Category and Topological Complexity of the configuration space $F(G\times \mathbb{R}^n,2)$

Abstract

The Lusternik-Schnirelmann category cat and topological complexity TC are related homotopy invariants. The topological complexity TC has applications to the robot motion planning problem. We calculate the Lusternik-Schnirelmann category and topological complexity of the ordered configuration space of two distinct points in the product $G\times\mathbb{R}^n$ and apply the results to the planar and spatial motion of two rigid bodies in $\mathbb{R}^2$ and $\mathbb{R}^3$ respectively.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figure. Final version. To appear in Bulletin of the Australian Mathematical Societ