Physical contacts can be modeled as degrees of constraints that mobile robots
maintain while moving. They stem from the non-penetrability condition : if
d i j \def\bfA{\boldsymbol{A}}
\def\bfB{\boldsymbol{B}}
\def\bfC{\boldsymbol{C}}
\def\bfD{\boldsymbol{D}}
\def\bfE{\boldsymbol{E}}
\def\bfF{\boldsymbol{F}}
\def\bfG{\boldsymbol{G}}
\def\bfH{\boldsymbol{H}}
\def\bfI{\boldsymbol{I}}
\def\bfJ{\boldsymbol{J}}
\def\bfK{\boldsymbol{K}}
\def\bfL{\boldsymbol{L}}
\def\bfM{\boldsymbol{M}}
\def\bfN{\boldsymbol{N}}
\def\bfO{\boldsymbol{O}}
\def\bfP{\boldsymbol{P}}
\def\bfQ{\boldsymbol{Q}}
\def\bfR{\boldsymbol{R}}
\def\bfS{\boldsymbol{S}}
\def\bfT{\boldsymbol{T}}
\def\bfU{\boldsymbol{U}}
\def\bfV{\boldsymbol{V}}
\def\bfW{\boldsymbol{W}}
\def\bfX{\boldsymbol{X}}
\def\bfY{\boldsymbol{Y}}
\def\bfZ{\boldsymbol{Z}}
\def\bfalpha{\boldsymbol{\alpha}}
\def\bfa{\boldsymbol{a}}
\def\bfbeta{\boldsymbol{\beta}}
\def\bfb{\boldsymbol{b}}
\def\bfcd{\dot{\bfc}}
\def\bfchi{\boldsymbol{\chi}}
\def\bfc{\boldsymbol{c}}
\def\bfd{\boldsymbol{d}}
\def\bfe{\boldsymbol{e}}
\def\bff{\boldsymbol{f}}
\def\bfgamma{\boldsymbol{\gamma}}
\def\bfg{\boldsymbol{g}}
\def\bfh{\boldsymbol{h}}
\def\bfi{\boldsymbol{i}}
\def\bfj{\boldsymbol{j}}
\def\bfk{\boldsymbol{k}}
\def\bflambda{\boldsymbol{\lambda}}
\def\bfl{\boldsymbol{l}}
\def\bfm{\boldsymbol{m}}
\def\bfn{\boldsymbol{n}}
\def\bfomega{\boldsymbol{\omega}}
\def\bfone{\boldsymbol{1}}
\def\bfo{\boldsymbol{o}}
\def\bfpdd{\ddot{\bfp}}
\def\bfpd{\dot{\bfp}}
\def\bfphi{\boldsymbol{\phi}}
\def\bfp{\boldsymbol{p}}
\def\bfq{\boldsymbol{q}}
\def\bfr{\boldsymbol{r}}
\def\bfsigma{\boldsymbol{\sigma}}
\def\bfs{\boldsymbol{s}}
\def\bftau{\boldsymbol{\tau}}
\def\bftheta{\boldsymbol{\theta}}
\def\bft{\boldsymbol{t}}
\def\bfu{\boldsymbol{u}}
\def\bfv{\boldsymbol{v}}
\def\bfw{\boldsymbol{w}}
\def\bfxi{\boldsymbol{\xi}}
\def\bfx{\boldsymbol{x}}
\def\bfy{\boldsymbol{y}}
\def\bfzero{\boldsymbol{0}}
\def\bfz{\boldsymbol{z}}
\def\defeq{\stackrel{\mathrm{def}}{=}}
\def\p{\boldsymbol{p}}
\def\qdd{\ddot{\bfq}}
\def\qd{\dot{\bfq}}
\def\q{\boldsymbol{q}}
\def\xd{\dot{x}}
\def\yd{\dot{y}}
\def\zd{\dot{z}}
d_{ij} d ij is the distance between the closest pair of points, one
belonging to a body i \def\bfA{\boldsymbol{A}}
\def\bfB{\boldsymbol{B}}
\def\bfC{\boldsymbol{C}}
\def\bfD{\boldsymbol{D}}
\def\bfE{\boldsymbol{E}}
\def\bfF{\boldsymbol{F}}
\def\bfG{\boldsymbol{G}}
\def\bfH{\boldsymbol{H}}
\def\bfI{\boldsymbol{I}}
\def\bfJ{\boldsymbol{J}}
\def\bfK{\boldsymbol{K}}
\def\bfL{\boldsymbol{L}}
\def\bfM{\boldsymbol{M}}
\def\bfN{\boldsymbol{N}}
\def\bfO{\boldsymbol{O}}
\def\bfP{\boldsymbol{P}}
\def\bfQ{\boldsymbol{Q}}
\def\bfR{\boldsymbol{R}}
\def\bfS{\boldsymbol{S}}
\def\bfT{\boldsymbol{T}}
\def\bfU{\boldsymbol{U}}
\def\bfV{\boldsymbol{V}}
\def\bfW{\boldsymbol{W}}
\def\bfX{\boldsymbol{X}}
\def\bfY{\boldsymbol{Y}}
\def\bfZ{\boldsymbol{Z}}
\def\bfalpha{\boldsymbol{\alpha}}
\def\bfa{\boldsymbol{a}}
\def\bfbeta{\boldsymbol{\beta}}
\def\bfb{\boldsymbol{b}}
\def\bfcd{\dot{\bfc}}
\def\bfchi{\boldsymbol{\chi}}
\def\bfc{\boldsymbol{c}}
\def\bfd{\boldsymbol{d}}
\def\bfe{\boldsymbol{e}}
\def\bff{\boldsymbol{f}}
\def\bfgamma{\boldsymbol{\gamma}}
\def\bfg{\boldsymbol{g}}
\def\bfh{\boldsymbol{h}}
\def\bfi{\boldsymbol{i}}
\def\bfj{\boldsymbol{j}}
\def\bfk{\boldsymbol{k}}
\def\bflambda{\boldsymbol{\lambda}}
\def\bfl{\boldsymbol{l}}
\def\bfm{\boldsymbol{m}}
\def\bfn{\boldsymbol{n}}
\def\bfomega{\boldsymbol{\omega}}
\def\bfone{\boldsymbol{1}}
\def\bfo{\boldsymbol{o}}
\def\bfpdd{\ddot{\bfp}}
\def\bfpd{\dot{\bfp}}
\def\bfphi{\boldsymbol{\phi}}
\def\bfp{\boldsymbol{p}}
\def\bfq{\boldsymbol{q}}
\def\bfr{\boldsymbol{r}}
\def\bfsigma{\boldsymbol{\sigma}}
\def\bfs{\boldsymbol{s}}
\def\bftau{\boldsymbol{\tau}}
\def\bftheta{\boldsymbol{\theta}}
\def\bft{\boldsymbol{t}}
\def\bfu{\boldsymbol{u}}
\def\bfv{\boldsymbol{v}}
\def\bfw{\boldsymbol{w}}
\def\bfxi{\boldsymbol{\xi}}
\def\bfx{\boldsymbol{x}}
\def\bfy{\boldsymbol{y}}
\def\bfzero{\boldsymbol{0}}
\def\bfz{\boldsymbol{z}}
\def\defeq{\stackrel{\mathrm{def}}{=}}
\def\p{\boldsymbol{p}}
\def\qdd{\ddot{\bfq}}
\def\qd{\dot{\bfq}}
\def\q{\boldsymbol{q}}
\def\xd{\dot{x}}
\def\yd{\dot{y}}
\def\zd{\dot{z}}
i i and the other to a body j ≠ i \def\bfA{\boldsymbol{A}}
\def\bfB{\boldsymbol{B}}
\def\bfC{\boldsymbol{C}}
\def\bfD{\boldsymbol{D}}
\def\bfE{\boldsymbol{E}}
\def\bfF{\boldsymbol{F}}
\def\bfG{\boldsymbol{G}}
\def\bfH{\boldsymbol{H}}
\def\bfI{\boldsymbol{I}}
\def\bfJ{\boldsymbol{J}}
\def\bfK{\boldsymbol{K}}
\def\bfL{\boldsymbol{L}}
\def\bfM{\boldsymbol{M}}
\def\bfN{\boldsymbol{N}}
\def\bfO{\boldsymbol{O}}
\def\bfP{\boldsymbol{P}}
\def\bfQ{\boldsymbol{Q}}
\def\bfR{\boldsymbol{R}}
\def\bfS{\boldsymbol{S}}
\def\bfT{\boldsymbol{T}}
\def\bfU{\boldsymbol{U}}
\def\bfV{\boldsymbol{V}}
\def\bfW{\boldsymbol{W}}
\def\bfX{\boldsymbol{X}}
\def\bfY{\boldsymbol{Y}}
\def\bfZ{\boldsymbol{Z}}
\def\bfalpha{\boldsymbol{\alpha}}
\def\bfa{\boldsymbol{a}}
\def\bfbeta{\boldsymbol{\beta}}
\def\bfb{\boldsymbol{b}}
\def\bfcd{\dot{\bfc}}
\def\bfchi{\boldsymbol{\chi}}
\def\bfc{\boldsymbol{c}}
\def\bfd{\boldsymbol{d}}
\def\bfe{\boldsymbol{e}}
\def\bff{\boldsymbol{f}}
\def\bfgamma{\boldsymbol{\gamma}}
\def\bfg{\boldsymbol{g}}
\def\bfh{\boldsymbol{h}}
\def\bfi{\boldsymbol{i}}
\def\bfj{\boldsymbol{j}}
\def\bfk{\boldsymbol{k}}
\def\bflambda{\boldsymbol{\lambda}}
\def\bfl{\boldsymbol{l}}
\def\bfm{\boldsymbol{m}}
\def\bfn{\boldsymbol{n}}
\def\bfomega{\boldsymbol{\omega}}
\def\bfone{\boldsymbol{1}}
\def\bfo{\boldsymbol{o}}
\def\bfpdd{\ddot{\bfp}}
\def\bfpd{\dot{\bfp}}
\def\bfphi{\boldsymbol{\phi}}
\def\bfp{\boldsymbol{p}}
\def\bfq{\boldsymbol{q}}
\def\bfr{\boldsymbol{r}}
\def\bfsigma{\boldsymbol{\sigma}}
\def\bfs{\boldsymbol{s}}
\def\bftau{\boldsymbol{\tau}}
\def\bftheta{\boldsymbol{\theta}}
\def\bft{\boldsymbol{t}}
\def\bfu{\boldsymbol{u}}
\def\bfv{\boldsymbol{v}}
\def\bfw{\boldsymbol{w}}
\def\bfxi{\boldsymbol{\xi}}
\def\bfx{\boldsymbol{x}}
\def\bfy{\boldsymbol{y}}
\def\bfzero{\boldsymbol{0}}
\def\bfz{\boldsymbol{z}}
\def\defeq{\stackrel{\mathrm{def}}{=}}
\def\p{\boldsymbol{p}}
\def\qdd{\ddot{\bfq}}
\def\qd{\dot{\bfq}}
\def\q{\boldsymbol{q}}
\def\xd{\dot{x}}
\def\yd{\dot{y}}
\def\zd{\dot{z}}
j \neq i j = i , then
d i j ≥ 0. \def\bfA{\boldsymbol{A}}
\def\bfB{\boldsymbol{B}}
\def\bfC{\boldsymbol{C}}
\def\bfD{\boldsymbol{D}}
\def\bfE{\boldsymbol{E}}
\def\bfF{\boldsymbol{F}}
\def\bfG{\boldsymbol{G}}
\def\bfH{\boldsymbol{H}}
\def\bfI{\boldsymbol{I}}
\def\bfJ{\boldsymbol{J}}
\def\bfK{\boldsymbol{K}}
\def\bfL{\boldsymbol{L}}
\def\bfM{\boldsymbol{M}}
\def\bfN{\boldsymbol{N}}
\def\bfO{\boldsymbol{O}}
\def\bfP{\boldsymbol{P}}
\def\bfQ{\boldsymbol{Q}}
\def\bfR{\boldsymbol{R}}
\def\bfS{\boldsymbol{S}}
\def\bfT{\boldsymbol{T}}
\def\bfU{\boldsymbol{U}}
\def\bfV{\boldsymbol{V}}
\def\bfW{\boldsymbol{W}}
\def\bfX{\boldsymbol{X}}
\def\bfY{\boldsymbol{Y}}
\def\bfZ{\boldsymbol{Z}}
\def\bfalpha{\boldsymbol{\alpha}}
\def\bfa{\boldsymbol{a}}
\def\bfbeta{\boldsymbol{\beta}}
\def\bfb{\boldsymbol{b}}
\def\bfcd{\dot{\bfc}}
\def\bfchi{\boldsymbol{\chi}}
\def\bfc{\boldsymbol{c}}
\def\bfd{\boldsymbol{d}}
\def\bfe{\boldsymbol{e}}
\def\bff{\boldsymbol{f}}
\def\bfgamma{\boldsymbol{\gamma}}
\def\bfg{\boldsymbol{g}}
\def\bfh{\boldsymbol{h}}
\def\bfi{\boldsymbol{i}}
\def\bfj{\boldsymbol{j}}
\def\bfk{\boldsymbol{k}}
\def\bflambda{\boldsymbol{\lambda}}
\def\bfl{\boldsymbol{l}}
\def\bfm{\boldsymbol{m}}
\def\bfn{\boldsymbol{n}}
\def\bfomega{\boldsymbol{\omega}}
\def\bfone{\boldsymbol{1}}
\def\bfo{\boldsymbol{o}}
\def\bfpdd{\ddot{\bfp}}
\def\bfpd{\dot{\bfp}}
\def\bfphi{\boldsymbol{\phi}}
\def\bfp{\boldsymbol{p}}
\def\bfq{\boldsymbol{q}}
\def\bfr{\boldsymbol{r}}
\def\bfsigma{\boldsymbol{\sigma}}
\def\bfs{\boldsymbol{s}}
\def\bftau{\boldsymbol{\tau}}
\def\bftheta{\boldsymbol{\theta}}
\def\bft{\boldsymbol{t}}
\def\bfu{\boldsymbol{u}}
\def\bfv{\boldsymbol{v}}
\def\bfw{\boldsymbol{w}}
\def\bfxi{\boldsymbol{\xi}}
\def\bfx{\boldsymbol{x}}
\def\bfy{\boldsymbol{y}}
\def\bfzero{\boldsymbol{0}}
\def\bfz{\boldsymbol{z}}
\def\defeq{\stackrel{\mathrm{def}}{=}}
\def\p{\boldsymbol{p}}
\def\qdd{\ddot{\bfq}}
\def\qd{\dot{\bfq}}
\def\q{\boldsymbol{q}}
\def\xd{\dot{x}}
\def\yd{\dot{y}}
\def\zd{\dot{z}}
d_{ij} \geq 0. d ij ≥ 0. When d i j > 0 \def\bfA{\boldsymbol{A}}
\def\bfB{\boldsymbol{B}}
\def\bfC{\boldsymbol{C}}
\def\bfD{\boldsymbol{D}}
\def\bfE{\boldsymbol{E}}
\def\bfF{\boldsymbol{F}}
\def\bfG{\boldsymbol{G}}
\def\bfH{\boldsymbol{H}}
\def\bfI{\boldsymbol{I}}
\def\bfJ{\boldsymbol{J}}
\def\bfK{\boldsymbol{K}}
\def\bfL{\boldsymbol{L}}
\def\bfM{\boldsymbol{M}}
\def\bfN{\boldsymbol{N}}
\def\bfO{\boldsymbol{O}}
\def\bfP{\boldsymbol{P}}
\def\bfQ{\boldsymbol{Q}}
\def\bfR{\boldsymbol{R}}
\def\bfS{\boldsymbol{S}}
\def\bfT{\boldsymbol{T}}
\def\bfU{\boldsymbol{U}}
\def\bfV{\boldsymbol{V}}
\def\bfW{\boldsymbol{W}}
\def\bfX{\boldsymbol{X}}
\def\bfY{\boldsymbol{Y}}
\def\bfZ{\boldsymbol{Z}}
\def\bfalpha{\boldsymbol{\alpha}}
\def\bfa{\boldsymbol{a}}
\def\bfbeta{\boldsymbol{\beta}}
\def\bfb{\boldsymbol{b}}
\def\bfcd{\dot{\bfc}}
\def\bfchi{\boldsymbol{\chi}}
\def\bfc{\boldsymbol{c}}
\def\bfd{\boldsymbol{d}}
\def\bfe{\boldsymbol{e}}
\def\bff{\boldsymbol{f}}
\def\bfgamma{\boldsymbol{\gamma}}
\def\bfg{\boldsymbol{g}}
\def\bfh{\boldsymbol{h}}
\def\bfi{\boldsymbol{i}}
\def\bfj{\boldsymbol{j}}
\def\bfk{\boldsymbol{k}}
\def\bflambda{\boldsymbol{\lambda}}
\def\bfl{\boldsymbol{l}}
\def\bfm{\boldsymbol{m}}
\def\bfn{\boldsymbol{n}}
\def\bfomega{\boldsymbol{\omega}}
\def\bfone{\boldsymbol{1}}
\def\bfo{\boldsymbol{o}}
\def\bfpdd{\ddot{\bfp}}
\def\bfpd{\dot{\bfp}}
\def\bfphi{\boldsymbol{\phi}}
\def\bfp{\boldsymbol{p}}
\def\bfq{\boldsymbol{q}}
\def\bfr{\boldsymbol{r}}
\def\bfsigma{\boldsymbol{\sigma}}
\def\bfs{\boldsymbol{s}}
\def\bftau{\boldsymbol{\tau}}
\def\bftheta{\boldsymbol{\theta}}
\def\bft{\boldsymbol{t}}
\def\bfu{\boldsymbol{u}}
\def\bfv{\boldsymbol{v}}
\def\bfw{\boldsymbol{w}}
\def\bfxi{\boldsymbol{\xi}}
\def\bfx{\boldsymbol{x}}
\def\bfy{\boldsymbol{y}}
\def\bfzero{\boldsymbol{0}}
\def\bfz{\boldsymbol{z}}
\def\defeq{\stackrel{\mathrm{def}}{=}}
\def\p{\boldsymbol{p}}
\def\qdd{\ddot{\bfq}}
\def\qd{\dot{\bfq}}
\def\q{\boldsymbol{q}}
\def\xd{\dot{x}}
\def\yd{\dot{y}}
\def\zd{\dot{z}}
d_{ij} > 0 d ij > 0 , there is no contact and the two bodies may move
freely. But as soon as d i j = 0 \def\bfA{\boldsymbol{A}}
\def\bfB{\boldsymbol{B}}
\def\bfC{\boldsymbol{C}}
\def\bfD{\boldsymbol{D}}
\def\bfE{\boldsymbol{E}}
\def\bfF{\boldsymbol{F}}
\def\bfG{\boldsymbol{G}}
\def\bfH{\boldsymbol{H}}
\def\bfI{\boldsymbol{I}}
\def\bfJ{\boldsymbol{J}}
\def\bfK{\boldsymbol{K}}
\def\bfL{\boldsymbol{L}}
\def\bfM{\boldsymbol{M}}
\def\bfN{\boldsymbol{N}}
\def\bfO{\boldsymbol{O}}
\def\bfP{\boldsymbol{P}}
\def\bfQ{\boldsymbol{Q}}
\def\bfR{\boldsymbol{R}}
\def\bfS{\boldsymbol{S}}
\def\bfT{\boldsymbol{T}}
\def\bfU{\boldsymbol{U}}
\def\bfV{\boldsymbol{V}}
\def\bfW{\boldsymbol{W}}
\def\bfX{\boldsymbol{X}}
\def\bfY{\boldsymbol{Y}}
\def\bfZ{\boldsymbol{Z}}
\def\bfalpha{\boldsymbol{\alpha}}
\def\bfa{\boldsymbol{a}}
\def\bfbeta{\boldsymbol{\beta}}
\def\bfb{\boldsymbol{b}}
\def\bfcd{\dot{\bfc}}
\def\bfchi{\boldsymbol{\chi}}
\def\bfc{\boldsymbol{c}}
\def\bfd{\boldsymbol{d}}
\def\bfe{\boldsymbol{e}}
\def\bff{\boldsymbol{f}}
\def\bfgamma{\boldsymbol{\gamma}}
\def\bfg{\boldsymbol{g}}
\def\bfh{\boldsymbol{h}}
\def\bfi{\boldsymbol{i}}
\def\bfj{\boldsymbol{j}}
\def\bfk{\boldsymbol{k}}
\def\bflambda{\boldsymbol{\lambda}}
\def\bfl{\boldsymbol{l}}
\def\bfm{\boldsymbol{m}}
\def\bfn{\boldsymbol{n}}
\def\bfomega{\boldsymbol{\omega}}
\def\bfone{\boldsymbol{1}}
\def\bfo{\boldsymbol{o}}
\def\bfpdd{\ddot{\bfp}}
\def\bfpd{\dot{\bfp}}
\def\bfphi{\boldsymbol{\phi}}
\def\bfp{\boldsymbol{p}}
\def\bfq{\boldsymbol{q}}
\def\bfr{\boldsymbol{r}}
\def\bfsigma{\boldsymbol{\sigma}}
\def\bfs{\boldsymbol{s}}
\def\bftau{\boldsymbol{\tau}}
\def\bftheta{\boldsymbol{\theta}}
\def\bft{\boldsymbol{t}}
\def\bfu{\boldsymbol{u}}
\def\bfv{\boldsymbol{v}}
\def\bfw{\boldsymbol{w}}
\def\bfxi{\boldsymbol{\xi}}
\def\bfx{\boldsymbol{x}}
\def\bfy{\boldsymbol{y}}
\def\bfzero{\boldsymbol{0}}
\def\bfz{\boldsymbol{z}}
\def\defeq{\stackrel{\mathrm{def}}{=}}
\def\p{\boldsymbol{p}}
\def\qdd{\ddot{\bfq}}
\def\qd{\dot{\bfq}}
\def\q{\boldsymbol{q}}
\def\xd{\dot{x}}
\def\yd{\dot{y}}
\def\zd{\dot{z}}
d_{ij} = 0 d ij = 0 , contact appears and constraints the
respective motions of the two bodies.
Definition from degrees of constraints
In rigid body dynamics, a body has six degrees of freedom, three for its
translation and three for its orientation. Therefore, a contact can create
between one and six degrees of constraints (DOC), depending on the number and
arrangement of contact points between the contacting bodies.
Definition (Balkcom and Trinkle ):
The mode of a contact is the set of degrees of constraints that it
introduces between the two contacting bodies.
Common contact modes include:
Broken: When there is no contact (DOC: 0)
Sliding: When there is a relative translation between contact surfaces,
accompanied or not by a rotation along the contact normal (DOC: 3 or 4)
Rolling: When one body in contact is rotating around a line on the other
body, accompanied or not by a translation along that line (DOC: 2 or 3)
Fixed: When the contact is fully constrained (DOC: 6)
To go further
The article by Balkcom and Trinkle (2002) introduced several important
ideas, including contact modes and the representation of contact conditions by
polyhedral convex sets.
Discussion
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© Stéphane Caron — Text and figures licensed under the CC BY 4.0 by the author.
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