The Manta and the Kanuk: Novel 4-DOF Parallel Mechanisms for Industrial Handling

1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luc H. Rolland
Keyword(s):  
Parallel Mechanism ◽  
Kinematic Chain ◽  
Parallel Robot ◽  
Chain Structure ◽  
Parallel Robots ◽  
Parallel Mechanisms ◽  
End Effector ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Loading And Unloading ◽  
Very High

Abstract Two novel 4-DOF very fast parallel robots were designed. This paper introduces the new parallel mechanism designs which are named the Manta and the Kanuk. In order to reduce manipulator overall costs, the actuator and encoder numbers are minimized to the exact effective degrees-of-freedoms (DOF) which is usually not the case in most parallel robot designs. The robots allow end-effector displacements along the three Cartesian translations and one platform transversal rotation. The two remaining rotations are blocked by the intrinsic mechanical structure including the rotation along the platform normal which is always limited in range. The main advantages are high stiffness through the multiple kinematic chain structure which allow for low mass designs. Moreover, they feature simple mechanical construction. Thus, it shall be possible to achieve very high throughput since high accelerations are feasible. To circumvent the known workspace limitations, the actuators were selected to be prismatic along linear axes. The applications are automated warehouse manipulation, mediatheque manipulation, machine tool tool changers, loading and unloading.

The Kinetostatic Conditioning of Two-Limb Schönflies Motion Generators

2008 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-François Gauthier ◽  
Jorge Angeles ◽  
Scott B. Nokleby ◽  
Alexei Morozov
Keyword(s):  
Characteristic Length ◽  
Kinematic Chain ◽  
Parallel Robot ◽  
Parallel Robots ◽  
Substantial Part ◽  
Robot Arm ◽  
End Effector ◽  
Serial Robots ◽  
Fixed Orientation ◽  
Schönflies Motion

This paper introduces a study on the kinetostatic conditioning of two-limb Schönflies motion generators. These are robots capable of producing the motions undergone by the end-effector of what is known as selective-compliance assembly robot arm (SCARA) systems, which can best be described as the motions of the tray of a waiter: three independent translations plus one rotation about an axis of fixed orientation. SCARA systems are usually understood as four-axis serial robots, Schönflies motion generators being a generalization thereof, that encompass first and foremost parallel architectures. Kinetostatic conditioning is understood here in connection with the condition number of each of the two Jacobian matrices of the parallel robot under study. After a brief introduction on the geometry and the kinematics of two-limb parallel systems, the kinetostatics of this class of robots is discussed; whence, the calculation of the kinetostatic conditioning of these robots is undertaken. The motivation behind this work is the need to understand an unstable behavior of the prototype in a substantial part of its workspace, which is attributed to poor conditioning. A main result of this paper is the correlation between the shortest dimension of the robot kinematic chain and the characteristic length, which hints to the need of specifying the range of the characteristic length when optimizing the dimensions of robots of the class studied here, a result that may equally hold for parallel robots in general.

Modelling and Simulation of Inverse Kinematics for Planar 3-RRR Parallel Robot Based on SimMechanics

2014 ◽  
Vol 898 ◽  
pp. 510-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin Ran Gao ◽  
Yong Zhao Wang ◽  
Zuo Peng Chen
Keyword(s):  
Inverse Kinematics ◽  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Physical Simulation ◽  
Theoretical Foundation ◽  
Controller Design ◽  
Parallel Robot ◽  
Parallel Robots ◽  
Parallel Mechanisms ◽  
End Effector ◽  
Kinematics Simulation

Parallel robots are widely used in the manufacturing industry. In this paper, a planar 3-RRR parallel robot is studied. The inverse kinematics mathematical model is established for this kind of mechanism. Furthermore, a physical simulation model is established by virtue of MATLAB/SimMechanics and a relevant inverse kinematics simulation is implemented at the assumption of known conditions of the end-effector of robot. Through inverse kinematics simulation, the motion rules of driving parts of the planar 3-RRR parallel robot are obtained, and visualization of simulation process is realized in the system. The simulation results show that this method is much more effective and convenient when a certain simulation is implemented for the parallel mechanisms. Meanwhile, it provides a theoretical foundation and a better analytical approach of simulation for the controller design and further analysis of complex multi-linkage mechanisms in the future.

Kinematic analysis and design of a novel 6-degree of freedom parallel robot

2014 ◽  
Vol 229 (2) ◽  
pp. 291-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
DU Hui ◽  
GAO Feng ◽  
PAN Yang
Keyword(s):  
Set Theory ◽  
Kinematic Analysis ◽  
Parallel Mechanism ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Parallel Robot ◽  
End Effector ◽  
Analysis And Design ◽  
Velocity Models ◽  
Reachable Workspace ◽  
Rotational Motions

A novel 3-UP3R parallel mechanism with six degree of freedoms is proposed in this paper. One most important advantage of this mechanism is that the three translational and three rotational motions are partially decoupled: the end-effector position is only determined by three inputs, while the rotational angles are relative to all six inputs. The design methodology via GF set theory is brought out, using which the limb type can be determined. The mobility of the end-effector is analyzed. After that, the kinematic and velocity models are formulated. Then, workspace is studied, and since the robot is partially decoupled, the reachable workspace is also the dexterous workspace. In the end, both local and global performances are discussed using conditioning indexes. The experiment of real prototype shows that this mechanism works well and may be applied in many fields.

Simultaneous base and tool calibration for self-calibrated parallel robots

Robotica ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 367-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guilin Yang ◽  
I-Ming Chen ◽  
Song Huat Yeo ◽  
Wee Kiat Lim
Keyword(s):  
Parallel Robot ◽  
Parallel Robots ◽  
Sufficient Accuracy ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Mobile Platform ◽  
Calibration Model ◽  
End Effector ◽  
The World ◽  
Kinematic Transformation ◽  
Kinematic Errors

In this paper, we focus on the base and tool calibration of a self-calibrated parallel robot. After the self-calibration of a parellel robot by using the built-in sensors in the passive joints, its kinematic transformation from the robot base to the mobile platform frame can be computed with sufficient accuracy. The base and tool calibration, hence, is to identify the kinematic errors in the fixed transformations from the world frame to the robot base frame and from the mobile platform frame to the tool (end-effector) frame in order to improve the absolute positioning accuracy of the robot. Using the mathematical tools from group theory and differential geometry, a simultaneous base and tool calibration model is formulated. Since the kinematic errors in a kinematic transformation can be represented by a twist, i.e. an element of se(3), the resultant calibration model is simple, explicit and geometrically meaningful. A least-square algorithm is employed to iteratively identify the error parameters. The simulation example shows that all the preset kinematic errors can be fully recovered within three to four iterations.

Relevance and Transferability for Parallel Mechanisms With Reconfigurable Platforms

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xi Kang ◽  
Jian S. Dai
Keyword(s):  
System Theory ◽  
Parallel Mechanism ◽  
Geometric Model ◽  
Parallel Mechanisms ◽  
End Effector ◽  
Kinematic Coupling ◽  
Reconfigurable Platforms ◽  
Reconfigurable Platform

The parallel mechanism with a reconfigurable platform retains all advantages of parallel mechanisms and provides additional functions by virtue of the reconfigurable platform, leading to kinematic coupling between limbs that restricts development of the mechanism. This paper aims at dealing with kinematic coupling between limbs by investigating the transferability of limb constraints and their degrees of relevance to the platform constraints based on the geometric model of the mechanism. The paper applies screw-system theory to verifying the degree of relevance between limb constraint wrenches and platform constraint wrenches, and reveals the transferability of limb constraints, to obtain the final resultant wrenches and twists of the end effector. The proposed method is extended to parallel mechanisms with planar n-bar reconfigurable platforms, spherical n-bar reconfigurable platforms, and other spatial reconfigurable platforms and lends itself to a way of studying a parallel mechanism with a reconfigurable platform.

Stiffness estimation of a parallel manipulator using image analysis and camera calibration techniques

Robotica ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 657-667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abraham Gonzalez-Hernandez ◽  
Eduardo Castillo-Castaneda
Keyword(s):  
Image Analysis ◽  
Camera Calibration ◽  
Parallel Manipulator ◽  
Parallel Robot ◽  
Parallel Robots ◽  
Mobile Platform ◽  
End Effector ◽  
Simple Implementation ◽  
Specific Position ◽  
Calibration Techniques

SUMMARYThis work presents a methodology using image analysis to estimate the experimental stiffness of a parallel robot, Parallix LKF-2040, a 3-degree-of-freedom manipulator. The proposed methodology has a simple implementation and can be applied to different architectures of parallel robots. This methodology uses image analysis and camera calibration techniques to estimate compliant displacements of mobile platform produced by several loads at the end effector level, and calculate stiffness in a specific position of mobile platform. Experimental results are presented for different positions within the workspace.

The Mechanics of Parallel Mechanisms and Walking Machines

1994 ◽  
Vol 208 (6) ◽  
pp. 367-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
S J Zhang ◽  
D J Sanger ◽  
D Howard
Keyword(s):  
Parallel Mechanism ◽  
Virtual Work ◽  
The Body ◽  
Position Vector ◽  
Parallel Mechanisms ◽  
Active Joint ◽  
End Effector ◽  
Walking Machine ◽  
Walking Machines ◽  
Fixed Base

A parallel mechanism is one whose links and joints form two or more serially connected chains which join the fixed base and the end effector The mechanism of a multi-legged walking machine can be considered as a parallel mechanism whose base is not fixed and whose configuration changes during different phases of its gait. This paper presents methods for analysing the mechanics of parallel mechanisms and walking machines using vector and screw algebra Firstly, displacement analysis is covered; this includes general methods for deriving the position vector of any joint in any leg and for calculating the active joint displacements in any leg. Secondly, velocity analysis is covered which tackles the problem of calculating active joint velocities given the velocity, position and the orientation of the body and the positions of the feet. Thirdly, the static analysis of these classes of mechanisms using the principle of virtual work and screw algebra is given. Expressions are derived for the actuator forces and torques required to balance a given end effector (or body) wrench and, in the case of a walking machine, the ground reactions at the feet. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate the application of these methods.

A Quasi-Static Model for Planar Compliant Parallel Mechanisms

2009 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cyril Quennouelle ◽  
Clément Gosselin
Keyword(s):  
Parallel Mechanism ◽  
Applied Load ◽  
Jacobian Matrix ◽  
Static Model ◽  
Parallel Mechanisms ◽  
Compliance Matrix ◽  
End Effector ◽  
Kinematic Constraints ◽  
Compliant Parallel Mechanism ◽  
External Loads

In this paper, the mobility, the kinematic constraints, the pose of the end-effector, and the static constraints that lead to the kinematostatic model of a compliant parallel mechanism are introduced. A formulation is then provided for its instantaneous variation—the quasi-static model. This new model allows the calculation of the variation in the pose as a linear function of the motion of the actuators and the variation in the external loads through two new matrices: the compliant Jacobian matrix and the Cartesian compliance matrix that give a simple and meaningful formulation of the model of the mechanism. Finally, a simple application to a planar four-bar mechanism is presented to illustrate the use of this model and the new possibilities that it opens, notably the study of the kinematics for any range of applied load.

scholarly journals Collision-free workspace of parallel mechanisms based on an interval analysis approach

Robotica ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (8) ◽  
pp. 1747-1760 ◽  
Author(s):  
MohammadHadi FarzanehKaloorazi ◽  
Mehdi Tale Masouleh ◽  
Stéphane Caro
Keyword(s):  
Interval Analysis ◽  
Parallel Mechanism ◽  
Spherical Shape ◽  
Stewart Platform ◽  
Analysis Approach ◽  
Parallel Mechanisms ◽  
Planar Case ◽  
End Effector ◽  
Mechanical Interference

SUMMARYThis paper proposes an interval-based approach in order to obtain the obstacle-free workspace of parallel mechanisms containing one prismatic actuated joint per limb, which connects the base to the end-effector. This approach is represented through two cases studies, namely a 3-RPR planar parallel mechanism and the so-called 6-DOF Gough–Stewart platform. Three main features of the obstacle-free workspace are taken into account: mechanical stroke of actuators, collision between limbs and obstacles and limb interference. In this paper, a circle(planar case)/spherical(spatial case) shaped obstacle is considered and its mechanical interference with limbs and edges of the end-effector is analyzed. It should be noted that considering a circle/spherical shape would not degrade the generality of the problem, since any kind of obstacle could be replaced by its circumscribed circle/sphere. Two illustrative examples are given to highlight the contributions of the paper.

Task dependent synthesis of some geometrical parameters of a robot mechanism

Robotica ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maks Oblak ◽  
Karl Gotlih
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Nonlinear Optimization ◽  
Optimization Algorithm ◽  
Kinematic Chain ◽  
Chain Structure ◽  
Geometrical Parameters ◽  
Task Space ◽  
End Effector ◽  
Optimal Mechanism ◽  
Nonlinear Optimization Algorithm

SUMMARYThis paper deals with the synthesis of a robot mechanism, which has an open kinematic chain structure. The aim of the synthesis is to find optimal mechanism link lengths and the elevation of the robot mechanism base, with respect to the arbitrary chosen task which is described in a task space.A mathematical model, which describes the problem and enables one to use a nonlinear optimization algorithm, was developed. The usefulness of the approach is demonstrated by the example of the Manutec r3 mechanism with a prescribed task for the robot's end-effector.

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