A double-layered elbow exoskeleton interface with 3-PRR planar parallel mechanism for axis self-alignment

Abstract Designing a mechanism for elbow self-axis alignment requires the elimination of undesirable joint motion and tissue elasticity. The novelty of this work lies in proposing a double-layered interface using a 3-PRR planar parallel mechanism as a solution to the axis alignment problem. 3-PRR planar parallel mechanisms are suitable candidates to solve this as they can span the desired workspace in a relatively compact size. In this paper, we present the modeling, design, prototyping, and validation of the double-layered elbow exoskeleton interface for axis self-alignment. The desired workspace for the self-axis alignment mechanism is specified based on the estimated maximum possible misalignment between the exoskeleton joint and the human anatomical elbow joint. Kinematic parameters of the 3-PRR planar mechanism are identified by formulating an optimization problem. The goal is to find the smallest mechanism that can span the specified workspace. The orientation angle of the mechanism’s plane addresses the frontal frustum vertex angle of the elbow’s joint, while the translational motion allows the translational offsets between the user’s elbow and the exoskeleton joint. The designed exoskeleton axis can passively rotate around the frontal plane ±15 deg and translate along the workspace 30 mm in the frontal plane. Experimental results (quantitative and qualitative) confirmed the capability of the proposed exoskeleton in addressing the complex elbow motion, user’s satisfaction, and ergonomics

A Planar Quaternion Approach to the Kinematic Synthesis of a Parallel Manipulator

In this paper we present a technique for designing planar parallel manipulators with platforms capable of reaching any number of desired poses. The manipulator consists of a platform connected to ground by RPR chains. The set of positions and orientations available to the end-effector of a general RPR chain is mapped into the space of planar quaternions to obtain a quadratic manifold. The coefficients of this constraint manifold are functions of the locations of the base and platform R joints and the distance between them. Evaluating the constraint manifold at each desired pose and defining the limits on the extension of the P joint yields a set of equations. Solutions of these equations determine chains that contain the desired poses as part of their workspaces. Parallel manipulators that can reach the prescribed workspace are assembled from these chains. An example shows the determination of three RPR chains that form a manipulator able to reach a prescribed workspace