j at its center of mass G j ; ω j , which is the angular velocity of said link j relative to a fixed frame; ω j , which is the angular acceleration of said link j relative to a fixed frame; V G .sbsb.j, which is the linear acceleration of the center of mass of said link j relative to a fixed frame; O i G j , which is the vector between O i and the center of mass G j of said link j; and m j , which is the mass of said link j.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
88 words
The signal generator of claim 2, said gravity wrench generator comprising: a. means for generating, for each link for which a position signal is provided, a vector O s G j from said sensor measurement point to the center of mass of said link; and b. means for generating a gravity moment signal that corresponds to any position dependent components of ##EQU19## where n is the number of said plurality of links, m j is the mass of link j and g is the acceleration due to gravity.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
240 words
An apparatus for generating a signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated force actually applied to a link at a linear joint of a manipulator, said manipulator having a base that is connected to a reference body and a plurality of moveable links, the first being connected to said base through a first joint and each other moveable link being connected through a joint to an adjacent link that is kinematically closer to said reference body, and for each of said movable links, a position sensor that generates a position signal that corresponds to the position of said link relative to said respective adjacent link, said signal generating apparatus comprising: a. a wrench sensor that is connected between said base and said reference body to generate a base wrench signal that corresponds to the base wrench that is applied between said base and said reference body, expressed at a sensor measurement point; b. coupled to said position sensors and said wrench sensor, a gravity compensator, which generates a dynamic wrench signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated dynamic component of said base wrench signal, based on said position signals and said base wrench signal; and c. coupled to said gravity compensator and said position sensors, a joint analyzer, which generates a signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated force that is actually applied to said link at said linear joint, based on said dynamic wrench signal and said position signals.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
240 words
An apparatus for generating a signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated force actually applied to a link at a linear joint of a manipulator, said manipulator having a base that is connected to a reference body and a plurality of moveable links, the first being connected to said base through a first joint and each other moveable link being connected through a joint to an adjacent link that is kinematically closer to said reference body, and for each of said movable links, a position sensor that generates a position signal that corresponds to the position of said link relative to said respective adjacent link, said signal generating apparatus comprising: a. a wrench sensor that is connected between said base and said reference body to generate a base wrench signal that corresponds to the base wrench that is applied between said base and said reference body, expressed at a sensor measurement point; b. coupled to said position sensors and said wrench sensor, a gravity compensator, which generates a dynamic wrench signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated dynamic component of said base wrench signal, based on said position signals and said base wrench signal; and c. coupled to said gravity compensator and said position sensors, a joint analyzer, which generates a signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated force that is actually applied to said link at said linear joint, based on said dynamic wrench signal and said position signals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
84 words
The signal generator of claim 9, said gravity compensator comprising: a. coupled to said position sensors, a gravity wrench generator, which generates a signal that corresponds to the gravity component of said base wrench, based on said position signals; and b. coupled to said gravity wrench generator and said wrench sensor, a dynamic wrench signal generator, which generates said signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated dynamic component of said base wrench signal, based on said gravity wrench signal and said base wrench signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
83 words
The signal generator of claim 10, said gravity wrench generator comprising: a. means for generating, for each link for which a position signal is provided, a vector O s G j from said sensor measurement point to the center of mass of said link; and b. means for generating a gravity moment signal that corresponds to ##EQU20## where n is the number of said plurality of links, m j is the mass of link j and g is the acceleration due to gravity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
The signal generator of claim 11, said gravity wrench generator further comprising means for generating a gravity force signal that corresponds to ##EQU21## where n is the number of said plurality of links, m j is the mass of link j and g is the acceleration due to gravity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The signal generator of claim 10, said gravity wrench generator comprising a look up table that relates, on the one hand combinations of position signals for all of said links for which a position signal is provided, to, on the other hand a corresponding, predetermined gravity wrench.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
210 words
The signal generator of claim 9, said basis between said signal that corresponds to said gravity compensated force that is actually applied to said link at said linear joint on the one hand and, on the other hand, said dynamic wrench signal and said position signals, comprising: ##EQU22## where: f i+1 is the gravity compensated force that is actually applied to said link at said linear joint; F d is the force of said dynamic wrench signal; -z i t ! is an operator that projects the contents of the square brackets !, which is a vector, onto an axis z i , which axis is at O i , which is the origin of the axis along which said link to which said force is actually applied translates relative to an adjacent link that is kinematically closer to said reference body; i is the number of said movable links that are kinematically closer to said reference body than said link to which said gravity compensated force is actually applied; and for each link j of said i movable links: V G is the linear acceleration of the center of mass G of said link j relative to a fixed frame; and m is the mass of said link j.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
88 words
The signal generator of claim 10, said gravity wrench generator comprising: a. means for generating, for each link for which a position signal is provided, a vector O s G j from said sensor measurement point to the center of mass of said link; and b. means for generating a gravity moment signal that corresponds to any position dependent components of ##EQU23## where n is the number of said plurality of links, m j is the mass of link j and g is the acceleration due to gravity.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
207 words
An apparatus for generating a signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated torque actually applied to a link at a rotary joint of a manipulator, said manipulator having a base that is connected to a reference body, and a moveable link that is connected to said base through said rotary joint, and a position sensor that generates a position signal that corresponds to the position of said link relative to said base, said signal generating apparatus comprising: a. a wrench sensor that is connected between said base and said reference body to generate a base wrench signal that corresponds to the base wrench that is applied between said base and said reference body, expressed at a sensor measurement point; b. coupled to said position sensor and said wrench sensor, a gravity compensator, which generates a dynamic wrench signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated dynamic component of said base wrench signal, based on said position signal and said base wrench signal; and c. coupled to said gravity compensator and said position sensor, a joint analyzer, which generates a signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated torque that is actually applied to said link at said rotary joint, based on said dynamic wrench signal and said position signal.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
207 words
An apparatus for generating a signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated torque actually applied to a link at a rotary joint of a manipulator, said manipulator having a base that is connected to a reference body, and a moveable link that is connected to said base through said rotary joint, and a position sensor that generates a position signal that corresponds to the position of said link relative to said base, said signal generating apparatus comprising: a. a wrench sensor that is connected between said base and said reference body to generate a base wrench signal that corresponds to the base wrench that is applied between said base and said reference body, expressed at a sensor measurement point; b. coupled to said position sensor and said wrench sensor, a gravity compensator, which generates a dynamic wrench signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated dynamic component of said base wrench signal, based on said position signal and said base wrench signal; and c. coupled to said gravity compensator and said position sensor, a joint analyzer, which generates a signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated torque that is actually applied to said link at said rotary joint, based on said dynamic wrench signal and said position signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
84 words
The signal generator of claim 16, said gravity compensator comprising: a. coupled to said position sensor, a gravity wrench generator, which generates a signal that corresponds to the gravity component of said base wrench, based on said position signal; and b. coupled to said gravity wrench generator and said wrench sensor, a dynamic wrench signal generator, which generates said signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated dynamic component of said base wrench signal, based on said gravity wrench signal and said base wrench signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
65 words
The signal generator of claim 17, said gravity wrench generator comprising: a. means for generating a vector O s G from said sensor measurement point to the center of mass of said link; and b. means for generating a gravity moment signal that corresponds to O s G×m g, where m is the mass of said link and g is the acceleration due to gravity.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The signal generator of claim 17, said gravity wrench generator comprising a look up table that relates, on the one hand said position signal for said link to, on the other hand a corresponding, predetermined gravity wrench.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
151 words
The signal generator of claim 16, said basis between said signal that corresponds to said gravity compensated torque that is actually applied to said link at said rotary joint on the one hand and, on the other hand, said dynamic wrench signal and said position signals, comprising: τ 1 =-z 0 t M d O 0 ! where: τ 1 is the gravity compensated torque that is actually applied to said link at said rotary joint; M d O 0 is the moment of said dynamic wrench signal, expressed at O 0 , which is the origin of the axis around which said link to which said gravity compensated torque is actually applied rotates relative to said base; -z p t ! is an operator that projects the contents of the square brackets !, which is a vector, onto an axis z 0 , which axis is at O 0 .
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
70 words
The signal generator of claim 17, said gravity wrench generator comprising: a. means for generating a vector O s G from said sensor measurement point to the center of mass of said link; and b. means for generating a gravity moment signal that corresponds to any position dependent components of O S G×m g, where m is the mass of said link and g is the acceleration due to gravity.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
207 words
An apparatus for generating a signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated force actually applied to a link at a linear joint of a manipulator, said manipulator having a base that is connected to a reference body, and a moveable link that is connected to said base through said linear joint, and a position sensor that generates a position signal that corresponds to the position of said link relative to said base, said signal generating apparatus comprising: a. a wrench sensor that is connected between said base and said reference body to generate a base wrench signal that corresponds to the base wrench that is applied between said base and said reference body, expressed at a sensor measurement point; b. coupled to said position sensor and said wrench sensor, a gravity compensator, which generates a dynamic wrench signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated dynamic component of said base wrench signal, based on said position signal and said base wrench signal; and c. coupled to said gravity compensator and said position sensor, a joint analyzer, which generates a signal that corresponds to said gravity compensated force that is actually applied to said link at said linear joint, based on said dynamic wrench signal and said position signal.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
207 words
An apparatus for generating a signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated force actually applied to a link at a linear joint of a manipulator, said manipulator having a base that is connected to a reference body, and a moveable link that is connected to said base through said linear joint, and a position sensor that generates a position signal that corresponds to the position of said link relative to said base, said signal generating apparatus comprising: a. a wrench sensor that is connected between said base and said reference body to generate a base wrench signal that corresponds to the base wrench that is applied between said base and said reference body, expressed at a sensor measurement point; b. coupled to said position sensor and said wrench sensor, a gravity compensator, which generates a dynamic wrench signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated dynamic component of said base wrench signal, based on said position signal and said base wrench signal; and c. coupled to said gravity compensator and said position sensor, a joint analyzer, which generates a signal that corresponds to said gravity compensated force that is actually applied to said link at said linear joint, based on said dynamic wrench signal and said position signal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
84 words
The signal generator of claim 22, said gravity compensator comprising: a. coupled to said position sensor, a gravity wrench generator, which generates a signal that corresponds to the gravity component of said base wrench, based on said position signal; and b. coupled to said gravity wrench generator and said wrench sensor, a dynamic wrench signal generator, which generates said signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated dynamic component of said base wrench signal, based on said gravity wrench signal and said base wrench signal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
65 words
The signal generator of claim 23, said gravity wrench generator comprising: a. means for generating a vector O s G from said sensor measurement point to the center of mass of said link; and b. means for generating a gravity moment signal that corresponds to O s G×m g, where m is the mass of said link and g is the acceleration due to gravity.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
The signal generator of claim 23, said gravity wrench generator comprising a look up table that relates, on the one hand said position signal to, on the other hand a corresponding, predetermined gravity wrench.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
143 words
The signal generator of claim 22, said basis between said signal that corresponds to said gravity compensated force that is actually applied to said link at said linear joint on the one hand and, on the other hand, said dynamic wrench signal and said position signals, comprising: f 1 =-z 0 t F d ! where: f 1 is the gravity compensated force that is actually applied to said link at said rotary joint; F d is the force of said dynamic wrench signal; and -z 0 t ! is an operator that projects the contents of the square brackets !, which is a vector, onto an axis z 0 , which axis is at O 0 , which is the origin of the axis along which said link to which said gravity compensated force is actually applied translates relative to said base.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
70 words
The signal generator of claim 23, said gravity wrench generator comprising: a. means for generating a vector O s G from said sensor measurement point to the center of mass of said link; and b. means for generating a gravity moment signal that corresponds to any position dependent components of O s G×m g, where m is the mass of said link and g is the acceleration due to gravity.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
206 words
A method for generating a signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated torque actually applied to a link at a rotary joint of a manipulator, said manipulator having a base that is connected to a reference body and a plurality of moveable links, the first being connected to said base through a first joint and each other moveable link being connected through a joint to an adjacent link that is kinematically closer to said reference body, and for each of said movable links, a position sensor that generates a position signal that corresponds to the position of said link relative to said adjacent link, said signal generating method comprising the steps of: a. generating a base wrench signal that corresponds to the base wrench that is applied between said base and said reference body, expressed at a sensor measurement point; b. compensating for gravity by generating a dynamic wrench signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated dynamic component of said base wrench signal, based on said position signals and said base wrench signal; and c. generating a signal that corresponds to said gravity compensated torque that is actually applied to said link at said rotary joint, based on said dynamic wrench signal and said position signals.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
206 words
A method for generating a signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated torque actually applied to a link at a rotary joint of a manipulator, said manipulator having a base that is connected to a reference body and a plurality of moveable links, the first being connected to said base through a first joint and each other moveable link being connected through a joint to an adjacent link that is kinematically closer to said reference body, and for each of said movable links, a position sensor that generates a position signal that corresponds to the position of said link relative to said adjacent link, said signal generating method comprising the steps of: a. generating a base wrench signal that corresponds to the base wrench that is applied between said base and said reference body, expressed at a sensor measurement point; b. compensating for gravity by generating a dynamic wrench signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated dynamic component of said base wrench signal, based on said position signals and said base wrench signal; and c. generating a signal that corresponds to said gravity compensated torque that is actually applied to said link at said rotary joint, based on said dynamic wrench signal and said position signals.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
58 words
The signal generating method of claim 28, said step of compensating for gravity comprising the steps of: a. generating the gravity wrench signal by generating a signal that corresponds to the gravity component of said base wrench, based on said position signals; and b. compensating for gravity, based on said gravity wrench signal and said base wrench signal.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
92 words
The signal generating method of claim 29, said step of generating the gravity wrench signal comprising the steps of: a. generating a position vector by, for each link for which a position signal is provided, generating a vector O s G j from said sensor measurement point to the center of mass of said link; and b. generating a gravity moment signal that corresponds to ##EQU24## where n is the number of said plurality of links, m j is the mass of link j and g is the acceleration due to gravity.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
55 words
The signal generating method of claim 30, said step of generating the gravity wrench signal further comprising the step of generating a gravity force signal that corresponds to ##EQU25## where n is the number of said plurality of links, m j is the mass of link j and g is the acceleration due to gravity.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
70 words
The signal generating method of claim 30, said step of generating the gravity wrench signal comprising the steps of using a predetermined table that relates, on the one hand combinations of position signals for all of said links for which a position signal is provided, to, on the other hand a corresponding, predetermined gravity wrench, looking up the gravity wrench that is related to said combination of generated position signals.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
96 words
The signal generating method of claim 31, said step of generating the gravity wrench comprising the steps of: a. generating a position vector by, for each link for which a position signal is provided, generating a vector O s G j from said sensor measurement point to the center of mass of said link; and b. generating a gravity moment signal that corresponds to any position dependent components of ##EQU26## where n is the number of said plurality of links, m j is the mass of link j and g is the acceleration due to gravity.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
297 words
The signal generating method of claim 31 said basis between said signal that corresponds to said gravity compensated torque that is actually applied to said link at said rotary joint on the one hand and, on the other hand, said dynamic wrench signal and said position signals, being established by the step of evaluating the following relation: ##EQU27## where: τ l+1 is said gravity compensated torque that is actually applied to said link at said rotary joint; M d O .sbsp.i is the moment of said dynamic wrench signal, expressed at O i , which is the origin of the axis around which said link to which said torque is actually applied rotates relative to an adjacent link that is kinematically closer to said reference body; -z i t ! is an operator that projects the contents of the square brackets !, which is a vector, onto an axis z i , which axis is at O i ; i is the number of said movable links that are kinematically closer to said reference body than said link to which said gravity compensated torque is actually applied; and for each link j of said i movable links: I j is the inertia tensor of said link j at its center of mass G j ; ω j is the angular velocity of said link j relative to a fixed frame; ω j is the angular acceleration of said link j relative to a fixed frame; V G .sbsb.j is the linear acceleration of the center of mass of said link j relative to a fixed frame; O i G j is the vector between O i and the center of mass G j of said link j; and m j is the mass of said link j.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
262 words
The signal generating method of claim 31, said basis between said signal that corresponds to said gravity compensated torque that is actually applied at said rotary joint on the one hand and, on the other hand, said dynamic wrench signal and said position signals, being established by the step of evaluating a relationship between said gravity compensated torque and at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of: M d O .sbsp.i, which is the moment of said dynamic wrench signal, expressed at O i , which is the origin of the axis around which said link to which said torque is actually applied rotates relative to an adjacent link that is kinematically closer to said reference body; and for each link j of i links, where i is the number of links that are kinematically closer to said reference body than said link to which said torque is actually applied: I j , which is the inertia tensor of said link j at its center of mass G j ; ω j , which is the angular velocity of said link j relative to a fixed frame; ω j , which is the angular acceleration of said link j relative to a fixed frame; V G .sbsb.j, which is the linear acceleration of the center of mass of said link j relative to a fixed frame; O i G j which is the vector between O i and the center of mass G j of said link j; and m j , which is the mass of said link j.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
206 words
A method for generating a signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated force actually applied to a link at a linear joint of a manipulator, said manipulator having a base that is connected to a reference body and a plurality of moveable links, the first being connected to said base through a first joint and each other moveable link being connected through a joint to an adjacent link that is kinematically closer to said reference body, and for each of said movable links, a position sensor that generates a position signal that corresponds to the position of said link relative to said adjacent link, said signal generating method comprising the steps of: a. generating a base wrench signal that corresponds to the base wrench that is applied between said base and said reference body, expressed at a sensor measurement point; b. compensating for gravity by generating a dynamic wrench signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated dynamic component of said base wrench signal, based on said position signals and said base wrench signal; and c. generating a signal that corresponds to said gravity compensated force that is actually applied to said link at said linear joint, based on said dynamic wrench signal and said position signals.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
206 words
A method for generating a signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated force actually applied to a link at a linear joint of a manipulator, said manipulator having a base that is connected to a reference body and a plurality of moveable links, the first being connected to said base through a first joint and each other moveable link being connected through a joint to an adjacent link that is kinematically closer to said reference body, and for each of said movable links, a position sensor that generates a position signal that corresponds to the position of said link relative to said adjacent link, said signal generating method comprising the steps of: a. generating a base wrench signal that corresponds to the base wrench that is applied between said base and said reference body, expressed at a sensor measurement point; b. compensating for gravity by generating a dynamic wrench signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated dynamic component of said base wrench signal, based on said position signals and said base wrench signal; and c. generating a signal that corresponds to said gravity compensated force that is actually applied to said link at said linear joint, based on said dynamic wrench signal and said position signals.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
220 words
The signal generating method of claim 36 said basis between said signal that corresponds to said gravity compensated force that is actually applied to said link at said linear joint on the one hand and, on the other hand, said dynamic wrench signal and said position signals, being established by the step of evaluating the following relation: ##EQU28## where: f i+1 is the gravity compensated force that is actually applied to said link at said linear joint; F d is the force of said dynamic wrench signal; -z i t ! is an operator that projects the contents of the square brackets !, which is a vector, onto an axis z i , which axis is at O i , which is the origin of the axis along which said link to which said force is actually applied translates relative to an adjacent link that is kinematically closer to said reference body; i is the number of said movable links that are kinematically closer to said reference body than said link to which said gravity compensated force is actually applied; and for each link j of said i movable links: V G is the linear acceleration of the center of mass G of said link j relative to a fixed frame; and m is the mass of said link j.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
172 words
A method for generating a signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated torque actually applied to a link at a rotary joint of a manipulator, said manipulator having a base that is connected to a reference body and that is connected to said moveable link through said rotary joint and a position sensor that generates a position signal that corresponds to the position of said link relative to said base, said signal generating method comprising the steps of: a. generating a base wrench signal that corresponds to the base wrench that is applied between said base and said reference body, expressed at a sensor measurement point; b. compensating for gravity by generating a dynamic wrench signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated dynamic component of said base wrench signal, based on said position signal and said base wrench signal; and c. generating a signal that corresponds to said gravity compensated torque that is actually applied to said link at said rotary joint, based on said dynamic wrench signal and said position signal.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
172 words
A method for generating a signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated torque actually applied to a link at a rotary joint of a manipulator, said manipulator having a base that is connected to a reference body and that is connected to said moveable link through said rotary joint and a position sensor that generates a position signal that corresponds to the position of said link relative to said base, said signal generating method comprising the steps of: a. generating a base wrench signal that corresponds to the base wrench that is applied between said base and said reference body, expressed at a sensor measurement point; b. compensating for gravity by generating a dynamic wrench signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated dynamic component of said base wrench signal, based on said position signal and said base wrench signal; and c. generating a signal that corresponds to said gravity compensated torque that is actually applied to said link at said rotary joint, based on said dynamic wrench signal and said position signal.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
172 words
A method for generating a signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated force actually applied to a link at a linear joint of a manipulator, said manipulator having a base that is connected to a reference body and that is connected to said moveable link through said linear joint and a position sensor that generates a position signal that corresponds to the position of said link relative to said base, said signal generating method comprising the steps of: a. generating a base wrench signal that corresponds to the base wrench that is applied between said base and said reference body, expressed at a sensor measurement point; b. compensating for gravity by generating a dynamic wrench signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated dynamic component of said base wrench signal, based on said position signal and said base wrench signal; and c. generating a signal that corresponds to said gravity compensated force that is actually applied to said link at said linear joint, based on said dynamic wrench signal and said position signal.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
172 words
A method for generating a signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated force actually applied to a link at a linear joint of a manipulator, said manipulator having a base that is connected to a reference body and that is connected to said moveable link through said linear joint and a position sensor that generates a position signal that corresponds to the position of said link relative to said base, said signal generating method comprising the steps of: a. generating a base wrench signal that corresponds to the base wrench that is applied between said base and said reference body, expressed at a sensor measurement point; b. compensating for gravity by generating a dynamic wrench signal that corresponds to the gravity compensated dynamic component of said base wrench signal, based on said position signal and said base wrench signal; and c. generating a signal that corresponds to said gravity compensated force that is actually applied to said link at said linear joint, based on said dynamic wrench signal and said position signal.