Study on Path Planning for Industrial Robots in Free-form Surfaces Polishing

Expected path of polishing tool is one of the most essential needs for movement scheduling and movement controlling of polishing robot in free-form surfaces polishing. By analyzing the expected movement and position of polishing tool and based on the traditional movement scheduling methods, this paper carries out systematic research works on contour-parallel-machining tool path planning method and direction-parallel-machining tool path planning method for polishing tool paths figuring out. Compared with contour-parallel-machining tool path planning method, the direction-parallel-machining tool path planning method needs one less number of degree of freedom and is much easier to avoid physical interventions and mechanic singularity, so it is an improved one.