Invitation to Topological Robotics

Invitation to Topological Robotics
Author: Michael Farber
Publisher: European Mathematical Society
Total Pages: 148
Release: 2008
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 9783037190548

This book discusses several selected topics of a new emerging area of research on the interface between topology and engineering. The first main topic is topology of configuration spaces of mechanical linkages. These manifolds arise in various fields of mathematics and in other sciences, e.g., engineering, statistics, molecular biology. To compute Betti numbers of these configuration spaces the author applies a new technique of Morse theory in the presence of an involution. A significant result of topology of linkages presented in this book is a solution of a conjecture of Kevin Walker which states that the relative sizes of bars of a linkage are determined, up to certain equivalence, by the cohomology algebra of the linkage configuration space. This book also describes a new probabilistic approach to topology of linkages which treats the bar lengths as random variables and studies mathematical expectations of Betti numbers. The second main topic is topology of configuration spaces associated to polyhedra. The author gives an account of a beautiful work of S. R. Gal, suggesting an explicit formula for the generating function encoding Euler characteristics of these spaces. Next the author studies the knot theory of a robot arm, focusing on a recent important result of R. Connelly, E. Demain, and G. Rote. Finally, he investigates topological problems arising in the theory of robot motion planning algorithms and studies the homotopy invariant TC(X) measuring navigational complexity of configuration spaces. This book is intended as an appetizer and will introduce the reader to many fascinating topological problems motivated by engineering.

Modern Robotics

Modern Robotics
Author: Kevin M. Lynch
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 545
Release: 2017-05-25
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 1107156300

A modern and unified treatment of the mechanics, planning, and control of robots, suitable for a first course in robotics.

Topology and Robotics

Topology and Robotics
Author: Michael Farber
Publisher: American Mathematical Soc.
Total Pages: 202
Release: 2007
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 0821842463

Ever since the literary works of Capek and Asimov, mankind has been fascinated by the idea of robots. Modern research in robotics reveals that along with many other branches of mathematics, topology has a fundamental role to play in making these grand ideas a reality. This volume summarizes recent progress in the field of topological robotics--a new discipline at the crossroads of topology, engineering and computer science. Currently, topological robotics is developing in two main directions. On one hand, it studies pure topological problems inspired by robotics and engineering. On the other hand, it uses topological ideas, topological language, topological philosophy, and specially developed tools of algebraic topology to solve problems of engineering and computer science. Examples of research in both these directions are given by articles in this volume, which is designed to be a mixture of various interesting topics of pure mathematics and practical engineering.

Topology Design of Robot Mechanisms

Topology Design of Robot Mechanisms
Author: Ting-Li Yang
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 249
Release: 2018-01-02
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9811055327

This book focuses on the topology theory of mechanisms developed by the authors and provides a systematic method for the topology design of robot mechanisms. The main original theoretical contributions of this book include: A. Three basic concepts · The “geometrical constraint type of axes” is introduced as the third element of the topological structure of a mechanism. When it is combined with the other two elements, the kinematic pair and the connection of links, the symbolic expression of the topological structure is independent of the motion positions (except for the singularity positions) and the fixed coordinate system (Chapter 2). · The position and orientation characteristic (POC) set is used to describe the POC of the relative motion between any two links. The POC set, derived from the unit vector set of the velocity of a link, is only depend on the topological structure of a mechanism. Therefore, it is also independent of the motion positions and the fixed coordinate system (Chapter 3). · The single open chain (SOC) unit is the base unit of the topological structure used to develop the four basic equations of the mechanism topology (Chapters 2, 4–6). B. The mechanism composition principle based on the SOC units This book proposes a mechanism composition principle, based on the SOC units, to establish a systematic theory for the unified modeling of the topology, kinematics, and dynamics of mechanisms based on the SOC units (Chapter 7). C. Four basic equations • The POC equation of serial mechanisms with 10 symbolic operation rules (Chapter 4). • The POC equation of parallel mechanisms with 14 symbolic operation rules (Chapter 5). • The general DOF formula for spatial mechanisms (Chapter 6). • The coupling degree formula for the Assur kinematic chain (Chapter 7). D. One systematic method for the topology design of robot mechanisms (Chapters 8–10) Based on the three basic concepts and the four basic equations addressed above, this book puts forward a systematic method for the topology design of parallel mechanisms, which is fundamentally different from all existing methods. Its main characteristics are as follows: • The design process includes two stages: the first is structure synthesis, which derives many structure types; the second involves the performance analysis, classification and optimization of structure types derived from the first stage. • The design operation is independent of the motion positions and the fixed coordinate system. Therefore, the proposed method is essentially a geometrical method, which ensures the full-cycle DOF and the generality of geometric conditions of mechanism existence. • Each individual design step follows an explicit formula or the guidelines for design criteria, making the operation simple, feasible and reproducible. In addition, the topology design of the SCARA PMs is studied in detail to demonstrate the proposed method (Chapter 10).

Algebraic and Differential Topology of Robust Stability

Algebraic and Differential Topology of Robust Stability
Author: Edmond A. Jonckheere
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Total Pages: 625
Release: 1997
Genre: Algebraic topology
ISBN: 0195093011

In this book, two seemingly unrelated fields - algebraic topology and robust control - are brought together. The book develops algebraic/differential topology proceeding from an easily motivated control engineering problem, showing the relevance of advanced topological concepts and reconstructing the fundamental concepts of algebraic/differential topology from an application-oriented point of view. It is suitable for graduate students in engineering and/or applied mathematics, and academic researchers.

Algebraic Geometry For Robotics And Control Theory

Algebraic Geometry For Robotics And Control Theory
Author: Laura Menini
Publisher: World Scientific
Total Pages: 615
Release: 2021-09-02
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1800610475

The development of inexpensive and fast computers, coupled with the discovery of efficient algorithms for dealing with polynomial equations, has enabled exciting new applications of algebraic geometry and commutative algebra. Algebraic Geometry for Robotics and Control Theory shows how tools borrowed from these two fields can be efficiently employed to solve relevant problem arising in robotics and control theory.After a brief introduction to various algebraic objects and techniques, the book first covers a wide variety of topics concerning control theory, robotics, and their applications. Specifically this book shows how these computational and theoretical methods can be coupled with classical control techniques to: solve the inverse kinematics of robotic arms; design observers for nonlinear systems; solve systems of polynomial equalities and inequalities; plan the motion of mobile robots; analyze Boolean networks; solve (possibly, multi-objective) optimization problems; characterize the robustness of linear; time-invariant plants; and certify positivity of polynomials.

Topology and Its Applications

Topology and Its Applications
Author: William F. Basener
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 295
Release: 2013-06-12
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 1118626222

Discover a unique and modern treatment of topology employing a cross-disciplinary approach Implemented recently to understand diverse topics, such as cell biology, superconductors, and robot motion, topology has been transformed from a theoretical field that highlights mathematical theory to a subject that plays a growing role in nearly all fields of scientific investigation. Moving from the concrete to the abstract, Topology and Its Applications displays both the beauty and utility of topology, first presenting the essentials of topology followed by its emerging role within the new frontiers in research. Filling a gap between the teaching of topology and its modern uses in real-world phenomena, Topology and Its Applications is organized around the mathematical theory of topology, a framework of rigorous theorems, and clear, elegant proofs. This book is the first of its kind to present applications in computer graphics, economics, dynamical systems, condensed matter physics, biology, robotics, chemistry, cosmology, material science, computational topology, and population modeling, as well as other areas of science and engineering. Many of these applications are presented in optional sections, allowing an instructor to customize the presentation. The author presents a diversity of topological areas, including point-set topology, geometric topology, differential topology, and algebraic/combinatorial topology. Topics within these areas include: Open sets Compactness Homotopy Surface classification Index theory on surfaces Manifolds and complexes Topological groups The fundamental group and homology Special "core intuition" segments throughout the book briefly explain the basic intuition essential to understanding several topics. A generous number of figures and examples, many of which come from applications such as liquid crystals, space probe data, and computer graphics, are all available from the publisher's Web site.

Distributed Control of Robotic Networks

Distributed Control of Robotic Networks
Author: Francesco Bullo
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Total Pages: 320
Release: 2009-07-06
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1400831474

This self-contained introduction to the distributed control of robotic networks offers a distinctive blend of computer science and control theory. The book presents a broad set of tools for understanding coordination algorithms, determining their correctness, and assessing their complexity; and it analyzes various cooperative strategies for tasks such as consensus, rendezvous, connectivity maintenance, deployment, and boundary estimation. The unifying theme is a formal model for robotic networks that explicitly incorporates their communication, sensing, control, and processing capabilities--a model that in turn leads to a common formal language to describe and analyze coordination algorithms. Written for first- and second-year graduate students in control and robotics, the book will also be useful to researchers in control theory, robotics, distributed algorithms, and automata theory. The book provides explanations of the basic concepts and main results, as well as numerous examples and exercises. Self-contained exposition of graph-theoretic concepts, distributed algorithms, and complexity measures for processor networks with fixed interconnection topology and for robotic networks with position-dependent interconnection topology Detailed treatment of averaging and consensus algorithms interpreted as linear iterations on synchronous networks Introduction of geometric notions such as partitions, proximity graphs, and multicenter functions Detailed treatment of motion coordination algorithms for deployment, rendezvous, connectivity maintenance, and boundary estimation

Geometry and Topology of Configuration Spaces

Geometry and Topology of Configuration Spaces
Author: Edward R. Fadell
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 314
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 3642564461

With applications in mind, this self-contained monograph provides a coherent and thorough treatment of the configuration spaces of Euclidean spaces and spheres, making the subject accessible to researchers and graduates with a minimal background in classical homotopy theory and algebraic topology.

Combinatorial And Toric Homotopy: Introductory Lectures

Combinatorial And Toric Homotopy: Introductory Lectures
Author: Alastair Darby
Publisher: World Scientific
Total Pages: 448
Release: 2017-10-20
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 9813226587

This volume consists of introductory lectures on the topics in the new and rapidly developing area of toric homotopy theory, and its applications to the current research in configuration spaces and braids, as well as to more applicable mathematics such as fr-codes and robot motion planning.The book starts intertwining homotopy theoretical and combinatorial ideas within the remits of toric topology and illustrates an attempt to classify in a combinatorial way polytopes known as fullerenes, which are important objects in quantum physics, quantum chemistry and nanotechnology. Toric homotopy theory is then introduced as a further development of toric topology, which describes properties of Davis-Januszkiewicz spaces, moment-angle complexes and their generalizations to polyhedral products. The book also displays the current research on configuration spaces, braids, the theory of limits over the category of presentations and the theory of fr-codes. As an application to robotics, the book surveys topological problems relevant to the motion planning problem of robotics and includes new results and constructions, which enrich the emerging area of topological robotics.The book is at research entry level addressing the core components in homotopy theory and their important applications in the sciences and thus suitable for advanced undergraduate and graduate students.