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Hans-Peter Schröcker

Publications and source records attributed to Hans-Peter Schröcker.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2022

A Multi-Bennett 8R Mechanism Obtained From Factorization of Bivariate Motion Polynomials

We present a closed-loop 8R mechanism with two degrees of freedom whose motion exhibits curious properties. In any point of a two-dimensional component of its configuration variety it is possible to fix every second joint while retaining one degree of freedom. This shows that the even and the odd axes, respectively, always form a Bennett mechanism. In this mechanism, opposite distances and angles are equal and all offsets are zero. The 8R mechanism has four "totally aligned" configurations in which the common normals of any pair of consecutive axes coincide.

cs.RO↗
arXiv2022

Rational Framing Motions and Spatial Rational Pythagorean Hodograph Curves

We propose a new method for constructing rational spatial Pythagorean Hodograph (PH) curves based on determining a suitable rational framing motion. While the spherical component of the framing motion is arbitrary, the translation part is determined be a modestly sized and nicely structured system of linear equations. Rather surprisingly, generic input data will only result in polynomial PH curves. We provide a complete characterization of all cases that admit truly rational (non-polynomial) solutions. Examples illustrate our ideas and relate them to existing literature.

math.MG↗
arXiv2022

Factorization of Quaternionic Polynomials of Bi-Degree (n,1)

We consider polynomials of bi-degree $(n,1)$ over the skew field of quaternions where the indeterminates commute with each other and with all coefficients. Polynomials of this type do not generally admit factorizations. We recall a necessary and sufficient condition for existence of a factorization with univariate linear factors that has originally been stated by Skopenkov and Krasauskas. Such a factorization is, in general, non-unique by known factorization results for univariate quaternionic polynomials. We unveil existence of bivariate polynomials with non-unique factorizations that cannot be explained in this way and characterize them geometrically and algebraically. Existence of factorizations is related to the existence of special rulings of two different types (left/right) on the ruled surface parameterized by the bivariate polynomial in the projective space over the quaternions. Special non-uniqueness in above sense can be explained algebraically by commutation properties of factors in suitable factorizations. A necessary geometric condition for this to happen is degeneration to a point of at least one of the left/right rulings.

math.RA↗
arXiv2021

A Multiplication Technique for the Factorization of Bivariate Quaternionic Polynomials

We consider bivariate polynomials over the skew field of quaternions, where the indeterminates commute with all coefficients and with each other. We analyze existence of univariate factorizations, that is, factorizations with univariate linear factors. A necessary condition for existence of univariate factorizations is factorization of the norm polynomial into a product of univariate polynomials. This condition is, however, not sufficient. Our central result states that univariate factorizations exist after multiplication with a suitable univariate real polynomial as long as the necessary factorization condition is fulfilled. We present an algorithm for computing this real polynomial and a corresponding univariate factorization. If a univariate factorization of the original polynomial exists, a suitable input of the algorithm produces a constant multiplication factor, thus giving an a posteriori condition for existence of univariate factorizations. Some factorizations obtained in this way are of interest in mechanism science. We present an example of a curious closed-loop mechanism with eight revolute joints.

math.RA↗
arXiv2021

An Algorithm for the Factorization of Split Quaternion Polynomials

We present an algorithm to compute all factorizations into linear factors of univariate polynomials over the split quaternions, provided such a factorization exists. Failure of the algorithm is equivalent to non-factorizability for which we present also geometric interpretations in terms of rulings on the quadric of non-invertible split quaternions. However, suitable real polynomial multiples of split quaternion polynomials can still be factorized and we describe how to find these real polynomials. Split quaternion polynomials describe rational motions in the hyperbolic plane. Factorization with linear factors corresponds to the decomposition of the rational motion into hyperbolic rotations. Since multiplication with a real polynomial does not change the motion, this decomposition is always possible. Some of our ideas can be transferred to the factorization theory of motion polynomials. These are polynomials over the dual quaternions with real norm polynomial and they describe rational motions in Euclidean kinematics. We transfer techniques developed for split quaternions to compute new factorizations of certain dual quaternion polynomials.

math.RA↗
arXiv2021

Space Kinematics and Projective Differential Geometry Over the Ring of Dual Numbers

We study an isomorphism between the group of rigid body displacements and the group of dual quaternions modulo the dual number multiplicative group from the viewpoint of differential geometry in a projective space over the dual numbers. Some seemingly weird phenomena in this space have lucid kinematic interpretations. An example is the existence of non-straight curves with a continuum of osculating tangents which correspond to motions in a cylinder group with osculating vertical Darboux motions. We also suggest geometrically meaningful ways to select osculating conics of a curve in this projective space and illustrate their corresponding motions. Furthermore, we investigate factorizability of these special motions and use the obtained results for the construction of overconstrained linkages.

math.DG↗
arXiv2021

Factorization of Dual Quaternion Polynomials Without Study's Condition

In this paper we investigate factorizations of polynomials over the ring of dual quaternions into linear factors. While earlier results assume that the norm polynomial is real ("motion polynomials"), we only require the absence of real polynomial factors in the primal part and factorizability of the norm polynomial over the dual numbers into monic quadratic factors. This obviously necessary condition is also sufficient for existence of factorizations. We present an algorithm to compute factorizations of these polynomials and use it for new constructions of mechanisms which cannot be obtained by existing factorization algorithms for motion polynomials. While they produce mechanisms with rotational or translational joints, our approach yields mechanisms consisting of "vertical Darboux joints". They exhibit mechanical deficiencies so that we explore ways to replace them by cylindrical joints while keeping the overall mechanism sufficiently constrained.

math.RA↗
arXiv2019

Rational Motions with Generic Trajectories of Low Degree

The trajectories of a rational motion given by a polynomial of degree n in the dual quaternion model of rigid body displacements are generically of degree 2n. In this article we study those exceptional motions whose trajectory degree is lower. An algebraic criterion for this drop of degree is existence of certain right factors, a geometric criterion involves one of two families of rulings on an invariant quadric. Our characterizations allow the systematic construction of rational motions with exceptional degree reduction and explain why the trajectory degrees of a rational motion and its inverse motion can be different.

math.RA↗
arXiv2018

Factorization Results for Left Polynomials in Some Associative Real Algebras: State of the Art, Applications, and Open Questions

We discuss existence of factorizations with linear factors for (left) polynomials over certain associative real involutive algebras, most notably over Clifford algebras. Because of their relevance to kinematics and mechanism science, we put particular emphasis on factorization results for quaternion, dual quaternion and split quaternion polynomials. A general algorithm ensures existence of a factorization for generic polynomials over division rings but we also consider factorizations for non-division rings. We explain the current state of the art, present some new results and provide examples and counter examples.

math.RA↗
arXiv2018

A Survey on the Theory of Bonds

Many researchers tried to understand/explain the geometric reasons for paradoxical mobility of a mechanical linkage, i.e. the situation when a linkage allows more motions than expected from counting parameters and constraints. Bond theory is a method that aims at understanding paradoxical mobility from an algebraic point of view. Here we give a self-contained introduction of this theory and discuss its results on closed linkages with revolute or prismatic joints.

eess.SY↗
arXiv2018

The Geometry of Quadratic Quaternion Polynomials in Euclidean and Non-Euclidean Planes

We propose a geometric explanation for the observation that generic quadratic polynomials over split quaternions may have up to six different factorizations while generic polynomials over Hamiltonian quaternions only have two. Split quaternion polynomials of degree two are related to the coupler motion of "four-bar linkages" with equal opposite sides in universal hyperbolic geometry. A factorization corresponds to a leg of the four-bar linkage and during the motion the legs intersect in points of a conic whose focal points are the fixed revolute joints. The number of factorizations is related by the number of real focal points which can, indeed, be six in universal hyperbolic geometry.

math.MG↗
arXiv2017

From A to B: New Methods to Interpolate Two Poses

We present two methods to interpolate between two given rigid body displacements. Both are based on linear interpolation in the ambient space of well-known curved point models for the group of rigid body displacements. The resulting motions are either vertical Darboux motions or cubic circular motions. Both are rational of low degree and lie in the cylinder group defined by the two input poses. We unveil the essential parameters in the construction of these motions and discuss some of their properties.

math.MG↗
arXiv2017

Optimal Synthesis of Overconstrained 6R Linkages by Curve Evolution

The paper presents an optimal synthesis of overconstrained linkages, based on the factorization of rational curves (representing one parametric motions) contained in Study's quadric. The group of Euclidean displacements is embedded in a affine space where a metric between motions based on the homogeneous mass distribution of the end effector is used to evolve the curves such that they are fitted to a set of target poses. The metric will measure the distance (in Euclidean sense) between the two resulting vectors of the feature points displaced by the two motions. The evolution is driven by the normal velocity of the curve projected in the direction of the target points. In the end we present an example for the optimal synthesis of an overconstrained $6R$ linkage by choosing a set of target poses and explaining in steps how this approach is implemented.

cs.RO↗
arXiv2017

Kempe's Universality Theorem for Rational Space Curves

We prove that every bounded rational space curve of degree d and circularity c can be drawn by a linkage with 9/2 d - 6c + 1 revolute joints. Our proof is based on two ingredients. The first one is the factorization theory of motion polynomials. The second one is the construction of a motion polynomial of minimum degree with given orbit. Our proof also gives the explicity construction of the linkage.

cs.CG↗
arXiv2016

The Kinematic Image of RR, PR, and RP Dyads

We provide necessary and sufficient conditions for admissible transformations in the projectivised dual quaternion model of rigid body displacements and we characterise constraint varieties of dyads with revolute and prismatic joints in this model. Projective transformations induced by coordinate changes in moving and/or fixed frame fix the quadrics of a pencil and preserve the two families of rulings of an exceptional three-dimensional quadric. The constraint variety of a dyad with two revolute joints is a regular ruled quadric in a three-space that contains a "null quadrilateral". If a revolute joint is replaced by a prismatic joint, this quadrilateral collapses into a pair of conjugate complex null lines and a real line but these properties are not sufficient to characterise such dyads. We provide a complete characterisation by introducing a new invariant, the "fiber projectivity", and we present examples that demonstrate its potential to explain hitherto not sufficiently well understood phenomena.

cs.RO↗
arXiv2016

Singular Frégier Conics in Non-Euclidean Geometry

The hypotenuses of all right triangles inscribed into a fixed conic $C$ with fixed right-angle vertex $p$ are incident with the Frégier point $f$ to $p$ and $C$. As $p$ varies on the conic, the locus of the Frégier point is, in general, a conic as well. We study conics $C$ whose Frégier locus is singular in Euclidean, elliptic and hyperbolic geometry. The richest variety of conics with this property is obtained in hyperbolic plane while in elliptic geometry only three families of conics have a singular Frégier locus.

math.MG↗
arXiv2015

The Rational Motion of Minimal Dual Quaternion Degree With Prescribed Trajectory

We give a constructive proof for the existence of a unique rational motion of minimal degree in the dual quaternion model of Euclidean displacements with a given rational parametric curve as trajectory. The minimal motion degree equals the trajectory's degree minus its circularity. Hence, it is lower than the degree of a trivial curvilinear translation for circular curves.

math.MG↗