Motion Planning for Cooperative Robotic Systems Performing Contact Operations

Two algorithms are developed in this paper for the optimal motion coordination of a pair of industrial robots engaged in contact operations such as part machining or deburring. In the first algorithm the two robots jointly grasp a tool, and move it in such a way that it performs a prescribed contact operation along the surface of a workpiece. In the second algorithm, one robot grasps the tool while a second robot grasps and maneuvers the workpiece; both robots move simultaneously relative to each other so that the tool maintains contact with the workpiece while tracking a prescribed trajectory along its surface at a constant speed.