get Solid blocks derived inertia and mass values

Hi,

I would like to be able to get the derived values of the inertia and mass of the solid body blocks found in a Simulink Model using get_param function.

The values I am getting using a matlab script don't show the 'updated' values, rather the default values I = [1 1 1 0 0 0], mass = 1, despite updating them manually in the block parameters.

The intent is to create a RigidBodyTree from the given multiBody simulink model. I know there is importrobot() function but that one creates links frames not based on DH criteria which creates issues for me. Thanks.

[Fangjun Jiang]

which exact Simulink block?

[EngM]

Solid bodies, like Brick Solid and Cylindrical..etc. found in

• Library: Simscape / Multibody / Body Elements

fyi, I do update and run the model before trying to extract the info from the block properties. Also, if the Inertia > Type is set to Custom, the script works fine and I can extract the inertia properties. It is not working if the Inertia > Type is set to 'CalculateFromGeometry' :

get_param(blk,'InertiaType')

ans =

'CalculateFromGeometry'

thanks..

[Fangjun Jiang]

I couldn't figure it out.

Answer 1

[Steve Miller]

The derived properties are displayed on the block, but are not accessible via get_param().

If you want to automate getting these values, you could use the Inertia Sensor, run a short simulation and save the results to the workspace.

--Steve

[Fangjun Jiang]

I guess the question or request is to have access to those derived values. No need to add sensor and log to get the value since the value is already displayed.

If there is an interface on the RigidBodyTree to use the sensor, then that might be a solution.

The derived values must be interim variables in the mask as they are calculated and displayed. I dug deep into the mask but couldn't find a way.

[EngM]

Thanks for the suggestion Steve, but as Fangjun elaborated, the derived values are calculated from geometry, so they are not dynamic values which require successful simulation to obtain. Simscape multibody encoruges using its library to combine and create geometry from basic blocks provided. There should be a method by which the resulting inertia is found and used along with built-in Robotic algorithms, possibly outside the Simulink enviroment.

On bigger note, the command importrobot() from simulink could use more specifications to choose to use DH method, as the standard robotic toolbox offers, which will export the inertia matrix for the given link body w.r.t to its link frame defined as per DH method.

thanks..