Vectorial parameterizations of pose

Robotics and computer vision problems commonly require handling rigid-body motions comprising translation and rotation – together referred to as pose. In some situations, a vectorial parameterization of pose can be useful, where elements of a vector space are surjectively mapped to a matrix Lie group. For example, these vectorial representations can be employed for optimization as well as uncertainty representation on groups. The most common mapping is the matrix exponential, which maps elements of a Lie algebra onto the associated Lie group. However, this choice is not unique. It has been previously shown how to characterize all such vectorial parameterizations for SO(3), the group of rotations. Some results are also known for the group of poses, where it is possible to build a family of vectorial mappings that includes the matrix exponential as well as the Cayley transformation. We extend what is known for these pose mappings to the $4 \times 4$ representation common in robotics and also demonstrate three different examples of the proposed pose mappings: (i) pose interpolation, (ii) pose servoing control, and (iii) pose estimation in a pointcloud alignment problem. In the pointcloud alignment problem, our results lead to a new algorithm based on the Cayley transformation, which we call CayPer.

Exact Augmented Perpetual Manifolds: Corollary about Different Mechanical Systems with Exactly the Same Motions

Perpetual points have been defined in mathematics recently, and they arise by setting accelerations and jerks equal to zero for nonzero velocities. The significance of perpetual points for the dynamics of mechanical systems is ongoing research. In the linear natural, unforced mechanical systems, the perpetual points form the perpetual manifolds and are associated with rigid body motions. Extending the definition of perpetual manifolds, by considering equal accelerations, in a forced mechanical system, but not necessarily zero, the solutions define the augmented perpetual manifolds. If the displacements are equal and the velocities are equal, the state space defines the exact augmented perpetual manifolds obtained under the conditions of a theorem, and a characteristic differential equation defines the solution. As a continuation of the theorem herein, a corollary proved that different mechanical systems, in the exact augmented perpetual manifolds, have the same general solution, and, in case of the same initial conditions, they have the same motion. The characteristic differential equation leads to a solution defining the augmented perpetual submanifolds and the solution of several types of characteristic differential equations derived. The theory in a few mechanical systems with numerical simulations is verified, and they are in perfect agreement. The theory developed herein is supplementing the already-developed theory of augmented perpetual manifolds, which is of high significance in mathematics, mechanics, and mechanical engineering. In mathematics, the framework for specific solutions of many degrees of freedom nonautonomous systems is defined. In mechanics/physics, the wave-particle motions are of significance. In mechanical engineering, some mechanical system’s rigid body motions without any oscillations are the ultimate ones.

Approximate Formulation of the Rigid Body Motions of an Elastic Rectangle Under Sliding Boundary Conditions

Low-frequency analysis of in-plane motion of an elastic rectangle subject to end loadings together with sliding boundary conditions is considered. A perturbation scheme is employed to analyze the dynamic response of the elastic rectangle revealing nonhomogeneous boundary-value problems for harmonic and biharmonic equations corresponding to leading and next order expansions, respectively. The solution of the biharmonic equation obtained by the separation of variables, a consequence of sliding boundary conditions, gives an asymptotic correction to the rigid body motion of the rectangle. The derived explicit approximate formulae are tested for different kinds of end loadings together with numerical examples demonstrating the comparison against the exact solutions.

Plant-expressed virus-like particles reveal the intricate maturation process of a eukaryotic virus

Many virus capsids undergo exquisitely choreographed maturation processes in their host cells to produce infectious virions, and these remain poorly understood. As a tool for studying virus maturation, we transiently expressed the capsid protein of the insect virus Nudaurelia capensis omega virus (NωV) in Nicotiana benthamiana and were able to purify both immature procapsids and mature capsids from infiltrated leaves by varying the expression time. Cryo-EM analysis of the plant-produced procapsids and mature capsids to 6.6 Å and 2.7 Å resolution, respectively, reveals that in addition to large scale rigid body motions, internal regions of the subunits are extensively remodelled during maturation, creating the active site required for autocatalytic cleavage and infectivity. The mature particles are biologically active in terms of their ability to lyse membranes and have a structure that is essentially identical to authentic virus. The ability to faithfully recapitulate and visualize a complex maturation process in plants, including the autocatalytic cleavage of the capsid protein, has revealed a ~30 Å translation-rotation of the subunits during maturation as well as conformational rearrangements in the N and C-terminal helical regions of each subunit.

Augmented Perpetual Manifolds and Perpetual Mechanical Systems-Part I: Definitions, Theorem and Corollary for Triggering Perpetual Manifolds, Application in Reduced Order Modeling and Particle-Wave Motion of Flexible Mechanical Systems

Perpetual points in mechanical systems defined recently. Herein are used to seek specific types of solutions of N-degrees of freedom systems, and their significance in mechanics is discussed. In discrete linear mechanical systems, is proven, that the perpetual points are forming the perpetual manifolds and they are associated with rigid body motions, and these systems are called perpetual. The definition of perpetual manifolds herein is extended to the augmented perpetual manifolds. A theorem, defining the conditions of the external forces applied in an N-degrees of freedom system lead to a solution in the exact augmented perpetual manifold of rigid body motions, is proven. In this case, the motion by only one differential equation is described, therefore forms reduced-order modelling of the original equations of motion. Further on, a corollary is proven, that in the augmented perpetual manifolds for external harmonic force the system moves in dual mode as wave-particle. The developed theory is certified in three examples and the analytical solutions are in excellent agreement with the numerical simulations. The outcome of this research is significant in several sciences, in mathematics, in physics and in mechanical engineering. In mathematics, this theory is significant for deriving particular solutions of nonlinear systems of differential equations. In physics/mechanics, the existence of wave-particle motion of flexible mechanical systems is of substantial value. Finally in mechanical engineering, the theory in all mechanical structures can be applied, e.g. cars, aeroplanes, spaceships, boats etc. targeting only the rigid body motions.

Synthesis of Six-Bar Timed Curve Generators of Stephenson-Type Using Random Monodromy Loops

Synthesis of rigid-body mechanisms has traditionally been motivated by the design for kinematic requirements such as rigid-body motions, paths, or functions. A blend of the latter two leads to timed curve synthesis, the goal of which is to produce a path coordinated to the input of a joint variable. This approach has utility for altering the transmission of forces and velocities from an input joint onto an output point path. The design of timed curve generators can be accomplished by setting up a square system of algebraic equations and obtaining all isolated solutions. For a four-bar linkage, obtaining these solutions is routine. The situation becomes much more complicated for the six-bar linkages, but the range of possible output motions is more diverse. The computation of nearly complete solution sets for these six-bar design equations has been facilitated by recent root finding techniques belonging to the field of numerical algebraic geometry. In particular, we implement a method that uses random monodromy loops. In this work, we report these solution sets to all relevant six-bars of the Stephenson topology. The computed solution sets to these generic problems represent a design library, which can be used in a parameter continuation step to design linkages for different subsequent requirements.