Difference between revisions of "Assigning coordinate frames"
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===Common normal=== | ===Common normal=== | ||
− | The common normal | + | The common normal is an axis defined for two consecutive joints. |
===Assigning the coordinate frames=== | ===Assigning the coordinate frames=== |
Revision as of 15:29, 4 November 2015
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To be able to determine the spatial relationship or transformation, respectively, between the links of a manipulator, local coordinate frames have to be assigned to them first. There are several rules that have to be observed when assigning coordinate frames following the Denavit-Hartenberg convention. The first rule is, that the manipulator has to be moved to its zero position. So all the joints or their joint parameters, respectively, have to be set to zero. Then the coordinate frames are assigned regarding the zero position.
Notation
The notation of the links and joints is shown in the figure below. A manipulator consists of links that are connected with joints. The links correspond to the rigid parts of an arm and the joints are the flexible connections between them. A joint is always assigned to the proximate link. So a link is connected with its joint to the end of link . The proximate link is then mounted to the end of via its joint . The first link is mounted on the base via joint . So the base is actually link but does not directly belong to the manipulator. The end of the last link corresponds to the end-effector.
The coordinate frames are always attached to the end of the links at the distal joints. The first coordinate frame, indexed , is the base or reference frame and attached to the base in joint . The origin of the base is coincident with the joints origin and their axes are aligned. So the joint axis of the first frame is always normal to the -plane of the base frame. The next frame is at the end of link in joint followed by at the end of and so on. The coordinate frame of the last link is finally attached to the end of of the manipulator and so to the end-effector.
Main joint axes
Following the above notation, a coordinate frame is attached to each end of a link at the corresponding joint. The orientation of the coordinate frames depends on the joint and on the prior frame. There is one rule, that is always valid. This is, that the -axis of a coordinate frame is always pointing in the direction of the main axis of the related joint. Like can be seen in the figure on the left, the main axis of a prismatic joint is the axis along which the displacement in positive direction is applied. For a revolute joint, the main axis is the rotation axis. The direction of the rotation axis and so of the main axis is depending on the positive rotation direction. When you hold your right hand like shown on the right and point your thumb in the direction of the rotation axis, the four other fingers indicate the rotation direction for positive angles. So the right hand can be used to determine the direction of the main axis. In the figure on the left, the thumb of the right hand has to point upwards, so that the four fingers correspond to the direction of the arrow indicating the positive rotation direction. Thus the main axis is directed upwards as well.
Common normal
The common normal is an axis defined for two consecutive joints.