The motion planning problem of a free-falling cat is investigated. Nonholonomicity arises in a free-falling cat subject to nonintegrable velocity constraints or nonintegrable conservation laws. When the total angular momentum is zero, the rotational motion of the cat subjects to nonholonomic constraints. The equation of dynamics of a free-falling cat is obtained by using the model of two symmet...

This paper presents a sensor-based motion planning algorithm for 3-DOF car-like robots with a nonholonomic constraint. Similar to the classic Bug family algorithms, the proposed algorithm enables the car-like robot to navigate in a completely unknown environment using only the range sensor information. The car-like robot uses the local range sensor view to determine the local path so that it mo...

We address the problem of motion planning for nonholonomic cooperating mobile robots manipulating and transporting objects while holding them in a stable grasp. We present a general approach based on the calculus of variations that allows us to obtain optimal trajectories and actuator forces/torques for any maneuver in the presence of obstacles. In addition, geometric constraints such as joint ...

In this series of papers, we present a motion planning framework for planning comfortable and customizable motion of nonholonomic mobile robots such as intelligent wheelchairs and autonomous cars. In this first one we present the mathematical foundation of our framework. The motion of a mobile robot that transports a human should be comfortable and customizable. We identify several properties t...

(ABSTRACT) In this thesis we study the methods for motion planning for nonholonomic systems. These systems are characterized by nonholonomic constraints on their generalized velocities. The motion planning problem with constraints on the velocities is transformed into a control problem having fewer control inputs than the degrees of freedom. The main focus of the thesis is on the study of motio...

We analyze the behavior of redundant robots when the joint motion is generated by inverting task velocity commands through a kinematic control scheme. Depending on the chosen inversion scheme, the robot motion is subject to differential constraints that may or may not be integrable. Accordingly, we give a classification in terms of holonomic, partially nonholonomic, and completely nonholonomic ...

The nonholonomic kinematics characteristic of free-floating space robot (FFSR) in a microgravity environment is a special difficulty in its motion planning. First, kinematics model for FFSR system and state transition equation have been established by applying linear momentum and angular momentum conservation laws followed by FFSR in a microgravity environment. Second, aiming at the nonholonomi...

We address the problem of motion planning for nonholonomic cooperating mobile robots manipulating and transporting objects while holding them in a stable grasp. We present a general approach for solving optimal control problems based on the calculus of variations. We specialize this approach to solving the motion planning problem and obtaining trajectories and actuator forces/torques for any ma...

Motion planning for coupled rigid bodies in a horizontal plane is investigated. The rigid bodies are serially connected by passive revolute joints. The dynamic constraints on the system are second-order nonholonomic constraints. We attempted to control those n coupled rigid bodies by the translational acceleration inputs at the first joint. If each rigid body is hinged at the center of percussi...