A modal approach to hyper-redundant manipulator kinematics

This paper presents novel and efficient kinematic modeling techniques for “hyper-redundant” robots. This approach is based on a “backbone curve” that captures the robot's macroscopic geometric features. The inverse kinematic, or “hyper-redundancy resolution,” problem reduces to determining the time varying backbone curve behavior. To efficiently solve the inverse kinematics problem, the authors introduce a “modal” approach, in which a set of intrinsic backbone curve shape functions are restricted to a modal form. The singularities of the modal approach, modal non-degeneracy conditions, and modal switching are considered. For discretely segmented morphologies, the authors introduce “fitting” algorithms that determine the actuator displacements that cause the discrete manipulator to adhere to the backbone curve. These techniques are demonstrated with planar and spatial mechanism examples. They have also been implemented on a 30 degree-of-freedom robot prototype

A hyper-redundant manipulator

“Hyper-redundant” manipulators have a very large number of actuatable degrees of freedom. The benefits of hyper-redundant robots include the ability to avoid obstacles, increased robustness with respect to mechanical failure, and the ability to perform new forms of robot locomotion and grasping. The authors examine hyper-redundant manipulator design criteria and the physical implementation of one particular design: a variable geometry truss

On the false positives and false negatives of the Jacobian Matrix in kinematically redundant parallel mechanisms

The Jacobian matrix is a highly popular tool for the control and performance analysis of closed-loop robots. Its usefulness in parallel mechanisms is certainly apparent, and its application to solve motion planning problems, or other higher level questions, has been seldom queried, or limited to non-redundant systems. In this paper, we discuss the shortcomings of the use of the Jacobian matrix under redundancy, in particular when applied to kinematically redundant parallel architectures with non-serially connected actuators. These architectures have become fairly popular recently as they allow the end-effector to achieve full rotations, which is an impossible task with traditional topologies. The problems with the Jacobian matrix in these novel systems arise from the need to eliminate redundant variables when forming it, resulting in both situations where the Jacobian incorrectly identifies singularities (false positive), and where it fails to identify singularities (false negative). These issues have thus far remained unaddressed in the literature. We highlight these limitations herein by demonstrating several cases using numerical examples of both planar and spatial architectures

Kinematic and Dynamic Analysis of the 2-DOF Spherical Wrist of Orthoglide 5-axis

This paper deals with the kinematics and dynamics of a two degree of freedom spherical manipulator, the wrist of Orthoglide 5-axis. The latter is a parallel kinematics machine composed of two manipulators: i) the Orthoglide 3-axis; a three-dof translational parallel manipulator that belongs to the family of Delta robots, and ii) the Agile eye; a two-dof parallel spherical wrist. The geometric and inertial parameters used in the model are determined by means of a CAD software. The performance of the spherical wrist is emphasized by means of several test trajectories. The effects of machining and/or cutting forces and the length of the cutting tool on the dynamic performance of the wrist are also analyzed. Finally, a preliminary selection of the motors is proposed from the velocities and torques required by the actuators to carry out the test trajectories

Kinematics and workspace analysis of a 3ppps parallel robot with u-shaped base

This paper presents the kinematic analysis of the 3-PPPS parallel robot with an equilateral mobile platform and a U-shape base. The proposed design and appropriate selection of parameters allow to formulate simpler direct and inverse kinematics for the manipulator under study. The parallel singularities associated with the manipulator depend only on the orientation of the end-effector, and thus depend only on the orientation of the end effector. The quaternion parameters are used to represent the aspects, i.e. the singularity free regions of the workspace. A cylindrical algebraic decomposition is used to characterize the workspace and joint space with a low number of cells. The dis-criminant variety is obtained to describe the boundaries of each cell. With these simplifications, the 3-PPPS parallel robot with proposed design can be claimed as the simplest 6 DOF robot, which further makes it useful for the industrial applications

A New 3-DoF Planar Parallel Manipulator with Unlimited Rotation Capability

International audienceMost of three-degree-of-freedom (3-DoF) planar parallel manipulators encountered today have a common disadvantage that is their low rotational capability. However, for many industrial applications, by example in automated assembly systems, cutting machines, simulators, or micro-motion manipulators, a high rotation capability is needed. To overcome such a difficulty, this paper focuses its attention on the proposal of a new 3-DoF planar parallel manipulator capable of high rotational capability. Firstly, structure and mobility of the suggested manipulator are discussed. Then the forward and inverse kinematic problems are analyzed, as well as it is disclosed its singular configurations. The shaking force and shaking moment balancing are also considered. The proposed design concept is illustrated by a driven demonstrator which is a first model of the suggested manipulator