Abstract: The dynamics for multi-link spatial flexible manipulator arms consisting of n links and n rotary joints is investigated. Kinematics of both rotary-joint motion and link deformation is described by 4 × 4 homogenous transformation matrices, and the Lagrangian equations are used to derive the governing equations of motion of the system. In the modeling the recursive strategy for kinematics is adopted to improve the computational efficiency. Both the bending and torsional flexibility of the link are taken into account. Based on the present method a general-purpose software package for dynamic simulation is developed. Dynamic simulation of a spatial flexible manipulator arm is given as an example to validate the algorithm.

Key words: flexible manipulator arm, dynamics, numerical simulation, modeling