What distinguishes "absolute" and "relative" coordinate systems?

The distinction between "absolute" and "relative" coordinate systems lies primarily in how the locations are determined in relation to the space surrounding the robot, particularly in robotic programming and movement.

Absolute coordinates provide a fixed point of reference within a defined coordinate system, meaning that each point is defined in relation to a global or fixed origin. This allows for precise positioning regardless of the robot's current location, as the coordinates are not influenced by the robot's movements. For example, if you program a point to be at coordinates (100, 100, 100), this will always refer to the same position in the workspace, regardless of where the robot is positioned when it interprets that command.

On the other hand, relative coordinates are defined based on the robot’s current position. This means that if the robot is at point (10, 10, 10) and the next command is to move “5 units forward,” the actual coordinates for that movement are calculated based on the robot's existing location. This system is useful for situations where movements need to be made in relation to where the robot is in its current state, allowing for more dynamic and flexible programming in certain scenarios.

Understanding this distinction helps in programming robots effectively, as choosing between absolute and