Characterizations of Fully Constrained Poses of Parallel Cable-Driven Robots: A Review

The pose of the mobile platform of a parallel cable-driven robot is said to be fully constrained if any wrench can be created at the platform by pulling on it with the cables. A fully constrained pose is also known as a force-closure pose. In this paper, a review of three useful characterizations of a force-closure pose is proposed. These characterizations are stated in the form of theorems for which proofs are presented. Tools from linear algebra allow to derive some of these proofs while the others are more difficult and can hardly be obtained in this manner. Therefore, polyhedral cones, which are special cases of convex cones, are introduced along with some of their well-known fundamental properties. Then, it is shown how the aforementioned difficult proofs can be obtained as direct consequences of these properties.

Dimensional Synthesis and Constrained Motion Interpolation for Planar and Spherical 6R Closed Chains

In the recent past, we have studied the problem of synthesizing rational interpolating motions under the kinematic constraints of any given planar and spherical 6R closed chain. This work presents some preliminary results on our initial attempt to solve the inverse problem, that is to determine the link lengths of planar and spherical 6R closed chains that follow a given smooth piecewise rational motion under the kinematic constraints. The kinematic constraints under consideration are workspace related constraints that limit the position of the links of planar and spherical closed chains in the Cartesian space. By using kinematic mapping and a quaternions based approach to represent displacements of the coupler of the closed chains, the given smooth piecewise rational motion is mapped to a smooth piecewise rational curve in the space of quaternions. In this space, the aforementioned workspace constraints on the coupler of the closed chains define a constraint manifold representing all the positions available to the coupler. Thus the problem of dimensional synthesis may be solved by modifying the size, shape and location of the constraint manifolds such that the mapped rational curve is contained entirely inside the constraint manifolds. In this paper, two simple examples with preselected moving pivots on the coupler as well as fixed pivots are presented to illustrate the feasibility of this approach.

Mechanical Design of the Jasper Mobile Manipulator

This paper describes the mechanical design and analysis of a mobile-manipulator system comprised of a robot manipulator and a mobile base. The combination of the two is known as a mobile manipulator and combines the maneuverability of the mobile base with the accuracy of the robot manipulator. The mechanical design of a new mobile-manipulator system with the robot manipulator mounted on the front is discussed. The device features an innovative 2-DOF (degree-of-freedom) parallelogram coupling device that allows the base of the robot manipulator to translate vertically and roll longitudinally relative to the mobile base. The coupling device has dampers to reduce the vibrations caused by the motion of the mobile base on the robot manipulator and vice versa. The design features the use of omni-wheels that eliminate the problems inherent with traditional caster wheels.

Reduced Order Modeling and Direct Parameter Identification for a Complex Parallel Robot

In this paper a new strategy for dynamic modeling and parameter identification of complex parallel robots including parallel crank mechanisms is presented. Based on a model reduction strategy motivated by the structure of the parallel robot SpiderMill, kinematics and dynamics are derived in a compact form by applying the modified Denavit-Hartenberg method and the Newton-Euler approach. The obtained parameter-linear dynamical description is reduced to a parameter-minimal form using analytical and numerical reduction methods. Rigid body parameters of the model are identified using optimized trajectories and linear estimators. Through the whole modeling and verification process MSC.ADAMS and Solid Edge models of the demonstrator SpiderMill are used.

A Comparative Study of the Formulations for Topology Optimization of Compliant Mechanisms

The topology optimization problem for the synthesis of compliant mechanisms has been formulated in many different ways in the last 15 years, but there is not yet a definitive formulation that is universally accepted. Furthermore, there are two unresolved issues in this problem. In this paper, we present a comparative study of five distinctly different formulations that are reported in the literature. Three benchmark examples are solved with these formulations using the same input and output specifications and the same numerical optimization algorithm. A total of 35 different synthesis examples are implemented. The examples are limited to desired instantaneous output direction for prescribed input force direction. Hence, this study is limited to linear elastic modeling with small deformations. Two design parameterizations, namely, the frame element based ground structure and the density approach using continuum elements, are used. The obtained designs are evaluated with all other objective functions and are compared with each other. The checkerboard patterns, point flexures, the ability to converge from an unbiased uniform initial guess, and the computation time are analyzed. Some observations are noted based on the extensive implementation done in this study. Complete details of the benchmark problems and the results are included. The computer codes related to this study are made available on the internet for ready access.

Design of a Single-Acting Constant-Force Actuator Based on Dielectric Elastomers

The interest in actuators based on dielectric elastomer films as a promising technology in robotic and mechatronic applications is increasing. The overall actuator performances are influenced by the design of both the active film and the film supporting frame. This paper presents a single-acting actuator which is capable of supplying a constant force over a given range of motion. The actuator is obtained by coupling a rectangular film of silicone dielectric elastomer with a monolithic frame designed to suitably modify the force generated by the dielectric elastomer film. The frame is a fully compliant mechanism whose main structural parameters are calculated using a pseudo-rigid-body model and then verified by finite element analysis. Simulations show promising performance of the proposed actuator.

Kinematic Analysis and Optimization of a Novel Robot for Surgical Tool Manipulation

The size and limited dexterity of current surgical robotic systems are factors which limit their usefulness. To improve the level of assimilation of surgical robots in minimally invasive surgery (MIS), a compact, lightweight surgical robotic positioning mechanism with four degrees of freedom (DOF) (three rotational DOF and one translation DOF) is proposed in this paper. This spatial mechanism based on a bevel-gear wrist is remotely driven with three rotation axes intersecting at a remote rotation center (the MIS entry port). Forward and inverse kinematics are derived, and these are used for optimizing the mechanism structure given workspace requirements. By evaluating different spherical geared configurations with various link angles and pitch angles, an optimal design is achieved which performs surgical tool positioning throughout the desired kinematic workspace while occupying a small space bounded by a hemisphere of radius 13.7 cm. This optimized workspace conservatively accounts for collision avoidance between patient and robot or internally between the robot links. This resultant mechanism is highly compact and yet has the dexterity to cover the extended workspace typically required in telesurgery. It can also be used for tool tracking and skills assessment. Due to the linear nature of the gearing relationships, it may also be well suited for implementing force feedback for telesurgery.

Parameter Normalization in Multibody Dynamics

In this paper, we introduce a novel concept for parametric studies in multibody dynamics. This is based on a technique that makes it possible to perform a natural normalization of the dynamics in terms of inertial parameters. This normalization technique rises out from the underlying physical structure of the system, which is mathematically expressed in the form of eigenvalue problems. It leads to the introduction of the concept of dimensionless inertial parameters. This, in turn, makes the decomposition of the array of parameters possible for studying design and control problems where parameter estimation and sensitivity is of importance.

Parameterization of Three-Dimensional Rigid Body Guidance Incorporating Planar Gear Connections in a Spatial Closed-Loop Mechanism With Parallel Consecutive Axes

This paper introduces a reconfigurable closed-loop spatial mechanism that can be applied to repetitive motion tasks. The concept is to incorporate five pairs of non-circular gears into a six degree-of–freedom closed-loop spatial chain. The gear pairs are designed based on given mechanism parameters and a user defined motion specification of a coupler link of the mechanism. It is shown in the paper that planar gear pairs can be used if the spatial closed-loop chain is comprised of six pairs of parallel joint axes, i.e. the first joint axis is parallel to the second, the third is parallel to the fourth, ..., and the eleventh is parallel to the twelfth. This paper presents the synthesis of the gear pairs that satisfy a specified three-dimensional position and orientation need. Numerical approximations were used in the synthesis the non-circular gear pairs by introducing an auxiliary monotonic parameter associated to each end-effector position to parameterize the motion needs. The findings are supported by a computer animation. No previous known literature incorporates planar non-circular gears to fulfill spatial motion generation needs.

A Hybrid Self-Stressed Cable-Driven Mechanism

A new hybrid cable-driven manipulator is introduced. The manipulator is composed of a Cartesian mechanism to provide three translational degrees of freedom and a cable system to drive the mechanism. The end-effector is driven by three rotational motors through the cables. The cable drive system in this mechanism is self-stressed meaning that the pre-tension of the cables which keep them taut is provided internally. In other words, no redundant actuator or external force is required to maintain the tensile force in the cables. This simplifies the operation of the mechanism by reducing the number of actuators and also avoids their continuous static loading. It also eliminates the redundant work of the actuators which is usually present in cable-driven mechanisms. Forward and inverse kinematics problems are solved and shown to have explicit solutions. Static and stiffness analysis are also performed. The effects of the cable’s compliance on the stiffness of the mechanism is modeled and presented by a characteristic cable length. The characteristic cable length is calculated and analyzed in representative locations of the workspace.