Mobile Robotics
Mathematics, Models, and Methods
Mobile Robotics  offers  comprehensive  coverage  of  the  essentials  of  the  field  suitable
for  both  students  and  practitioners.  Adapted  from  the  author's  graduate  and  undergrad-
uate  courses,  the  content  of  the  book  reflects  current  approaches  to  developing  effective
mobile  robots.  Professor  Alonzo  Kelly  adapts  principles  and  techniques  from  the  fields
of  mathematics,  physics,  and  numerical  methods  to  present  a  consistent  framework  in  a
notation  that  facilitates  learning  and  highlights  relationships  between  topics.  This  text
was  developed  specifically  to  be  accessible  to  senior-level  undergraduates  in  engineer-
ing  and  computer  science,  and  includes  supporting  exercises  to  reinforce  the  lessons  of
each  section.  Practitioners  will  value  the  author’s  perspectives  on  practical  applications
of 
implementable  algorithms
extracted  from  real  systems  wherever  possible,  to  enhance  the  real-world  relevance  of
the  text.
these  principles.  Complex  subjects  are  reduced 
to 
Alonzo  Kelly  holds  undergraduate  degrees  in  aerospace  engineering  and  computer
science,  and  graduate  degrees  in  robotics.  Dr.  Kelly  worked  in  the  aerospace  industry
for  ten  years  before  returning  to  academia.  As  a  professor  at  the  Robotics  institute  at
Carnegie  Mellon  University,  he  teaches  mobile  robotics  at  the  graduate  and  under-
graduate  levels,  conducting  research  in  robot  simulation,  modeling,  controls,  position
estimation,  motion  planning,  and  human  interfaces.
Mobile Robotics
Mathematics, Models, and Methods
Alonzo Kelly
Carnegie Mellon University
    
 
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education, learning, and research at the highest international levels of excellence.  
   www.cambridge.org  
 Information on this title:  www.cambridge.org/9781107031159   
  ©   Alonzo Kelly   2013    
  This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception 
and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, 
no reproduction of any part may take place without the written 
permission of Cambridge University Press.  
  First published   2013  
 Printed in the United States of America  
  A catalog record for this publication is available from the British Library.  
  Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication data  
Kelly, Alonzo.
Mobile robotics : mathematics, models and methods / Alonzo Kelly.
pages  cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-107-03115-9 (hardback)
1.  Mobile robots–Textbooks. 
TJ211.415.K39  2013
629.8′932–dc23 
  2013022113
I.  Title. 
 
   ISBN   978-1-107-03115-9  Hardback  
  Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of 
URLs for external or third-party Internet Web sites referred to in this publication, 
and does not guarantee that any content on such Web sites is, or will remain, accurate 
or appropriate.      
Contents
Preface
1 Introduction
1.1 
1.2 
1.3 
  Applications  of  Mobile  Robots
  Types  of  Mobile  Robots 
1.2.1 
1.2.2 
1.2.3 
1.2.4 
1.2.5 
1.2.6 
  Automated  Guided  Vehicles  (AGVs) 
  Service  Robots 
  Cleaning  and  Lawn  Care  Robots 
  Social  Robots 
  Field  Robots 
  Inspection,  Reconnaissance,  Surveillance, 
and  Exploration  Robots 
  Mobile  Robot  Engineering 
1.3.1 
1.3.2 
1.3.3 
1.3.4 
1.3.5 
  Mobile  Robot  Subsystems 
  Overview  of  the  Text 
  Fundamentals  of  Wheeled  Mobile  Robots 
  References  and  Further  Reading 
  Exercise 
2 Math Fundamentals
2.1 
2.2 
  Notational  Conventions 
  Embedded  Coordinate  Frames 
  References  and  Further  Reading 
  Conventions  and  Definitions 
2.1.1 
2.1.2 
2.1.3 
  Matrices 
2.2.1 
2.2.2 
2.2.3 
2.2.4 
2.2.5 
2.2.6 
2.2.7 
2.2.8 
2.2.9 
  Matrix  Operations 
  Matrix  Functions 
  Matrix  Inversion 
  Rank-Nullity  Theorem 
  Matrix  Algebra 
  Matrix  Calculus 
  Leibnitz’  Rule 
  References  and  Further  Reading 
  Exercises 
v
page xiii
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2.3 
2.4 
2.5 
2.6 
2.7 
2.8 
C O N T E N T S
  Forward  Kinematics 
  Inverse  Kinematics 
  Differential  Kinematics 
  References  and  Further  Reading 
  Exercises 
  Definitions 
  Why  Homogeneous  Transforms 
  Semantics  and  Interpretations 
  References  and  Further  Reading 
  Exercises 
  Fundamentals  of  Rigid  Transforms 
2.3.1 
2.3.2 
2.3.3 
2.3.4 
2.3.5 
  Kinematics  of  Mechanisms 
2.4.1 
2.4.2 
2.4.3 
2.4.4 
2.4.5 
  Orientation  and  Angular  Velocity 
2.5.1 
2.5.2 
2.5.3 
2.5.4 
2.5.5 
2.5.6 
  Kinematic  Models  of  Sensors 
2.6.1 
2.6.2 
2.6.3 
2.6.4 
  Transform  Graphs  and  Pose  Networks 
2.7.1 
2.7.2 
2.7.3 
2.7.4 
2.7.5 
2.7.6 
  Quaternions 
2.8.1 
2.8.2 
2.8.3 
2.8.4 
2.8.5 
2.8.6 
2.8.7 
  Representations  and  Notation 
  Quaternion  Multiplication 
  Other  Quaternion  Operations 
  Representing  3D  Rotations 
  Attitude  and  Angular  Velocity 
  References  and  Further  Reading 
  Exercises 
  Orientation  in  Euler  Angle  Form 
  Angular  Rates  and  Small  Angles 
  Angular  Velocity  and  Orientation  Rates  in  Euler  Angle  Form 
  Angular  Velocity  and  Orientation  Rates  in  Angle-Axis  Form 
  References  and  Further  Reading 
  Exercises 
  Kinematics  of  Video  Cameras 
  Kinematics  of  Laser  Rangefinders 
  References  and  Further  Reading 
  Exercises 
  Transforms  as  Relationships 
  Solving  Pose  Networks 
  Overconstrained  Networks 
  Differential  Kinematics  Applied  to  Frames  in  General  Position 
  References  and  Further  Reading 
  Exercises 
3 Numerical Methods
3.1 
3.2 
  Linearization 
  Optimization  of  Objective  Functions 
  Constrained  Optimization 
  References  and  Further  Reading 
  Exercises 
  Linearization  and  Optimization  of  Functions  of  Vectors 
3.1.1 
3.1.2 
3.1.3 
3.1.4 
3.1.5 
  Systems  of  Equations 
3.2.1 
3.2.2 
  Linear  Systems 
  Nonlinear  Systems 
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C O N T E N T S
3.3 
3.4 
3.5 
  References  and  Further  Reading 
  Exercises 
  Nonlinear  Optimization 
  Constrained  Optimization 
  References  and  Further  Reading 
  Exercises 
3.2.3 
3.2.4 
  Nonlinear  and  Constrained  Optimization 
3.3.1 
3.3.2 
3.3.3 
3.3.4 
  Differential  Algebraic  Systems 
3.4.1 
3.4.2 
3.4.3 
3.4.4 
3.4.5 
3.4.6 
  Integration  of  Differential  Equations 
3.5.1 
3.5.2 
3.5.3 
3.5.4 
  Dynamic  Models  in  State  Space 
  Integration  of  State  Space  Models 
  References  and  Further  Reading 
  Exercises 
  Constrained  Dynamics 
  First-  and  Second-Order  Constrained  Kinematic  Systems 
  Lagrangian  Dynamics 
  Constraints 
  References  and  Further  Reading 
  Exercises 
4 Dynamics
4.1 
4.2 
4.3 
4.4 
  Aspects  of  Rigid  Body  Motion 
  WMR  Velocity  Kinematics  for  Fixed  Contact  Point 
  Common  Steering  Configurations 
  References  and  Further  Reading 
  Exercises 
  Moving  Coordinate  Systems 
  Context  of  Measurement 
4.1.1 
  Change  of  Reference  Frame 
4.1.2 
  Example:  Attitude  Stability  Margin  Estimation 
4.1.3 
4.1.4 
  Recursive  Transformations  of  State  of  Motion 
  References  and  Further  Reading 
4.1.5 
4.1.6 
  Exercises 
  Kinematics  of  Wheeled  Mobile  Robots 
4.2.1 
4.2.2 
4.2.3 
4.2.4 
4.2.5 
  Constrained  Kinematics  and  Dynamics 
  Constraints  of  Disallowed  Direction 
4.3.1 
  Constraints  of  Rolling  Without  Slipping 
4.3.2 
  Lagrangian  Dynamics 
4.3.3 
4.3.4 
  Terrain  Contact 
  Trajectory  Estimation  and  Prediction 
4.3.5 
  References  and  Further  Reading 
4.3.6 
4.3.7 
  Exercises 
  Aspects  of  Linear  Systems  Theory 
  Linear  Time-Invariant  Systems 
4.4.1 
  State  Space  Representation  of  Linear  Dynamical  Systems 
4.4.2 
  Nonlinear  Dynamical  Systems 
4.4.3 
4.4.4 
  Perturbative  Dynamics  of  Nonlinear  Dynamical  Systems 
  References  and  Further  Reading 
4.4.5 
4.4.6 
  Exercises 
vii
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4.5 
C O N T E N T S
  Predictive  Modeling  and  System  Identification 
4.5.1 
4.5.2 
4.5.3 
4.5.4 
4.5.5 
4.5.6 
4.5.7 
4.5.8 
  Braking 
  Turning 
  Vehicle  Rollover 
  Wheel  Slip  and  Yaw  Stability 
  Parameterization  and  Linearization  of  Dynamic  Models 
  System  Identification 
  References  and  Further  Reading 
  Exercises 
5 Optimal Estimation
  Variance  of  Continuous  Integration  and  Averaging  Processes 
  Stochastic  Integration 
  Optimal  Estimation 
  References  and  Further  Reading 
  Exercises 
5.1 
5.2 
5.3 
5.4 
  Characterizing  Uncertainty 
  Random  Variables 
  Transformation  of  Uncertainty 
  Random  Processes 
  References  and  Further  Reading 
  Exercises 
  Random  Variables,  Processes,  and  Transformation 
5.1.1 
5.1.2 
5.1.3 
5.1.4 
5.1.5 
5.1.6 
  Covariance  Propagation  and  Optimal  Estimation 
5.2.1 
5.2.2 
5.2.3 
5.2.4 
5.2.5 
  State  Space  Kalman  Filters 
5.3.1 
5.3.2 
5.3.3 
5.3.4 
5.3.5 
5.3.6 
5.3.7 
5.3.8 
  Bayesian  Estimation 
5.4.1 
5.4.2 
5.4.3 
5.4.4 
5.4.5 
5.4.6 
5.4.7 
  Introduction 
  Linear  Discrete  Time  Kalman  Filter 
  Kalman  Filters  for  Nonlinear  Systems 
  Simple  Example:  2D  Mobile  Robot 
  Pragmatic  Information  for  Kalman  Filters 
  Other  Forms  of  the  Kalman  Filter 
  References  and  Further  Reading 
  Exercises 
  Definitions 
  Bayes’  Rule 
  Bayes’  Filters 
  Bayesian  Mapping 
  Bayesian  Localization 
  References  and  Further  Reading 
  Exercises 
6 State Estimation
6.1 
  Mathematics  of  Pose  Estimation 
6.1.1 
6.1.2 
6.1.3 
6.1.4 
6.1.5 
6.1.6 
6.1.7 
6.1.8 
  Pose  Fixing  versus  Dead  Reckoning 
  Pose  Fixing 
  Error  Propagation  in  Triangulation 
  Real  Pose  Fixing  Systems 
  Dead  Reckoning 
  Real  Dead  Reckoning  Systems 
  References  and  Further  Reading 
  Exercises 
245
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