Dynamic optimization algorithm of constrained motion

The constrained motion requires the determination of constraint force acting on unconstrained systems for satisfying given constraints. Most of the methods to decide the force depend on numerical approaches such that the Lagrange multiplier method, and the other methods need vector analysis or complicated intermediate process. In 1992, Udwadia and Kalaba presented the generalized inverse method to describe the constrained motion as well as to calculate the constraint force. The generalized inverse method has the advantages which do not require any linearization process for the control of nonlinear systems and can explicitly describe the motion of holonomically and/or nonholonomically constrained systems. In this paper, an explicit equation to describe the constrained motion is derived by minimizing the performance index, which is a function of constraint force vector, with respect to the constraint force. At this time, it is shown that the positive-definite weighting matrix in the performance index must be the inverse of mass matrix on the basis of the Gauss's principle and the derived differential equation coincides with the generalized inverse method. The effectiveness of this method is illustrated by means of two numerical applications.