A Robot Manipulator With 16 Real Inverse Kinematic Solution Sets

Abstract

A solution search algorithm based on a one-dimensional numerical approach to the inverse kinematic problem (pre sented in an earlier paper) led to the discovery of a six-DOF manipulator able to position and orient its end-effector in 16 distinct configurations for a given end-effector pose (position and orientation). This paper discusses the consequences of such a discovery and presents a description of the manipula tor, the end-effector pose, and the 16 kinematic solutions.