Multibody dynamics methodologies have been fundamental tools utilized to model and simulate robotic systems that experience contact conditions with the surrounding environment, such as in the case of feet and ground interactions. In addressing such problems, it is of paramount importance to accurately and efficiently handle the large body displacement associated with locomotion of robots, as well as the dynamic response related to contact-impact events. Thus, a generic computational approach, based on the Newton–Euler formulation, to represent the gross motion of robotic systems, is revisited in this work. The main kinematic and dynamic features, necessary to obtain the equations of motion, are discussed. A numerical procedure suitable to solve the equations of motion is also presented. The problem of modeling contacts in dynamical systems involves two main tasks, namely, the contact detection and the contact resolution, which take into account for the kinematics and dynamics of the contacting bodies, constituting the general framework for the process of modeling and simulating complex contact scenarios. In order to properly model the contact interactions, the contact kinematic properties are established based on the geometry of contacting bodies, which allow to perform the contact detection task. The contact dynamics is represented by continuous contact force models, both in terms of normal and tangential contact directions. Finally, the presented formulations are demonstrated by the application to several robotics systems that involve contact and impact events with surrounding environment. Special emphasis is put on the systems’ dynamic behavior, in terms of performance and stability.

A folding wing is a tactical missile launching device that needs to be miniaturised to facilitate storage, transportation, and launching; save missile and transportation space; and improve the combat capability of weapon systems. This study investigates the aeroelastic characteristics of the secondary longitudinal folding wing during the unfolding process. First, the Lagrange equation is used to establish the structural dynamics model of the folding wing, the kinematics characteristics during the deformation process are analysed, and the unfolding movement of the folding wing is obtained using the dynamic equations in the process. Then, the generalised unsteady aerodynamic force is calculated using the dipole grid method, and the multi-body dynamics equation of the folding wing is obtained. The initial angular velocity required for the deployment of the folding wing is analysed through structural model simulation, and the influence of the initial angular velocity on the opening process is studied. Finally, aeroelastic flutter analysis is performed on the folding wing, and the physical model of the folding wing verified experimentally. Results show that the type of aeroelastic response is sensitive to the initial conditions and the way the folding wing opens.

In this paper, an offline algorithm generates gaits for robotic biped running motion. A minimization procedure on a novel objective function produces initial joint velocities for the flight phase given the initial joint angles. These computed initial velocities ensure a reasonable starting point for the constrained dynamic optimization procedure to try and formulate a gait that minimizes energy consumption. The simulated robot runs even on ground and up stairs. Results demonstrate the rigid robot solution has a intuitively satisfying human-like motion with an energy consumption that appears reasonable for a rigid robot.