Singularity Traces of Planar Linkages That Include Prismatic and Revolute Joints

Author(s):  
Saleh M. Almestiri ◽  
David H. Myszka ◽  
Andrew P. Murray ◽  
Charles W. Wampler

This paper presents a general method to construct a singularity trace for single degree-of-freedom, closed-loop linkages that include prismatic, in addition to, revolute joints. The singularity trace has been introduced in the literature as a plot that reveals the gross motion characteristics of a linkage relative to a designated input joint and design parameter. Previously, singularity traces were restricted to mechanisms composed of only rigid bodies and revolute joints. The motion characteristics identified on the plot include changes in the number of solutions to the forward kinematic position analysis (geometric inversions), singularities, and changes in the number of branches. To illustrate the adaptation of the general method to include prismatic joints, basic slider-crank and inverted slider-crank linkages are explored. Singularity traces are then constructed for more complex Assur IV/3 linkages containing multiple prismatic joints. These Assur linkages are of interest as they form an architecture that is commonly used for mechanisms capable of approximating a shape change defined by a general set of closed curves.

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saleh M. Almestiri ◽  
Andrew P. Murray ◽  
David H. Myszka ◽  
Charles W. Wampler

This paper extends the general method to construct a singularity trace for single degree-of-freedom (DOF), closed-loop linkages to include prismatic along with revolute joints. The singularity trace has been introduced in the literature as a plot that reveals the gross motion characteristics of a linkage relative to a designated input joint and a design parameter. The motion characteristics identified on the plot include a number of possible geometric inversions (GIs), circuits, and singularities at any given value for the input link and the design parameter. An inverted slider–crank and an Assur IV/3 linkage are utilized to illustrate the adaptation of the general method to include prismatic joints.


Author(s):  
Justin A. Persinger ◽  
James P. Schmiedeler ◽  
Andrew P. Murray

This paper presents a procedure to synthesize planar linkages, composed of rigid links and revolute joints, that are capable of approximating a shape change defined by a set of closed curves possessing similar arc lengths. The synthesis approach is more rigorous and more broadly applicable to dramatic changes between larger numbers of shapes than existing techniques that employ graphical methods. Link geometry is determined through an existing procedure, and those links are then joined together in a chain using numerical optimization to minimize the error in approximating the shape change. Binary links are added to this chain via a search of the design space such that actuated links can be driven monotonically to exact the shape change. The focus is single-degree-of-freedom (DOF) mechanisms that approximate closed curves, but the methodology is similarly applicable to generating mechanisms approximating sets of open curves and multi-DOF systems. The procedure is applied to synthesize an example mechanism that changes between circular, elliptical, and teardrop shapes as inspired by an aerodynamic flow field modification application.


2009 ◽  
Vol 131 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin A. Persinger ◽  
James P. Schmiedeler ◽  
Andrew P. Murray

This paper presents a procedure to synthesize planar linkages, composed of rigid links and revolute joints, that are capable of approximating a shape change defined by a set of closed curves possessing similar arc lengths. The synthesis approach is more rigorous and more broadly applicable to dramatic changes between larger numbers of shapes than existing techniques that employ graphical methods. It specifically addresses the challenges of approximating closed curves, but the methodology is equally applicable to open curves. Link geometry is determined through an existing procedure, and those links are then joined together in a chain using numerical optimization to minimize the error in approximating the shape change. Binary links are added to this chain via a search of the design space, forming a single-degree-of-freedom mechanism in which an actuated link can be driven monotonically to exact the shape change. The procedure is applied to synthesize an example mechanism that changes between circular, elliptical, and teardrop shapes as inspired by an aerodynamic flow field modification application.


Author(s):  
Shamsul A. Shamsudin ◽  
Andrew P. Murray ◽  
David H. Myszka ◽  
James P. Schmiedeler

This paper presents a kinematic procedure to synthesize planar mechanisms capable of approximating a shape change defined by a general set of curves. These “morphing curves”, referred to as design profiles, differ from each other by a combination of displacement in the plane, shape variation, and notable differences in arc length. Where previous rigid-body shape-change work focused on mechanisms composed of rigid links and revolute joints to approximate curves of roughly equal arc length, this work introduces prismatic joints into the mechanisms in order to produce the different desired arc lengths. A method is presented to inspect and compare the profiles so that the regions are best suited for prismatic joints can be identified. The result of this methodology is the creation of a chain of rigid bodies connected by revolute and prismatic joints that can approximate a set of design profiles.


Author(s):  
Kai Zhao ◽  
James P. Schmiedeler ◽  
Andrew P. Murray

This paper presents a procedure to synthesize planar rigid-body mechanisms, containing both prismatic and revolute joints, capable of approximating a shape change defined by a set of morphing curves in different positions. With the introduction of prismatic joints, the existing mechanization process needs to be revisited via a building-block approach. The basic block is the Assur group of class II, and the auxiliary block is a fourbar mechanism, crank slider or binary link. To approximate shape changes defined by both open and closed curves, a single degree-of-freedom (DOF) mechanism is generated by assembling these building blocks. In the case of a large number of morphing curves, a weighted least squares approach is applied to determine center point locations for revolute joints and sliding paths for prismatic joints in individual building blocks. Then, the building blocks are located in an assembly position to regenerate the morphing chain using a numerical optimization method. Because of the additional constraints associated with prismatic joints compared to revolute joints, the size of the solution space is reduced, so random searches of the design space to find solution mechanisms are ineffective. A genetic algorithm is employed here instead to find a group of viable designs within reasonable computational limits. The procedure is demonstrated with synthesis examples of two 1-DOF mechanisms, one approximating five open-curve profiles and the other four closed-curve profiles.


Author(s):  
Brian M. Korte ◽  
Andrew P. Murray ◽  
James P. Schmiedeler

This paper presents a procedure to synthesize planar linkages, composed of rigid links and revolute joints, capable of approximating a shape change defined by a set of curves. These “morphing curves” differ from each other by a combination of rigid-body displacement and shape change. Rigid link geometry is determined through analysis of piecewise linear curves to achieve shape-change approximation, and increasing the number of links improves the approximation. A mechanism is determined through connecting the rigid links into a single chain and adding dyads to eliminate degrees of freedom. The procedure is applied to two open-chain examples.


2015 ◽  
Vol 77 (21) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Hazrin Ismail ◽  
Shamsul Anuar Shamsudin ◽  
Mohd Nizam Sudin

Airframe noise reduction becomes a main interest among researchers who study the performance of aircrafts. The airframe noise can occur between the high-lift systems and main body of the airfoil. The proposed shape-changing airfoil is one of many ideas to reduce airframe noise by eliminating the gap between the main body and high-lift systems. This paper presents a new design of 30P30N airfoil, which converts the three-element airfoil (slat, main body and flap) into two-element airfoil (combination of slat and main body as an element and flap) by installing a shape-changing slat into the systems. This work applies a chain of rigid bodies connected by revolute and prismatic joints that are capable of approximating a shape change defined by a set of morphed slat design profiles. To achieve a single degree of freedom (DOF), a building-block approach is employed to mechanize the fixed-end shape-changing chain with the helped of Geometric Constraint Programming technique as an effective method to develop the mechanism. The conventional and shape-change 30P30N airfoils are compared to study the performances of airfoils with the velocity and angle of attack are constant.


2006 ◽  
Vol 505-507 ◽  
pp. 1177-1182
Author(s):  
Gui Lin Yang ◽  
Yun Hua Li

This paper is focused on the performance analysis of a newly developed 6-DOF Parallel-Kinematics Machine (PKM). The design related analysis issues such as the instantaneous kinematics, manipulability, accuracy, and stiffness are addressed. This new PKM has three identical RPRS legs to support the moving platform. Since all joint axes, excluding the three spherical joints at the leg-ends, are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the base plane, this 6-DOF 3RPRS PKM exhibits decoupled motion characteristics such that translation along the vertical direction and rotation about horizontal axes are only driven by the three active-prismatic joints, while translation in horizontal planes and rotation about vertical axes are mainly driven by the three active-revolute joints. The PKM also has a large cylindrical reachable workspace and high stiffness in vertical directions. These features make it a promising 6-DOF machine structure for light machining and heavy parts assembly tasks.


2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Zhao ◽  
James P. Schmiedeler ◽  
Andrew P. Murray

This paper presents a procedure to synthesize planar rigid-body mechanisms, containing both prismatic and revolute joints, capable of approximating a shape change defined by a set of morphing curves in different positions. The existing mechanization process is extended specifically to enable the design of morphing aircraft wings. A portion of the closed-curve morphing chain that has minimal displacement is identified as the structural ground after the segmentation process. Because of the revolute joints placed at the endpoints of the ground section, the moving links of the fixed-end morphing chain need to be repositioned relative to each of the desired wing shapes so as to minimize the error in approximating them. With the introduction of prismatic joints, a building-block approach is employed to mechanize the fixed-end morphing chain. The blocks are located in an assembly position to generate a single degree-of-freedom (DOF) mechanism. Because of the additional constraints associated with prismatic joints compared to revolute joints, the size of the solution space is reduced, so random searches of the design space to find solution mechanisms are ineffective. A multi-objective genetic algorithm is employed instead to find a group of viable designs that tradeoff minimizing matching error with maximizing mechanical advantage. The procedure is demonstrated with a synthesis example of a 1-DOF mechanism approximating eight closed-curve wing profiles.


2005 ◽  
Vol 128 (6) ◽  
pp. 1261-1271 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Z. Guo ◽  
R. Du

Single-loop N-bar linkages that contain one prismatic joint are common in engineering. This type of mechanism often requires complicated control and, hence, understanding its mobility is very important. This paper presents a systematic study on the mobility of this type of mechanism by introducing the concept of virtual link. It is found that this type of mechanism can be divided into three categories: Class I, Class II, and Class III. For each category, the slide reachable range is cut into different regions: Grashof region, non-Grashof region, and change-point region. In each region, the rotation range of the revolute joint or rotatability of the linkage can be determined based on Ting’s criteria. The characteristics charts are given to describe the rotatability condition. Furthermore, if the prismatic joint is an active joint, the revolvability of the input revolute joint is dependent in non-Grashof region but independent in other regions. If the prismatic joint is a passive joint, the revolvability of the input revolute joint is dependent on the offset distance of the prismatic joint. Two examples are given to demonstrate the presented method. The new method is able to cover all the cases of N-bar planar linkages with one or a set of adjoined prismatic joints. It can also be used to study N-bar open-loop planar robotic mechanisms.


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