Monthly Archives: March 2017

Quadbot Forward Kinematics

The Forward Kinematics for the left leg of the Quadbot have been formalised, using modified Denavit-Hartenberg parameters and axes conventions.

I also made a simple Python applet to verify the maths and visualise the leg’s poses. I used Tkinter and three Canvas widgets to show orthogonal views.

The reason I am testing the maths in a quick Python program is that I want to be able to port them easily over to Arduino, as my latest aim is to drop the Raspberry Pi and A-Star 32U4 LV Pi expansion module (shown in some of the latest CAD models) in favour of trying out an ArbotiX controller. A benefit with the latter is that I wouldn’t need a Dynamixel-to-USB converter (e.g. USB2AX) or separate motor power supply.

Next up will be to work out the Inverse Kinematics.

  Link
Twist
Link
Length
Link
Offset
Joint
Angle
j alpha_i-1 a_i-1 d_i theta_i
1 0 0 0 th_1
2 pi/2 29.05 0 th_2 – 34
3 0 76.919 0 th_3 + 67.5
4 0 72.96 0 th_4
5 -pi/2 45.032 0 th_5

D-H Parameters

Quadbot 17 Kinematics_001

Quadbot kinematics applet, zeroed position

Quadbot 17 Kinematics_002

Quadbot kinematics applet, test position using sliders