A Formal-Numerical Approach for Robust In-Workspace Singularity Detection

Singularity is a major problem for parallel robots as in these configurations the robot cannot be controlled, and there may be infinite forces/torques in its joints, possibly leading to its breakdown. Hence, such a configuration must usually be avoided, and certifying the absence of singularity within a prescribed workspace or on a given trajectory is essential for a practical use of this type of robots. Singularity conditions are usually quite complex, and therefore a purely analytical analysis is difficult. We present here an algorithm that combines formal and numerical calculations for detecting singularity or closeness to a singularity within an arbitrary workspace or trajectory. This algorithm has the very important advantage of being able to deal with any robot mechanical structure and to manage uncertainties in the robot control and in the robot modeling.