The article deals with the application of the "finite rotation and displacement" method (FRDM) which can find the desired values of the generalized coordinates for the control system of a parabolic antenna. The special manipulator of a sequential structure with sufficient rigidity is used to control the parabolic antenna. The rigidity of this manipulator is ensured by use of links in the form of spherical shells and bearings located along the perimeter of each shell in the rotation plane of each link. It allows to optimally place the material of the manipulator's design and to obtain sufficient rigidity with minimal weight. The manipulator consists of four links connected by fifth class kinematic pairs with an arbitrary inclination of the axes. For this task the antenna's orientation is important without taking into account the small displacement of its position during the process of its orientation. The FRDM method provides both orientation and position. It is based on determining the precise and optimal iterative steps for each degree of mobility, providing maximum approximation to the specified orientation parameters of the parabolic antenna. According to the method's algorithm, the software is developed consisting of subprograms for organizing a general solution of the inverse kinematics for an arbitrary number of links and a particular one for a manipulator in the form of source data. The initial data are the vector model of the manipulator, the values of the structural constraints of the generalized coordinates, and the characteristics of kinematic pairs by type and class
General approach to solving the inverse problem of kinematics for a manipulator of a sequential structure by means of a finite rotation and displacement
