Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 March 2009
Velocity similarity principle V(θ., ṡ, ub, Qb) = DabV (θ., ṡ, ua, Qa)D ab–1 is presented and used to derive several useful forms of the Jacobian matrix for the manipulator from its basic kinematic equations in 4 X 4 matrix form. The zero reference position representation is used and, therefore, the base system is the only coordinate system utilized in the derivations. For manipulators with a spherical wrist, a modified form of the Jacobian is presented in which the Jacobian columns corresponding to the regional structure are completely decoupled from those corresponding to the wrist structure.