In kinematics, the workspace is the mathematical volume defined by all achievable positions and orientations of a robot's tool center point. Engineers divide it into the reachable workspace, where a point can be touched in at least one orientation, and the dexterous workspace, where a point can be reached from any arbitrary angle. Calculating the workspace is a fundamental step in solving inverse kinematics.
Heard on the job
The part needs to be manipulated from underneath, so we've to mount the pedestal higher to shift the dexterous workspace up.
Insider tip
A point might be inside the reachable workspace but outside the dexterous workspace, meaning the robot can touch it but cannot angle a tool to actually do work there.
Also heard as
- working space
Do not mix it up with
- Work envelope: Workspace is the theoretical set of reachable points used in kinematic math, whereas the work envelope is the physical bounding shape.