Dynamics of Robotic Manipulators With Flexible Links

This paper presents a dynamic model for the robotic manipulators with flexible links by means of the Finite Element Method and Lagrange’s formulation. By the concept of the Equivalent Rigid Link System (ERLS), the generalized coordinates are selected to represent the total motion as a large motion and a small motion. Two sets of coupled nonlinear equations are obtained where the equations representing small motions are linear with respect to the small motion variables. An example is presented to illustrate the importance of the flexibility effects.