Inverse Kinematics on Guiding Vector Fields for Robot Path Following

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Zhou, Yu, Bautista, Jesús, Yao, Weijia, de Marina, Héctor García
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Zhou, Yu
Bautista, Jesús
Yao, Weijia
de Marina, Héctor García
author_facet Zhou, Yu
Bautista, Jesús
Yao, Weijia
de Marina, Héctor García
contents Inverse kinematics is a fundamental technique for motion and positioning control in robotics, typically applied to end-effectors. In this paper, we extend the concept of inverse kinematics to guiding vector fields for path following in autonomous mobile robots. The desired path is defined by its implicit equation, i.e., by a collection of points belonging to one or more zero-level sets. These level sets serve as a reference to construct an error signal that drives the guiding vector field toward the desired path, enabling the robot to converge and travel along the path by following such a vector field. We start with the formal exposition on how inverse kinematics can be applied to guiding vector fields for single-integrator robots in an m-dimensional Euclidean space. Then, we leverage inverse kinematics to ensure that the level-set error signal behaves as a linear system, facilitating control over the robot's transient motion toward the desired path and allowing for the injection of feed-forward signals to induce precise motion behavior along the path. We then propose solutions to the theoretical and practical challenges of applying this technique to unicycles with constant speeds to follow 2D paths with precise transient control. We finish by validating the predicted theoretical results through real flights with fixed-wing drones.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2502_17313
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Inverse Kinematics on Guiding Vector Fields for Robot Path Following
Zhou, Yu
Bautista, Jesús
Yao, Weijia
de Marina, Héctor García
Robotics
Systems and Control
Inverse kinematics is a fundamental technique for motion and positioning control in robotics, typically applied to end-effectors. In this paper, we extend the concept of inverse kinematics to guiding vector fields for path following in autonomous mobile robots. The desired path is defined by its implicit equation, i.e., by a collection of points belonging to one or more zero-level sets. These level sets serve as a reference to construct an error signal that drives the guiding vector field toward the desired path, enabling the robot to converge and travel along the path by following such a vector field. We start with the formal exposition on how inverse kinematics can be applied to guiding vector fields for single-integrator robots in an m-dimensional Euclidean space. Then, we leverage inverse kinematics to ensure that the level-set error signal behaves as a linear system, facilitating control over the robot's transient motion toward the desired path and allowing for the injection of feed-forward signals to induce precise motion behavior along the path. We then propose solutions to the theoretical and practical challenges of applying this technique to unicycles with constant speeds to follow 2D paths with precise transient control. We finish by validating the predicted theoretical results through real flights with fixed-wing drones.
title Inverse Kinematics on Guiding Vector Fields for Robot Path Following
topic Robotics
Systems and Control
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.17313