Time-optimal trajectory planning of manipulator with simultaneously searching the optimal path

Abstract

Time-optimal trajectory planning can improve the efficiency of the manipulator, which has a paramount research significance. Nonetheless, almost all the current algorithms have the problem of path limitation — the algorithm constantly searches for the optimal motion time of the manipulator on a specific motion path. To solve this problem, we design a time-optimal trajectory planning method for the manipulator by searching the optimal path simultaneously. We propose using a cubic uniform B-spline interpolation algorithm to derive the motion curve expression of the manipulator joint with unknown path points. Then we use a genetic algorithm to optimize the path point and the motion time of the manipulator at the same time to get the time-optimal motion path of the manipulator. Moreover, we prove that the algorithm proposed in this paper is comparable with similar algorithms with known paths through experiments.