Novel Snap-Layer MMPC Scheme via Neural Dynamics Equivalency and Solver for Redundant Robot Arms With Five-Layer Physical Limits

To obtain smoother kinematic control of minimum motion, a novel snap-layer minimum motion scheme, otherwise known as the minimum motion planning and control (MMPC) scheme for redundant robot arms, is proposed for the first time in this study. With the primary task of tracking planned paths and the consideration of satisfying five-layer physical limits, the snap-layer MMPC problem is transformed into a quadratic programming (QP) problem. Five-layer physical limits include angle-layer, velocity-layer, acceleration-layer, jerk-layer, and snap-layer limits, which are all considered and then transformed into a unified-layer bounded constraint through Zhang neural dynamics (ZND) equivalency. Furthermore, the snap-layer performance index and equation constraint are derived by utilizing the ZND formula. Therefore, the proposed snap-layer MMPC scheme is formulated as a standard QP that can avoid the potential physical damage of redundant robot arms. The snap-layer projection neural dynamics (PND) solver is presented and used to acquire the neural solution of the QP. Simulation results on a 6-degrees-of-freedom (DOF) planar redundant robot arm are presented to substantiate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed snap-layer MMPC scheme by comparing it with the jerk-layer MMPC scheme and the minimum snap norm (MSN) scheme.