Robotics in Manufacturing

Motion

Jerk

Jerk is the rate of change of acceleration, and limiting it produces smoother starts and stops on a robot path.

High jerk shows up as a sharp jolt at the beginning or end of a move, which can shake a payload loose or excite mechanical resonance.

Modern controllers apply jerk limiting or S-curve profiles so acceleration ramps up and down gradually instead of stepping instantly.

Related terms

overshootcycle timepayload

Common questions

What does Jerk mean?
Jerk is the rate of change of acceleration, and limiting it produces smoother starts and stops on a robot path.
Why does Jerk matter?
High jerk shows up as a sharp jolt at the beginning or end of a move, which can shake a payload loose or excite mechanical resonance.