Dimensional synthesis of a spherical parallel manipulator based on the evaluation of global performance indexes

In this work, the dimensional synthesis of a spherical Parallel Manipulator (PM) with a -1S kinematic chain is presented. The goal of the synthesis is to find a set of parameters that defines the PM with the best performance in terms of workspace capabilities, dexterity and isotropy. The PM is parametrized in terms of a reference element, and a non-directed search of these parameters is carried out. First, the inverse kinematics and instantaneous kinematics of the mechanism are presented. The latter is found using the screw theory formulation. An algorithm that explores a bounded set of parameters and determines the corresponding value of global indexes is presented. The concepts of a novel global performance index and a compound index are introduced. Simulation results are shown and discussed. The best PMs found in terms of each performance index evaluated are locally analyzed in terms of its workspace and local dexterity. The relationship between the performance of the PM and its parameters is discussed, and a prototype with the best performance in terms of the compound index is presented and analyzed

Singularity Analysis of PAMINSA Manipulators

International audiencePAMINSA (PArallel Manipulator of the I.N.S.A.) is a new family of parallel manipulators from four to six degrees of freedom (DOF), which have been developed at the I.N.S.A. in Rennes. The particularity of these manipulators is the decoupling of displacements in the horizontal plane from its translation along the vertical axis. Such a decoupling improves some mechanical properties of the manipulator making it more efficient. In this paper a singularity analysis of PAMINSA with four, five and six degrees of freedom is presented. The nature of each kind of singularity is discussed

A general method for the numerical computation of manipulator singularity sets

The analysis of singularities is central to the development and control of a manipulator. However, existing methods for singularity set computation still concentrate on specific classes of manipulators. The absence of general methods able to perform such computation on a large class of manipulators is problematic because it hinders the analysis of unconventional manipulators and the development of new robot topologies. The purpose of this paper is to provide such a method for nonredundant mechanisms with algebraic lower pairs and designated input and output speeds. We formulate systems of equations that describe the whole singularity set and each one of the singularity types independently, and show how to compute the configurations in each type using a numerical technique based on linear relaxations. The method can be used to analyze manipulators with arbitrary geometry, and it isolates the singularities with the desired accuracy. We illustrate the formulation of the conditions and their numerical solution with examples, and use 3-D projections to visualize the complex partitions of the configuration space induced by the singularities.Preprin

A general method for the numerical computation of manipulator singularity sets

The analysis of singularities is central to the development and control of a manipulator. However, existing methods for singularity set computation still concentrate on specific classes of manipulators. The absence of general methods able to perform such computation on a large class of manipulators is problematic because it hinders the analysis of unconventional manipulators and the development of new robot topologies. The purpose of this paper is to provide such a method for nonredundant mechanisms with algebraic lower pairs and designated input and output speeds. We formulate systems of equations that describe the whole singularity set and each one of the singularity types independently, and show how to compute the configurations in each type using a numerical technique based on linear relaxations. The method can be used to analyze manipulators with arbitrary geometry, and it isolates the singularities with the desired accuracy. We illustrate the formulation of the conditions and their numerical solution with examples, and use 3-D projections to visualize the complex partitions of the configuration space induced by the singularities.This work has been partially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness under contract DPI2010-18449, and by a Juan de la Cierva contract supporting the fourth author.Peer Reviewe

A Six-Dof Epicyclic-Parallel Manipulator

International audienceA new six-dof epicyclic-parallel manipulator with all actuators allocated on the ground is introduced. It is shown that the system has a considerably simple kinematics relationship, with the complete direct and inverse kinematics analysis provided. Further, the first and second links of each leg can be driven independently by two motors. The serial and parallel singularities of the system are determined, with an interesting feature of the system being that the parallel singularity is independent of the position of the end-effector. The workspace of the manipulator is also analyzed with future applications in haptics in mind

Singularity Analysis of Limited-dof Parallel Manipulators using Grassmann-Cayley Algebra

This paper characterizes geometrically the singularities of limited DOF parallel manipulators. The geometric conditions associated with the dependency of six Pl\"ucker vector of lines (finite and infinite) constituting the rows of the inverse Jacobian matrix are formulated using Grassmann-Cayley algebra. Manipulators under consideration do not need to have a passive spherical joint somewhere in each leg. This study is illustrated with three example robot

Increase of Singularity-Free Zones in the Workspace of Parallel Manipulators Using Mechanisms of Variable Structure

International audienceThis paper is focused on the study of singularity of planar parallel manipulators taking into account the force transmission, i.e. study of singularity of planar manipulator by introducing the force transmission factor. Thus the singularity zones in the workspace of the manipulator are defined not only by kinematic criterions from the theoretical perfect model of the manipulator but also by the quality of force transmission. For this purpose, the pressure angle is used as an indicator of force transmission. The optimal control of the pressure angle for a given trajectory of the manipulator is realized by means of legs with variable structure. The suggested procedure to determination of the optimal structure of the planar parallel manipulator 3-RPR is illustrated by two numerical simulations