Although derivations based on Gauss's principle of least constraint are
now more commonplace (thank goodness!), the principle of virtual work is an
equivalent approach that we can still find in the literature. Also called
d'Alembert's principle , it relates
constrained motions to their constraint forces.
Virtual displacements
Consider the holonomic
constraint c ( q ) = 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}}
\bfc(\bfq) = \bfzero c ( q ) = 0 , which stacks a set of equations that
our system must follow troughout its motions. It could be for instance a biped
keeping its feet in contact with the ground, or a humanoid pushing against a
wall. The corresponding constraint Jacobian is:
J c ( q ) q ˙ = ∂ c ∂ q ( q ) q ˙ = 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}}
\bfJ_c(\bfq) \qd = \frac{\partial \bfc}{\partial \bfq}(\bfq) \qd = \bfzero J c ( q ) q ˙ = ∂ q ∂ c ( q ) q ˙ = 0 Let us define a virtual displacement Δ q \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}}
\Delta \bfq Δ q as any vector in the
nullspace of the constraint Jacobian:
J c ( q ) Δ q = 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}}
\bfJ_c(\bfq) \Delta \bfq = \bfzero J c ( q ) Δ q = 0 Note that a virtual displacement Δ q \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}}
\Delta \bfq Δ q is not the same thing as
an actual displacement of the robot. At the acceleration level, a virtual
displacement ( Δ q , Δ q ˙ ) \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}}
(\Delta \bfq, \Delta \qd) ( Δ q , Δ q ˙ ) only satisfies the constraint:
J c ( q ) Δ q ˙ + Δ q ⊤ H c ( q ) Δ q = 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}}
\bfJ_c(\bfq) \Delta \qd + \Delta \bfq^\top \bfH_c(\bfq) \Delta \bfq = \bfzero J c ( q ) Δ q ˙ + Δ q ⊤ H c ( q ) Δ q = 0 Whereas an actual displacement ( q ˙ , q ¨ ) \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}}
(\qd, \qdd) ( q ˙ , q ¨ ) satisfies both the
constraint and the equation of motion:
M ( q ) q ¨ + q ˙ ⊤ C ( q ) q ˙ = S T τ + τ g ( q ) + J c ( q ) ⊤ f J c ( q ) q ¨ + q ˙ ⊤ H c ( q ) q ˙ = 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}}
\begin{align*}
\bfM(\bfq) \qdd + \qd^\top \bfC(\bfq) \qd & = \bfS^T \bftau + \bftau_g(\bfq) + \bfJ_c(\bfq)^\top \bff \\
\bfJ_c(\bfq) \qdd + \qd^\top \bfH_c(\bfq) \qd & = \bfzero
\end{align*} M ( q ) q ¨ + q ˙ ⊤ C ( q ) q ˙ J c ( q ) q ¨ + q ˙ ⊤ H c ( q ) q ˙ = S T τ + τ g ( q ) + J c ( q ) ⊤ f = 0 This distinction shows that virtual displacements are more general than actual
displacements. It is important to keep in mind for what follows.
Virtual work
The principle of virtual work applies to ideal
constraints, i.e. , constraints whose virtual displacements are reversible. In
robotics, this basically means all constraints except those that involve
friction. The principle states that constraint forces, i.e. , the joint
torques τ c \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}}
\bftau_c τ c that maintain the constraint c ( q ) = 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}}
\bfc(\bfq) =
\bfzero c ( q ) = 0 along a virtual displacement Δ q \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}}
\Delta \bfq Δ q , do not produce any
virtual work. That is:
τ c ⊤ Δ q = 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}}
\bftau_c^\top \Delta \bfq = \bfzero τ c ⊤ Δ q = 0 Since Δ q \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}}
\Delta \bfq Δ q can be any virtual displacement in the nullspace
N ( J c ) \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}}
{\mathcal{N}}(\bfJ_c) N ( J c ) of the constraint Jacobian, this means
τ c \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}}
\bftau_c τ c belongs to the orthogonal to this nullspace, which is also
equal to the range of the
Jacobian transpose:
τ c ∈ N ( J c ) ⊥ = R ( J c ⊤ ) \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}}
\bftau_c \in {\mathcal{N}}(\bfJ_c)^\bot = {\mathcal{R}}(\bfJ_c^\top) τ c ∈ N ( J c ) ⊥ = R ( J c ⊤ ) As a consequence, there exists a vector f \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}}
\bff f of dual vectors such that
τ c = J c ⊤ f \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}}
\bftau_c = \bfJ_c^\top \bff τ c = J c ⊤ f . We define constraint forces as these
dual vectors. To continue our example, if the constraint is that the biped's
feet stay in contact with the ground, then f \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}}
\bff f are the ground contact
forces; if our constraint is that the humanoid's hands push against the wall,
then f \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}}
\bff f are the wall contact forces.
To go further
The alternative Lagrangian derivation from the principle of least constraint
characterizes forces further than what we did above. As a matter of fact, the
principle of virtual work can be seen as the critical condition associated with
the principle of least constraint: for the latter, motions minimize an
objective function (deviation from unconstrained motion), for the former,
motions are in the nullspace of the gradient of this objective function.
Informally, since the critical point of a strictly convex function is its global optimum, the
two principles are equivalent.
The principle of virtual work is not always applicable: it only works with
ideal constraints where forces do not work along virtual displacements. This is
in particular not true for sliding friction where forces are opposite
end-effector velocities. In that case, the most straightforward solution is to
use a model of the friction force and map it through the Jacobian transpose in
the constrained equations of motion. For a proof of why this is valid, see for
instance equation (13) in Wieber's comments on the structure of the dynamics
of articulated motion .
Alternatively, the Udwadia-Kalaba formulation provides
an equivalent generalization of the principle of virtual work to non-ideal
constraints. It also derives from the principle of least constraint, yet it
involves pseudoinverses which are not as numerically stable as working directly
with the constrained equation of motion.
Discussion
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© Stéphane Caron — Text and figures licensed under the CC BY 4.0 by the author.
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