FAILURE MAP
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FA-87846 / Inverse kinematics solvers / Open access

Two-link solver answers targets inside the unreachable inner hole · case 01

Targets closer than |l1-l2| to the base return a folded pose instead of "unreachable".

Verified by executionVariant 1 · 7 checks per implementationDownload source bundle ↓JSON ↗

ROOT CAUSE

The inner annulus test is missing, so the clamped cosine silently folds the arm.

VERIFIED REPAIR

Reject r squared below (l1-l2) squared minus the slack.

Unsuccessful approach: Testing r squared against l1^2-l2^2 is negative whenever the forearm is longer and never fires.

Case contract

Input [l1,l2,px,py,elbow] with positive link lengths. Return [q1,q2] in degrees (4 decimals) for a planar two-link arm whose end effector reaches (px,py); elbow "up" gives q2>=0, "down" gives q2<=0; q1 is wrapped to [-180,180). Points outside the annulus |l1-l2|<=r<=l1+l2 (1e-9 slack on r squared) return "unreachable".

Why this case matters

Inverse kinematics code turns task-space goals into joint commands; a wrong branch, sign, limit or update order sends a real arm to the wrong pose.

1 / The failure

Exit 1
"""Failure Map reference implementation. Python standard library only."""
import json
import math
N = 1
observations = []
def solve(x):
    l1,l2,px,py,elbow=x
    r2=px*px+py*py
    reach=l1+l2
    if r2>reach*reach+1e-9: return 'unreachable'
    c=(r2-l1*l1-l2*l2)/(2*l1*l2)
    c=max(-1.0,min(1.0,c))
    s=math.sqrt(1-c*c)
    if elbow=='down': s=-s
    q2=math.atan2(s,c)
    q1=math.atan2(py,px)-math.atan2(l2*s,l1+l2*c)
    d1=math.degrees(q1)
    d1=(d1+180.0)%360.0-180.0
    return [round(d1,4),round(math.degrees(q2),4)]
def check(label, actual, expected):
    observations.append({"check": label, "actual": actual, "expected": expected, "passed": actual == expected})
fixtures = [[['general elbow up', [[2, 1, 2, 1, 'up']], [0.0, 90.0]], ['general elbow down', [[2, 1, 2, 1, 'down']], [53.1301, -90.0]], ['fully extended on x axis', [[2, 1, 3, 0, 'up']], [0.0, 0.0]], ['fully extended diagonal', [[3, 4, 4.2, 5.6, 'up']], [53.1301, 0.0]], ['outside workspace', [[2, 1, 3, 1, 'up']], 'unreachable'], ['inside inner hole', [[3, 1, 1, 0, 'up']], 'unreachable'], ['inner boundary folded', [[3, 1, 2, 0, 'down']], [0.0, -180.0]]], [['fully extended diagonal', [[3, 4, 4.2, 5.6, 'up']], [53.1301, 0.0]], ['outside workspace', [[2, 1, 3, 1, 'up']], 'unreachable'], ['between reach and reach squared', [[1, 1, 1.9, 1.2, 'up']], 'unreachable'], ['inside inner hole', [[3, 1, 1, 0, 'up']], 'unreachable'], ['inner boundary folded', [[3, 1, 2, 0, 'down']], [0.0, -180.0]], ['third quadrant target', [[2, 2, -2, -1, 'up']], [150.5529, 112.0243]], ['long forearm hole', [[1, 3, 0.5, 1, 'down']], 'unreachable']], [['inside inner hole', [[3, 1, 1, 0, 'up']], 'unreachable'], ['inner boundary folded', [[3, 1, 2, 0, 'down']], [0.0, -180.0]], ['third quadrant target', [[2, 2, -2, -1, 'up']], [150.5529, 112.0243]], ['second quadrant target', [[2, 1.5, -2, 1, 'down']], [-165.5619, -102.0247]], ['negative y axis', [[1.5, 1, 0, -2, 'up']], [-118.955, 75.5225]], ['behind base elbow down', [[2, 1, -2.5, -0.5, 'down']], [-147.3681, -67.9757]], ['equal links near base', [[1, 1, 0.5, 0.2, 'up']], [-52.5785, 148.7597]]], [['second quadrant target', [[2, 1.5, -2, 1, 'down']], [-165.5619, -102.0247]], ['negative y axis', [[1.5, 1, 0, -2, 'up']], [-118.955, 75.5225]], ['behind base elbow down', [[2, 1, -2.5, -0.5, 'down']], [-147.3681, -67.9757]], ['equal links near base', [[1, 1, 0.5, 0.2, 'up']], [-52.5785, 148.7597]], ['long forearm hole', [[1, 3, 0.5, 1, 'down']], 'unreachable'], ['long forearm reachable', [[1, 3, 2.5, 0.5, 'up']], [-95.7981, 125.6853]], ['positive y axis', [[2, 2, 0, 3, 'down']], [131.4096, -82.8192]]], [['inside inner hole', [[3, 1, 1, 0, 'up']], 'unreachable'], ['inner boundary folded', [[3, 1, 2, 0, 'down']], [0.0, -180.0]], ['long forearm reachable', [[1, 3, 2.5, 0.5, 'up']], [-95.7981, 125.6853]], ['positive y axis', [[2, 2, 0, 3, 'down']], [131.4096, -82.8192]], ['wrap past minus 180', [[1, 2, -2.2, -0.3, 'up']], [123.5259, 91.0027]], ['upper left down', [[3, 2, -1, 4, 'down']], [131.2512, -70.5288]], ['near full reach', [[5, 3, 7.9, 0.5, 'down']], [10.0523, -17.1893]]]]
for label, args, expected in fixtures[N-1]:
    check(label, solve(*args), expected)
print(json.dumps({"observations": observations, "passed": all(x["passed"] for x in observations)}, ensure_ascii=False))
raise SystemExit(0 if all(x["passed"] for x in observations) else 1)
Boundary fixtureActualExpectedOutcome
general elbow up[0.0, 90.0][0.0, 90.0]Passed
general elbow down[53.1301, -90.0][53.1301, -90.0]Passed
fully extended on x axis[0.0, 0.0][0.0, 0.0]Passed
fully extended diagonal[53.1301, 0.0][53.1301, 0.0]Passed
outside workspaceunreachableunreachablePassed
inside inner hole[0.0, 180.0]unreachableFailed
inner boundary folded[0.0, -180.0][0.0, -180.0]Passed

SHA-256 / be7e990de2dbaf79186acf85bb98f819260629602b4ea721193cc9ee466c6b08

2 / The unsuccessful fix

Exit 1
"""Failure Map reference implementation. Python standard library only."""
import json
import math
N = 1
observations = []
def solve(x):
    l1,l2,px,py,elbow=x
    r2=px*px+py*py
    reach=l1+l2
    if r2>reach*reach+1e-9: return 'unreachable'
    if r2<l1*l1-l2*l2-1e-9: return 'unreachable'
    c=(r2-l1*l1-l2*l2)/(2*l1*l2)
    c=max(-1.0,min(1.0,c))
    s=math.sqrt(1-c*c)
    if elbow=='down': s=-s
    q2=math.atan2(s,c)
    q1=math.atan2(py,px)-math.atan2(l2*s,l1+l2*c)
    d1=math.degrees(q1)
    d1=(d1+180.0)%360.0-180.0
    return [round(d1,4),round(math.degrees(q2),4)]
def check(label, actual, expected):
    observations.append({"check": label, "actual": actual, "expected": expected, "passed": actual == expected})
fixtures = [[['general elbow up', [[2, 1, 2, 1, 'up']], [0.0, 90.0]], ['general elbow down', [[2, 1, 2, 1, 'down']], [53.1301, -90.0]], ['fully extended on x axis', [[2, 1, 3, 0, 'up']], [0.0, 0.0]], ['fully extended diagonal', [[3, 4, 4.2, 5.6, 'up']], [53.1301, 0.0]], ['outside workspace', [[2, 1, 3, 1, 'up']], 'unreachable'], ['inside inner hole', [[3, 1, 1, 0, 'up']], 'unreachable'], ['inner boundary folded', [[3, 1, 2, 0, 'down']], [0.0, -180.0]]], [['fully extended diagonal', [[3, 4, 4.2, 5.6, 'up']], [53.1301, 0.0]], ['outside workspace', [[2, 1, 3, 1, 'up']], 'unreachable'], ['between reach and reach squared', [[1, 1, 1.9, 1.2, 'up']], 'unreachable'], ['inside inner hole', [[3, 1, 1, 0, 'up']], 'unreachable'], ['inner boundary folded', [[3, 1, 2, 0, 'down']], [0.0, -180.0]], ['third quadrant target', [[2, 2, -2, -1, 'up']], [150.5529, 112.0243]], ['long forearm hole', [[1, 3, 0.5, 1, 'down']], 'unreachable']], [['inside inner hole', [[3, 1, 1, 0, 'up']], 'unreachable'], ['inner boundary folded', [[3, 1, 2, 0, 'down']], [0.0, -180.0]], ['third quadrant target', [[2, 2, -2, -1, 'up']], [150.5529, 112.0243]], ['second quadrant target', [[2, 1.5, -2, 1, 'down']], [-165.5619, -102.0247]], ['negative y axis', [[1.5, 1, 0, -2, 'up']], [-118.955, 75.5225]], ['behind base elbow down', [[2, 1, -2.5, -0.5, 'down']], [-147.3681, -67.9757]], ['equal links near base', [[1, 1, 0.5, 0.2, 'up']], [-52.5785, 148.7597]]], [['second quadrant target', [[2, 1.5, -2, 1, 'down']], [-165.5619, -102.0247]], ['negative y axis', [[1.5, 1, 0, -2, 'up']], [-118.955, 75.5225]], ['behind base elbow down', [[2, 1, -2.5, -0.5, 'down']], [-147.3681, -67.9757]], ['equal links near base', [[1, 1, 0.5, 0.2, 'up']], [-52.5785, 148.7597]], ['long forearm hole', [[1, 3, 0.5, 1, 'down']], 'unreachable'], ['long forearm reachable', [[1, 3, 2.5, 0.5, 'up']], [-95.7981, 125.6853]], ['positive y axis', [[2, 2, 0, 3, 'down']], [131.4096, -82.8192]]], [['inside inner hole', [[3, 1, 1, 0, 'up']], 'unreachable'], ['inner boundary folded', [[3, 1, 2, 0, 'down']], [0.0, -180.0]], ['long forearm reachable', [[1, 3, 2.5, 0.5, 'up']], [-95.7981, 125.6853]], ['positive y axis', [[2, 2, 0, 3, 'down']], [131.4096, -82.8192]], ['wrap past minus 180', [[1, 2, -2.2, -0.3, 'up']], [123.5259, 91.0027]], ['upper left down', [[3, 2, -1, 4, 'down']], [131.2512, -70.5288]], ['near full reach', [[5, 3, 7.9, 0.5, 'down']], [10.0523, -17.1893]]]]
for label, args, expected in fixtures[N-1]:
    check(label, solve(*args), expected)
print(json.dumps({"observations": observations, "passed": all(x["passed"] for x in observations)}, ensure_ascii=False))
raise SystemExit(0 if all(x["passed"] for x in observations) else 1)
Boundary fixtureActualExpectedOutcome
general elbow up[0.0, 90.0][0.0, 90.0]Passed
general elbow down[53.1301, -90.0][53.1301, -90.0]Passed
fully extended on x axis[0.0, 0.0][0.0, 0.0]Passed
fully extended diagonal[53.1301, 0.0][53.1301, 0.0]Passed
outside workspaceunreachableunreachablePassed
inside inner holeunreachableunreachablePassed
inner boundary foldedunreachable[0.0, -180.0]Failed

SHA-256 / bce30548970be52761741d14e76866a07450d4af2b8573f7bdb731fead5801ae

3 / The verified repair

Exit 0
"""Failure Map reference implementation. Python standard library only."""
import json
import math
N = 1
observations = []
def solve(x):
    l1,l2,px,py,elbow=x
    r2=px*px+py*py
    reach=l1+l2
    if r2>reach*reach+1e-9: return 'unreachable'
    if r2<(l1-l2)**2-1e-9: return 'unreachable'
    c=(r2-l1*l1-l2*l2)/(2*l1*l2)
    c=max(-1.0,min(1.0,c))
    s=math.sqrt(1-c*c)
    if elbow=='down': s=-s
    q2=math.atan2(s,c)
    q1=math.atan2(py,px)-math.atan2(l2*s,l1+l2*c)
    d1=math.degrees(q1)
    d1=(d1+180.0)%360.0-180.0
    return [round(d1,4),round(math.degrees(q2),4)]
def check(label, actual, expected):
    observations.append({"check": label, "actual": actual, "expected": expected, "passed": actual == expected})
fixtures = [[['general elbow up', [[2, 1, 2, 1, 'up']], [0.0, 90.0]], ['general elbow down', [[2, 1, 2, 1, 'down']], [53.1301, -90.0]], ['fully extended on x axis', [[2, 1, 3, 0, 'up']], [0.0, 0.0]], ['fully extended diagonal', [[3, 4, 4.2, 5.6, 'up']], [53.1301, 0.0]], ['outside workspace', [[2, 1, 3, 1, 'up']], 'unreachable'], ['inside inner hole', [[3, 1, 1, 0, 'up']], 'unreachable'], ['inner boundary folded', [[3, 1, 2, 0, 'down']], [0.0, -180.0]]], [['fully extended diagonal', [[3, 4, 4.2, 5.6, 'up']], [53.1301, 0.0]], ['outside workspace', [[2, 1, 3, 1, 'up']], 'unreachable'], ['between reach and reach squared', [[1, 1, 1.9, 1.2, 'up']], 'unreachable'], ['inside inner hole', [[3, 1, 1, 0, 'up']], 'unreachable'], ['inner boundary folded', [[3, 1, 2, 0, 'down']], [0.0, -180.0]], ['third quadrant target', [[2, 2, -2, -1, 'up']], [150.5529, 112.0243]], ['long forearm hole', [[1, 3, 0.5, 1, 'down']], 'unreachable']], [['inside inner hole', [[3, 1, 1, 0, 'up']], 'unreachable'], ['inner boundary folded', [[3, 1, 2, 0, 'down']], [0.0, -180.0]], ['third quadrant target', [[2, 2, -2, -1, 'up']], [150.5529, 112.0243]], ['second quadrant target', [[2, 1.5, -2, 1, 'down']], [-165.5619, -102.0247]], ['negative y axis', [[1.5, 1, 0, -2, 'up']], [-118.955, 75.5225]], ['behind base elbow down', [[2, 1, -2.5, -0.5, 'down']], [-147.3681, -67.9757]], ['equal links near base', [[1, 1, 0.5, 0.2, 'up']], [-52.5785, 148.7597]]], [['second quadrant target', [[2, 1.5, -2, 1, 'down']], [-165.5619, -102.0247]], ['negative y axis', [[1.5, 1, 0, -2, 'up']], [-118.955, 75.5225]], ['behind base elbow down', [[2, 1, -2.5, -0.5, 'down']], [-147.3681, -67.9757]], ['equal links near base', [[1, 1, 0.5, 0.2, 'up']], [-52.5785, 148.7597]], ['long forearm hole', [[1, 3, 0.5, 1, 'down']], 'unreachable'], ['long forearm reachable', [[1, 3, 2.5, 0.5, 'up']], [-95.7981, 125.6853]], ['positive y axis', [[2, 2, 0, 3, 'down']], [131.4096, -82.8192]]], [['inside inner hole', [[3, 1, 1, 0, 'up']], 'unreachable'], ['inner boundary folded', [[3, 1, 2, 0, 'down']], [0.0, -180.0]], ['long forearm reachable', [[1, 3, 2.5, 0.5, 'up']], [-95.7981, 125.6853]], ['positive y axis', [[2, 2, 0, 3, 'down']], [131.4096, -82.8192]], ['wrap past minus 180', [[1, 2, -2.2, -0.3, 'up']], [123.5259, 91.0027]], ['upper left down', [[3, 2, -1, 4, 'down']], [131.2512, -70.5288]], ['near full reach', [[5, 3, 7.9, 0.5, 'down']], [10.0523, -17.1893]]]]
for label, args, expected in fixtures[N-1]:
    check(label, solve(*args), expected)
print(json.dumps({"observations": observations, "passed": all(x["passed"] for x in observations)}, ensure_ascii=False))
raise SystemExit(0 if all(x["passed"] for x in observations) else 1)
Boundary fixtureActualExpectedOutcome
general elbow up[0.0, 90.0][0.0, 90.0]Passed
general elbow down[53.1301, -90.0][53.1301, -90.0]Passed
fully extended on x axis[0.0, 0.0][0.0, 0.0]Passed
fully extended diagonal[53.1301, 0.0][53.1301, 0.0]Passed
outside workspaceunreachableunreachablePassed
inside inner holeunreachableunreachablePassed
inner boundary folded[0.0, -180.0][0.0, -180.0]Passed

SHA-256 / f7d3b6b966a29ec4f23643b163cfa97926fb1382598cacb74c316e529af96131

Verification & scope

Deterministic planar or low-dimensional teaching model with a stipulated convention; not a general robotics library. This reproducer isolates one failure mechanism. Results cover the supplied fixtures. Variants within a family share a test contract and should remain grouped when constructing evaluation splits. Related mechanisms with a shared evaluation_group must also remain together; these controlled models are not independent production incidents.

Observations recorded using Python 3.12.14 at 2026-09-29T14:51:02.619823+00:00.

Case digest / 2305adced2f16aa0f6bf00d4851d245a9ec16c1b734ca8e3c9f8e20d96204793