Implicit Time Integration Simulation of Robots with Rigid Bodies and Cosserat Rods Based on A Newton-euler Recursive Algorithm

• Published in: IEEE transactions on robotics Vol. 40; pp. 1 - 20
• Main Authors: Boyer, Frederic, Gotelli, Andrea, Tempel, Philipp, Lebastard, Vincent, Renda, Federico, Briot, Sebastien
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01.01.2024; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Algorithms; Automatic; Engineering Sciences; Heuristic algorithms; Inverse dynamics; Jacobian matrices; Kinematics; Mathematical models; Multibody systems; Prediction algorithms; Rigid structures; Robot kinematics; Robotics; Rods; Strain; Time integration; Topology
• ISSN: 1552-3098; 1941-0468; 1941-0468
• DOI: 10.1109/TRO.2023.3334647

In this paper, we propose a new algorithm for solving the forward dynamics of multibody systems consisting of rigid bodies connected in arbitrary topologies by localised joints and/or soft links, possibly actuated or not. The simulation is based on the implicit time-integration of the Lagrangian model of these systems, where the soft links are modelled by Cosserat rods parameterised by assumed strain modes. This choice imposes a predictor-corrector structure on the approach, and requires computing both the residual vector and the Jacobian of the residual vector of the dynamics constrained by the time integrator. These additional calculations are handled here with a new Newton-Euler recursive inverse dynamics algorithm and its linearized tangent version. The approach is illustrated with numerical examples from the Cosserat rod literature and from recent robotic applications.