Forward and Inverse Kinematics MCQs

1. What does forward kinematics calculate? A) Joint angles from end-effector position B) End-effector position from joint angles C) Joint velocities from end-effector velocity D) End-effector velocity from joint velocities Answer: B) End-effector position from joint angles 2. What does inverse kinematics determine? A) End-effector position from joint angles B) Joint angles from end-effector position C) End-effector velocity from joint velocities D) Joint velocities from end-effector velocity Answer: B) Joint angles from end-effector position 3. In a 2D robotic arm with two links, how many joint angles are needed for the forward kinematics solution? A) 1 B) 2 C) 3 D) 4 Answer: B) 2 4. The Denavit-Hartenberg (DH) parameters are used to: A) Calculate joint angles B) Define the kinematic model of a robot C) Control the motion of a robot D) Measure the end-effector’s position Answer: B) Define the kinematic model of a robot 5. In a 6-DOF robotic arm, the forward kinematics will produce: A) A 2D vector B) A 3D vector C) A 4×4 transformation matrix D) A 6×6 matrix Answer: C) A 4×4 transformation matrix 6. The Jacobian matrix relates: A) End-effector position to joint velocities B) Joint velocities to end-effector position C) End-effector forces to joint torques D) Joint angles to end-effector velocity Answer: A) End-effector position to joint velocities 7. The pseudo-inverse of the Jacobian matrix is used to: A) Solve inverse kinematics problems B) Calculate forward kinematics C) Compute joint velocities D) Find end-effector position Answer: C) Compute joint velocities 8. For a planar robot arm with two links, the number of possible solutions for inverse kinematics can be: A) 1 B) 2 C) 3 D) Infinite Answer: B) 2 9. What is the primary purpose of using the DH convention in robotic kinematics? A) To standardize joint configurations B) To simplify the representation of robot arm configuration C) To measure end-effector velocity D) To control robotic movements Answer: B) To simplify the representation of robot arm configuration 10. The transformation matrix from the base frame to the end-effector frame includes: A) Only rotation B) Only translation C) Both rotation and translation D) Neither rotation nor translation Answer: C) Both rotation and translation 11. In a robotic arm with prismatic joints, the forward kinematics: A) Depends only on joint angles B) Depends only on joint displacements C) Depends on both joint angles and displacements D) Cannot be calculated Answer: B) Depends only on joint displacements 12. The solution of inverse kinematics often involves: A) Solving nonlinear equations B) Solving linear equations C) Integrating differential equations D) Performing matrix inversions Answer: A) Solving nonlinear equations 13. The primary challenge in inverse kinematics is: A) Finding the end-effector position B) Ensuring solution uniqueness C) Calculating joint velocities D) Performing forward kinematics Answer: B) Ensuring solution uniqueness 14. What is the general form of the forward kinematics transformation matrix? A) $T=R\cdot d$ B) $T=R\cdot \exp (d)$ C) $T=[R\mid d]$ D) $T=[R\mid 0]$ Answer: C) $T=[R\mid d]$ 15. The inverse kinematics solution for a 3-DOF planar robot arm can be obtained using: A) Algebraic methods B) Numerical methods C) Geometric methods D) All of the above Answer: D) All of the above 16. In a 3D robotic arm, how many joint angles are needed to fully describe the end-effector position? A) 2 B) 3 C) 4 D) 6 Answer: B) 3 17. The position of the end-effector in forward kinematics is represented as: A) A vector B) A scalar C) A matrix D) A quaternion Answer: A) A vector 18. When using the Denavit-Hartenberg convention, each link is described by how many parameters? A) 2 B) 3 C) 4 D) 6 Answer: C) 4 19. What does the term “kinematic chain” refer to in robotics? A) The sequence of operations in a control system B) The series of links and joints in a robot C) The software used for robot programming D) The mathematical model of robot motion Answer: B) The series of links and joints in a robot 20. In a robotic arm with spherical joints, forward kinematics calculates: A) The rotation matrix only B) The translation matrix only C) Both rotation and translation D) The angular velocity Answer: C) Both rotation and translation 21. The Jacobian matrix for a robotic arm is derived from: A) The differential of the forward kinematics function B) The differential of the inverse kinematics function C) The integration of the forward kinematics function D) The integration of the inverse kinematics function Answer: A) The differential of the forward kinematics function 22. Which method is typically used for solving inverse kinematics when the analytical solution is complex or impossible? A) Closed-form solution B) Numerical methods C) Graphical methods D) Simulations Answer: B) Numerical methods 23. In robotic kinematics, the term “redundant” refers to: A) A robot with more DOF than necessary for a given task B) A robot with fewer DOF than required C) A robot with a single degree of freedom D) A robot with no degrees of freedom Answer: A) A robot with more DOF than necessary for a given task 24. The forward kinematics of a robot arm is typically represented by: A) A set of linear equations B) A set of differential equations C) A matrix equation D) A set of recursive functions Answer: C) A matrix equation 25. Inverse kinematics for a robot arm with a spherical wrist typically involves: A) Solving linear equations B) Calculating joint angles using geometric methods C) Performing numerical optimization D) Computing Jacobian matrix inverse Answer: B) Calculating joint angles using geometric methods 26. The “end-effector” in robotics refers to: A) The base of the robot B) The point where the robot is attached to the floor C) The part of the robot that interacts with the environment D) The control system of the robot Answer: C) The part of the robot that interacts with the environment 27. The DH parameter “d” represents: A) Link length B) Joint offset C) Link twist D) Joint angle Answer: B) Joint offset 28. Which of the following is NOT a typical DH parameter? A) Link length B) Joint angle C) Joint velocity D) Link twist Answer: C) Joint velocity 29. In inverse kinematics, the term “inverse” refers to: A) Solving for joint angles given the end-effector position B) Solving for end-effector position given joint angles C) Computing the Jacobian matrix D) Calculating end-effector forces Answer: A) Solving for joint angles given the end-effector position 30. The forward kinematics of a robotic manipulator is generally easier to compute than: A) Inverse kinematics B) Jacobian matrix C) Dynamics equations D) Control algorithms Answer: A) Inverse kinematics 31. In a 6-DOF robotic arm, the pose of the end-effector is described by: A) 3 position parameters and 3 orientation parameters B) 6 position parameters C) 4 position parameters and 2 orientation parameters D) 3 orientation parameters only Answer: A) 3 position parameters and 3 orientation parameters 32. The “Jacobian transpose method” is used in which context? A) Inverse kinematics B) Forward kinematics C) Dynamics modeling D) Path planning Answer: A) Inverse kinematics 33. Which coordinate system is commonly used to describe the position and orientation of a robotic arm? A) Cartesian coordinates B) Polar coordinates C) Cylindrical coordinates D) Spherical coordinates Answer: A) Cartesian coordinates 34. The “prismatic joint” in a robotic arm allows: A) Rotational movement B) Translational movement C) Both rotational and translational movement D) No movement Answer: B) Translational movement