# externalForce

Compose external force matrix relative to base

## Syntax

``fext = externalForce(robot,bodyname,wrench)``
``fext = externalForce(robot,bodyname,wrench,configuration)``

## Description

example

````fext = externalForce(robot,bodyname,wrench)` composes the external force matrix, which you can use as inputs to `inverseDynamics` and `forwardDynamics` to apply an external force, `wrench`, to the body specified by `bodyname`. The `wrench` input is assumed to be in the base frame.```

example

````fext = externalForce(robot,bodyname,wrench,configuration)` composes the external force matrix assuming that `wrench` is in the `bodyname` frame for the specified `configuration`. The force matrix `fext` is given in the base frame.```

## Examples

collapse all

Calculate the resultant joint accelerations for a given robot configuration with applied external forces and forces due to gravity. A wrench is applied to a specific body with the gravity being specified for the whole robot.

Load a predefined KUKA LBR robot model, which is specified as a `RigidBodyTree` object.

`load exampleRobots.mat lbr`

Set the data format to `'row'`. For all dynamics calculations, the data format must be either `'row'` or `'column'`.

`lbr.DataFormat = 'row';`

Set the gravity. By default, gravity is assumed to be zero.

`lbr.Gravity = [0 0 -9.81];`

Get the home configuration for the `lbr` robot.

`q = homeConfiguration(lbr);`

Specify the wrench vector that represents the external forces experienced by the robot. Use the `externalForce` function to generate the external force matrix. Specify the robot model, the end effector that experiences the wrench, the wrench vector, and the current robot configuration. `wrench` is given relative to the `'tool0'` body frame, which requires you to specify the robot configuration, `q`.

```wrench = [0 0 0.5 0 0 0.3]; fext = externalForce(lbr,'tool0',wrench,q);```

Compute the resultant joint accelerations due to gravity, with the external force applied to the end-effector `'tool0'` when `lbr` is at its home configuration. The joint velocities and joint torques are assumed to be zero (input as an empty vector `[]`).

`qddot = forwardDynamics(lbr,q,[],[],fext);`

Use the `externalForce` function to generate force matrices to apply to a rigid body tree model. The force matrix is an m-by-6 vector that has a row for each joint on the robot to apply a six-element wrench. Use the `externalForce` function and specify the end effector to properly assign the wrench to the correct row of the matrix. You can add multiple force matrices together to apply multiple forces to one robot.

To calculate the joint torques that counter these external forces, use the `inverseDynamics` function.

Load a predefined KUKA LBR robot model, which is specified as a `RigidBodyTree` object.

`load exampleRobots.mat lbr`

Set the data format to `'row'`. For all dynamics calculations, the data format must be either `'row'` or `'column'`.

`lbr.DataFormat = 'row';`

Set the `Gravity` property to give a specific gravitational acceleration.

`lbr.Gravity = [0 0 -9.81];`

Get the home configuration for `lbr`.

`q = homeConfiguration(lbr);`

Set external force on `link1`. The input wrench vector is expressed in the base frame.

`fext1 = externalForce(lbr,'link_1',[0 0 0.0 0.1 0 0]);`

Set external force on the end effector, `tool0`. The input wrench vector is expressed in the `tool0` frame.

`fext2 = externalForce(lbr,'tool0',[0 0 0.0 0.1 0 0],q);`

Compute the joint torques required to balance the external forces. To combine the forces, add the force matrices together. Joint velocities and accelerations are assumed to be zero (input as `[]`).

`tau = inverseDynamics(lbr,q,[],[],fext1+fext2);`

## Input Arguments

collapse all

Robot model, specified as a `rigidBodyTree` object. To use the `externalForce` function, set the `DataFormat` property to either `"row"` or `"column"`.

Name of body to which the external force is applied, specified as a string scalar or character vector. This body name must match a body on the `robot` object.

Data Types: `char` | `string`

Torques and forces applied to the body, specified as a `[Tx Ty Tz Fx Fy Fz]` vector. The first three elements of the wrench correspond to the moments around xyz-axes. The last three elements are linear forces along the same axes. Unless you specify the robot `configuration`, the wrench is assumed to be relative to the base frame.

Robot configuration, specified as a vector with positions for all nonfixed joints in the robot model. You can generate a configuration using `homeConfiguration(robot)`, `randomConfiguration(robot)`, or by specifying your own joint positions. To use the vector form of `configuration`, set the `DataFormat` property for the `robot` to either `"row"` or `"column"` .

## Output Arguments

collapse all

External force matrix, returned as either an n-by-6 or 6-by-n matrix, where n is the velocity number (degrees of freedom) of the robot. The shape depends on the `DataFormat` property of `robot`. The `"row"` data format uses an n-by-6 matrix. The `"column"` data format uses a 6-by-n .

The composed matrix lists only values other than zero at the locations relevant to the body specified. You can add force matrices together to specify multiple forces on multiple bodies. Use the external force matrix to specify external forces to dynamics functions `inverseDynamics` and `forwardDynamics`.

collapse all

### Dynamics Properties

When working with robot dynamics, specify the information for individual bodies of your manipulator robot using these properties of the `rigidBody` objects:

• `Mass` — Mass of the rigid body in kilograms.

• `CenterOfMass` — Center of mass position of the rigid body, specified as a vector of the form `[x y z]`. The vector describes the location of the center of mass of the rigid body, relative to the body frame, in meters. The `centerOfMass` object function uses these rigid body property values when computing the center of mass of a robot.

• `Inertia` — Inertia of the rigid body, specified as a vector of the form `[Ixx Iyy Izz Iyz Ixz Ixy]`. The vector is relative to the body frame in kilogram square meters. The inertia tensor is a positive definite matrix of the form:

The first three elements of the `Inertia` vector are the moment of inertia, which are the diagonal elements of the inertia tensor. The last three elements are the product of inertia, which are the off-diagonal elements of the inertia tensor.

For information related to the entire manipulator robot model, specify these `rigidBodyTree` object properties:

• `Gravity` — Gravitational acceleration experienced by the robot, specified as an `[x y z]` vector in m/s2. By default, there is no gravitational acceleration.

• `DataFormat` — The input and output data format for the kinematics and dynamics functions, specified as `"struct"`, `"row"`, or `"column"`.

### Dynamics Equations

Manipulator rigid body dynamics are governed by this equation:

`$\frac{d}{dt}\left[\begin{array}{c}q\\ \stackrel{˙}{q}\end{array}\right]=\left[\begin{array}{c}\stackrel{˙}{q}\\ M{\left(q\right)}^{-1}\left(-C\left(q,\stackrel{˙}{q}\right)\stackrel{˙}{q}-G\left(q\right)-J{\left(q\right)}^{T}{F}_{Ext}+\tau \right)\end{array}\right]$`

also written as:

`$M\left(q\right)\stackrel{¨}{q}=-C\left(q,\stackrel{˙}{q}\right)\stackrel{˙}{q}-G\left(q\right)-J{\left(q\right)}^{T}{F}_{Ext}+\tau$`

where:

• $M\left(q\right)$ — is a joint-space mass matrix based on the current robot configuration. Calculate this matrix by using the `massMatrix` object function.

• $C\left(q,\stackrel{˙}{q}\right)$ — are the Coriolis terms, which are multiplied by $\stackrel{˙}{q}$ to calculate the velocity product. Calculate the velocity product by using by the `velocityProduct` object function.

• $G\left(q\right)$ — is the gravity torques and forces required for all joints to maintain their positions in the specified gravity `Gravity`. Calculate the gravity torque by using the `gravityTorque` object function.

• $J\left(q\right)$ — is the geometric Jacobian for the specified joint configuration. Calculate the geometric Jacobian by using the `geometricJacobian` object function.

• ${F}_{Ext}$ — is a matrix of the external forces applied to the rigid body. Generate external forces by using the `externalForce` object function.

• $\tau$ — are the joint torques and forces applied directly as a vector to each joint.

• $q,\stackrel{˙}{q},\stackrel{¨}{q}$ — are the joint configuration, joint velocities, and joint accelerations, respectively, as individual vectors. For revolute joints, specify values in radians, rad/s, and rad/s2, respectively. For prismatic joints, specify in meters, m/s, and m/s2.

To compute the dynamics directly, use the `forwardDynamics` object function. The function calculates the joint accelerations for the specified combinations of the above inputs.

To achieve a certain set of motions, use the `inverseDynamics` object function. The function calculates the joint torques required to achieve the specified configuration, velocities, accelerations, and external forces.

## References

[1] Featherstone, Roy. Rigid Body Dynamics Algorithms. Springer US, 2008. DOI.org (Crossref), doi:10.1007/978-1-4899-7560-7.

## Version History

Introduced in R2017a