Controllable Rotation Workspace of a Metamorphic Parallel Mechanism With Reconfigurable Universal Joints

Author(s):  
Dongming Gan ◽  
Jian S. Dai ◽  
Jorge Dias ◽  
Lakmal D. Seneviratne

This paper introduces a metamorphic parallel mechanism which has three topologies with pure translational, pure rotational and 3T1R degrees of freedom. Mobility change stemming from the reconfigurability of a reconfigurable Hooke (rT) joint is illustrated by change of the limb twist screw systems and the platform constraint screw system. Then the paper focuses on the pure rotational topology of the mechanism of which the rotational center can be altered along the central line perpendicular to the base plane by altering the radial rotational axes in the limbs. Singularity analysis is conducted based on the dependency of constraint forces and actuation forces in a screw based Jacobian matrix. Following these, rotation workspace variation is demonstrated in a 2D projection format using the Tilt-and-Torsion Euler angles based on the actuation limits and joint rotation ranges.

Author(s):  
Dongming Gan ◽  
Jian S. Dai ◽  
Jorge Dias ◽  
Lakmal D. Seneviratne

This paper presents a metamorphic parallel mechanism with controllable rotation center in its pure rotation topology. Based on reconfiguration of a reconfigurable Hooke (rT) joint, the rotational center of the mechanism can be altered along the central line perpendicular to the base plane. A unified Dixon resultant based method is proposed to solve the forward kinematics analytically by covering all configurations with variable rotation centers while the rotation motion is expressed using Cayley formula. Then singularity loci are derived and represented in a new coordinate system with the three Rodrigues-Hamilton parameters assigned in three perpendicular directions. Limb-actuation singularity loci are also obtained from row vectors of the Jacobian matrix. By using Cayley formula, analytical workspace boundaries are expressed by including the mechanism structure parameters and input actuation limits. Finally, singularity-free workspace of configurations with variable rotation centers is demonstrated in the proposed coordinate system.


2019 ◽  
Vol 142 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen Zhao ◽  
Ziming Chen ◽  
Yanwen Li ◽  
Zhen Huang

Abstract In this paper, a novel 3-UPU (P and U stand for prismatic and universal joints, respectively) parallel mechanism (PM) and its variant PM are proposed. Both of them have two rotational and one translational (2R1T) degrees of freedom (DOFs) without involving any parasitic motion. Mobility analysis shows that the three constraint forces provided by three limbs of the mechanism are located on the same plane and the mobile platform can translate perpendicular to this plane and rotate around any axis on it. Analysis of the mechanism’s motion characteristics demonstrates that the mobile platform outputs either pure rotation or pure translation. Moreover, the rotational axis can be fixed during the rotation process, which means no parasitic motion is involved. The causes of the motion characteristics are analyzed by the combination of an overall Jacobian matrix, a statistical method, and a geometric method. The PMs only need to translate or rotate once to move from the initial configuration to the final configuration, which allows for easy control of speeds. The relationship between mechanism parameters and singularity is analyzed. A speed control method for the PMs is proposed and a prototype is designed and made. Experiments are conducted to verify the determined motion characteristics, the speed control method, and the singularity analysis.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen Zhao ◽  
Jingke Song ◽  
Xuechan Chen ◽  
Ziming Chen ◽  
Huafeng Ding

Abstract This paper focuses on a 2R1T 3-UPU (U for universal joint and P for prismatic joint) parallel mechanism (PM) with two rotational and one translational (2R1T) degrees of freedom (DOFs) and the ability of multiple remote centers of motion (M-RCM). The singularity analysis based on the indexes of motion/force transmissibility and constraint shows that this PM has transmission singularity, constraint singularity, mixed singularity and limb singularity. To solve these singularproblems, the quantifiable redundancy transmission index (RTI) and the redundancy constraint index (RCI) are proposed for optimum seeking of redundant actuators for this PM. Then the appropriate redundant actuators are selected and the working scheme for redundant actuators near the corresponding singular configuration are given to help the PM go through the singularity.


Author(s):  
ChiHyo Kim ◽  
KunWoo Park ◽  
TaeSung Kim ◽  
MinKi Lee

This paper designs a four legged parallel mechanism to improve the dexterity of three layered parallel walking robot. Topology design is conducted for a leg mechanism composed of four legs, base and ground, which constitute a redundant parallel mechanism. This mechanism is subdivided into four sub-mechanism composed of three legs. A motor vector is adopted to determine the 6×8 Jacobian of the redundant parallel mechanism and the 6×6 Jacobian of the sub-mechanisms, respectively. The condition number of the Jacobian matrix is used as an index to measure a dexterity. We analyze the condition numbers of the Jacobian over the positional and orientational walking space. The analytical results show that a sub-mechanism has lots of singularities within workspace but they are removed by a redundant parallel mechanism improving the dexterity. This paper presents a parallel typed walking robot to enlarge walking space and stability region. Seven types of three layered walking robots are designed by inserting an intermediate mechanism between the upper and the lower legged parallel mechanisms. They provide various types of gaits to walk rough terrain and climb over a wall with small degrees of freedom.


Author(s):  
J. A. Carretero ◽  
R. P. Podhorodeski ◽  
M. Nahon

Abstract This paper presents a study of the architecture optimization of a three-degree-of-freedom parallel mechanism intended for use as a telescope mirror focussing device. The construction of the mechanism is first described. Since the mechanism has only three degrees of freedom, constraint equations describing the inter-relationship between the six Cartesian coordinates are given. These constraints allow us to define the parasitic motions and, if incorporated into the kinematics model, a constrained Jacobian matrix can be obtained. This Jacobian matrix is then used to define a dexterity measure. The parasitic motions and dexterity are then used as objective functions for the optimizations routines and from which the optimal architectural design parameters are obtained.


2011 ◽  
Vol 480-481 ◽  
pp. 1055-1060
Author(s):  
Guang Hua Wu ◽  
Lie Hang Gong ◽  
Xin Wei Ji ◽  
Zhong Jun Wu ◽  
Yong Jun Gai

The methodology of the optimal design for the 6-UPU parallel mechanism (PM) is presented based on genetic algorithms. The optimal index which expressed by Jacobian matrix of the PM is first deduced. An optimal model is established, in which the kinematic dexterity of a parallel mechanism is considered as the objective function. The design space, the limiting length of the electric actuators and the limit angles of universal joints are taken as constraints. The real-encoding genetic algorithm is applied to the optimal design of a parallel mechanism, which is proved the validity and advantage for the optimal design of a similar mechanism.


Robotica ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 815-822 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Hu ◽  
Yi Lu

SUMMARYThe stiffness modeling and elastic deformation of 3 degrees of freedom, 3-universal joints–prismatic pairs–universal joints (UPU) parallel manipulator (PM) with one translation and two rotations are studied. First, the constraint wrenches are derived corresponding to the special orientation of universal joints in each of the UPU legs. Second, the elastic deformation of active legs produced by these active forces and constrained wrenches are derived. Third, a 6 × 6 Jacobian matrix is derived from constraint and active forces, and the statics is solved. Finally, the stiffness matrix of 3-UPU PM is established and its elastic deformation is solved.


Author(s):  
Ziming Chen ◽  
Dongliang Cheng ◽  
Yang Zhang ◽  
Zhiwei Yang ◽  
Jin Zhou

A novel 3-UPU parallel mechanism with two rotational and one translational (2R1T) degrees of freedom (DOFs) is analyzed in this paper. The base and moving platform of this mechanism are always symmetric about a middle symmetry plane. The moving platform can rotate continuously about any axis on the middle symmetry plane, so there exists no parasitic motion during the rotation. Using the kinematic influence coefficient theory and the imaginary mechanism method, the first and second order influence coefficient matrix (namely Jacobian matrix and Hessian matrix) of this mechanism are derived. The relations between the velocity and acceleration of the moving platform and the actuated links are obtained. In order to verify the correctness of the theory, two numerical examples are enumerated and varified by the 3D model simulation. The singularities of this mechanism is discussed and the singular configurations of the mechanism, including one kind of limb singularity and two kinds of platform singularities, are obtained.


Author(s):  
Chung-Ching Lee ◽  
Po-Chih Lee

From the viewpoint of kinematics, a type of 3 degrees of freedom (dofs) UPS/3RPaPaR overconstrained parallel mechanism (Pa means the hinged 4R parallelogram) with pure translational motion is presented for the development of automatic assembly devices or as a regional structure in the hybrid parallel platform. In the beginning, the formation & mobility are elucidated and the 4×4 transformation matrix & the D-H notation with specific geometric constraints verify the pure translational motion. The forward and inverse kinematic analyses are then established in the analytical closed-form through the matrix method. Besides, we take a numerical illustration for the confirmation of correctness of the derived equations. The determination of workspace is also attained by the intersection of volumes swept by each limb. In addition, the Jacobian matrix and its condition number indicated by Euclidean norm as a function of design parameters are further achieved. Finally, the singularity analysis of the configuration based on the direct and inverse kinematic J-matrix during the movement is identified in detail.


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