Optimum design of high-speed flexible robotic arms with dynamic behavior constraints

A methodology is presented for the optimum design of robotic arms under time-dependent stress and displacement constraints by using mathematical programming. Finite elements are used in the modeling of the flexible links. The design variables are the cross-sectional dimensions of the elements. The time dependence of the constraints is removed through the use of equivalent constraints based on the most critical constraints. It is shown that this approach yields a better design than using equivalent constraints obtained by the Kresselmeier-Steinhauser function. An optimizer based on sequential quadratic programming is used and the design sensitivities are evaluated by overall finite differences. The dynamical equations contain the nonlinear interactions between the rigid and elastic degrees-of-freedom, To illustrate the procedure, a planar robotic arm is optimized for a particular deployment motion by using different equivalent constraints. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.