Quaternion-Based Smooth Trajectory Generator for Via Poses in S\;E(3) Considering Kinematic Limits in Cartesian Space

Smooth position and orientation interpolation has a great effect on the performance of robot manipulators. Interpolation between several via positions can be done in a straightforward manner, which is well covered in the literature. However, generating a suitable trajectory between several orientations is still an open problem. In this letter, we introduce a novel trajectory generator capable of respecting kinematic limits. We address the problem of generating a singularity-free trajectory for multiple via poses in SE(3), while complying with the requirement of C4continuity. To achieve this, a smooth trapezoidal-like velocity profile and unit quaternions are used. A simulation platform in V-REP based on a 7-DOF lightweight robot, including inverse kinematics and dynamics is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of our trajectory generator.