• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Motion Control Tips

Automation • Motion Control • Power Transmission

  • News
    • Industry News
    • Editor Blogs
    • Video
  • Controls
    • HMIs
    • PC-Based Controllers
    • PLCs + PACs
    • Stand-Alone Controllers
    • Software
  • Drives
    • Servo Drives
    • Stepper Drives
  • Encoders
    • Absolute Encoders
    • Incremental Encoders
    • Rotary Encoders
  • Mechanical
    • Bearings
    • Brakes + Clutches
    • Belt + chain
    • Couplings
    • Gears + Gearing
    • Lubrication
    • Shock + Vibration Mitigation
    • Springs + Rings + Seals
  • Linear
    • Actuators
    • Linear Motors
    • Linear Encoders
  • Motors
    • AC Motors
    • DC Motors
    • Brushless Motors
    • Gearmotors
    • Piezo Motors
    • Servo Motors
    • Stepper Motors
  • Systems
    • Conveyors + linear transport systems
    • Gantries + Stages
    • Rotary Tables
    • Grippers + End Effectors
    • Robotics
  • Networks
    • Connections + Sliprings
    • Fieldbuses
    • I/O
    • Sensors + Vision
  • FAQs
    • Motion Casebook
    • Motion Selection Guides
  • Suppliers
You are here: Home / FAQs + basics / What is a motion profile?

What is a motion profile?

October 2, 2019 By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

Servo applications require defined, controlled movements, often to move a part to a specified position at a precise velocity or along a predetermined path. A motion profile provides the physical motion information and graphically depicts how the motor should behave during the movement (often in terms of position, velocity, and acceleration) and is used by the servo controller to determine what commands (voltages) to send to the motor.

motion profile
A motion profile defines how the motor should behave – in terms of position, velocity, and acceleration – during the move.
Image credit: VEX Robotics

The type of motion profile required for an application depends on the purpose of the movement. For example, is the system simply transporting a part between workstations, or is it placing electrical components onto a circuit board? Although there are many different motion profiles that can achieve a given physical movement, the two most common types of motion profile are triangular and trapezoidal — so named because of the shape they depict when velocity is plotted as a function of time.

Triangular motion profiles: For quick, point-to-point movements

A triangular motion profile is characterized by equal acceleration and deceleration times (and distances), with no time spent at a constant velocity. In other words, a triangular motion profile divides the time allowed for the move into two halves — an acceleration period and a deceleration period.

This profile is commonly used for applications that don’t require a period of constant velocity — such as transport and pick-and-place — since it provides the fastest movement between two points.

Calculations of velocity and acceleration for a triangular motion profile are based on the geometry of a triangle, making them relatively simple. The height of the triangle represents the maximum velocity, and acceleration is found by dividing the maximum velocity by the time to accelerate, which is ½ of the total move time.

motion profile

For a standard triangular move profile, where ½ of the time is used for acceleration and ½ for deceleration: 

Trapezoidal motion profiles: For steady, constant-velocity movements

Unlike a triangular move, a trapezoidal motion profile allows a specified time (or distance) to be spent at a constant velocity. The mathematically simplest version of the trapezoidal profile breaks the total move time into thirds, allowing 1/3 of the total move time for acceleration, 1/3 for constant (maximum) velocity, and 1/3 for deceleration. But it is quite common for trapezoidal moves to use a longer portion of the time for constant velocity, with very quick acceleration and deceleration rates.

The trapezoidal motion profile is arguably the most common in motion control applications, since it forms the basis of processes that require a period of constant velocity, such as dispensing, measuring, and machining.

The motion calculations for trapezoidal move profiles are a bit more complex than for triangular moves. The best way to analyze a trapezoidal motion profile is to break the profile into two right triangles (for the acceleration and deceleration phases of the move) and a rectangle (for the constant velocity phase).

motion profileFor a standard trapezoidal move profile, where 1/3 of the total time is used for acceleration, 1/3 for constant velocity, and 1/3 for deceleration: 

motion profile

Adding curves produces smoother motion

Despite underpinning the majority of motion control applications, neither triangular nor trapezoidal move profiles are ideal for motion systems due to a phenomenon known as “jerk.” Jerk is the rate of change of acceleration, and for trapezoidal and triangular move profiles, the initial acceleration and final deceleration occur instantly, meaning jerk is (theoretically) infinite.

motion profile
Standard triangular and trapezoidal (shown above) motion profiles require instant acceleration, which leads to (theoretically) infinite jerk.
Image credit: Parker Hannifin Corporation

Jerk is especially problematic for systems that require smooth, accurate motion because it causes vibrations that can reduce positioning accuracy and extend settling time.

To reduce jerk, the beginnings and ends of the acceleration and deceleration phases of the move are smoothed into an “S” shape. This limits the rate of change of acceleration and deceleration (jerk) and produces smoother motion and more accurate positioning.

motion profile
Smoothing the beginning and end of the acceleration and deceleration phases of motion – known as an S-curve motion profile – allows acceleration to increase and decrease over time, which reduces jerk.
Image credit: Parker Hannifin Corporation

For an in-depth dive on generating motion profiles and calculating velocity and acceleration, check out these resources from linearmotiontips.com:

How to generate the motion profile for a linear system

How to calculate velocity from triangular and trapezoidal move profiles

How to calculate acceleration 

How to reduce jerk in linear motion systems

You may also like:

  • hunting
    What is hunting in the context of motion control and…

  • Three trends changing motion control
  • servo drive
    Selecting servomotors with integrated drives

  • Motion Trends: New motor breeds are smart, connected, and compact

  • 9 considerations when picking servocouplings for servo applications — and…

Filed Under: Controls, FAQs + basics, Featured, Servo Drives, Servo Motors

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

POWER TRANSMISSION REFERENCE GUIDE

DESIGN GUIDE LIBRARY

“motion
Subscribe Today

RSS Featured White Papers

  • Specifying electric rodless actuators: Ten tips for maximizing actuator life and system performance
  • The truth about actuator life: Screw drive survival
  • Top Ten Tips: How to specify electric rod-style actuators for optimal performance, reliability and efficiency

Footer

Motion Control Tips

DESIGN WORLD NETWORK

Design World Online
The Robot Report
Coupling Tips
Linear Motion Tips
Bearing Tips
Fastener Engineering.

MOTION CONTROL TIPS

Subscribe to our newsletter
Advertise with us
Contact us
About us
Follow us on TwitterAdd us on FacebookAdd us on LinkedInAdd us on YouTubeAdd us on Instagram

Copyright © 2022 · WTWH Media LLC and its licensors. All rights reserved.
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media.

Privacy Policy | RSS