A Reconfiguration Algorithm for the Single-Driven Hexapod-Type Parallel Mechanism

This paper presents a hexapod-type reconfigurable parallel mechanism that operates from a single actuator. The mechanism design allows reproducing diverse output link trajectories without using additional actuators. The paper provides the kinematic analysis where the analytical relationships between the output link coordinates and actuated movement are determined. These relations are used next to develop an original and computationally effective algorithm for the reconfiguration procedure. The algorithm enables selecting mechanism parameters to realize a specific output link trajectory. Several examples demonstrate the implementation of the proposed techniques. CAD simulations on a mechanism virtual prototype verify the correctness of the suggested algorithm.

SHIFTER MECHANISM DESIGN FOR FSAE MOTOR SPORTS VEHICLE JCU

This report provides a design analysis of a replacement’s shifter mechanism for the 2014 model JCU Motorsports FSAE vehicle. Common FSAE shifter mechanisms were researched and reviewed to provide a better understanding of the needs required. A design approach was constructed to ultimately design a mechanism that conformed to all existing constraints and FSAE rules. Realistic load cases were identified and employed in the FEA analysis of the design. Supporting hand calculations were developed, proving the analysis to be accurate. Results showed the shifter mechanism does not fail under infinite life, with some parts of the design having a reasonably high safety factor, ensuring stability.

Structural synthesis of plane kinematic chain inversions without detecting isomorphism

A plane kinematic chain inversion refers to a plane kinematic chain with one link fixed (assigned as the ground link). In the creative design of mechanisms, it is important to select proper ground links. The structural synthesis of plane kinematic chain inversions is helpful for improving the efficiency of mechanism design. However, the existing structural synthesis methods involve isomorphism detection, which is cumbersome. This paper proposes a simple and efficient structural synthesis method for plane kinematic chain inversions without detecting isomorphism. The fifth power of the adjacency matrix is applied to recognize similar vertices, and non-isomorphic kinematic chain inversions are directly derived according to non-similar vertices. This method is used to automatically synthesize 6-link 1-degree-of-freedom (DOF), 8-link 1-DOF, 8-link 3-DOF, 9-link 2-DOF, 9-link 4-DOF, 10-link 1-DOF, 10-link 3-DOF and 10-link 5-DOF plane kinematic chain inversions. All the synthesis results are consistent with those reported in literature. Our method is also suitable for other kinds of kinematic chains.