Complete, minimal and model-continous kinematic models for robot calibration

Presented in this paper are new general kinematic models for robot calibration. These models have the distinct advantage of satisfying the model-parameter identification requirements of completeness, minimality and model-continuity for all combinations and configurations of revolute and prismatic joints. Developed are a set of 17 model parametrizations, including simple criteria for deciding which parametrizations are to be used in modelling a robot. The presented parametrizations also result in an accurate representation of the physical robot and thus allow realistic integration of elastic deformation models. Model continuity within each parametrisation's application range is shown by means of differential geometry. Also shown is how these models are be extracted from a non-complex "vector-chain" description of a robot.