Kinematics, workspace and singularity analysis of a multi-mode parallel robot

A family of reconfigurable parallel robots can change motion modes by passing through constraint singularities by locking and releasing some passive joints of the robot. This paper is about the kinematics, the workspace and singularity analysis of a 3-PRPiR parallel robot involving lockable Pi and R (revolute) joints. Here a Pi joint may act as a 1-DOF planar parallelogram if its lock-able P (prismatic) joint is locked or a 2-DOF RR serial chain if its lockable P joint is released. The operation modes of the robot include a 3T operation modes to three 2T1R operation modes with two different directions of the rotation axis of the moving platform. The inverse kinematics and forward kinematics of the robot in each operation modes are dealt with in detail. The workspace analysis of the robot allow us to know the regions of the workspace that the robot can reach in each operation mode. A prototype built at Heriot-Watt University is used to illustrate the results of this work.Comment: International Design Engineering Technical Conferences \& Computers and Information in Engineering Conference, Aug 2017, Cleveland, United States. 201

A structure design method for compliant parallel manipulators with actuation isolation

Since precise linear actuators of a compliant parallel manipulator suffer from their inability to tolerate the transverse motion/load in the multi-axis motion, actuation isolation should be considered in the compliant manipulator design to eliminate the transverse motion at the point of actuation. This paper presents an effective design method for constructing compliant parallel manipulators with actuation isolation, by adding the same number of actuation legs as the number of the DOF (degree of freedom) of the original mechanism. The method is demonstrated by two design case studies, one of which is quantitatively studied by analytical modelling. The modelling results confirm possible inherent issues of the proposed structure design method such as increased primary stiffness, introduced extra parasitic motions and cross-axis coupling motions

DETC2011-48510 TYPE SYNTHESIS OF 3-DOF PARALLEL MANIPULATORS WITH BOTH PLANAR AND TRANSLATIONAL OPERATION MODES

ABSTRACT Despite recent advances in the type synthesis of parallel manipulators with a mono-operation mode, such as translational parallel manipulators and spherical parallel manipulators, the type synthesis of parallel manipulators with multiple operation modes is still an open issue. This paper deals with the type synthesis of 3-DOF parallel manipulators with both planar and translational operation modes. The type synthesis of planar parallel manipulators, which refer to parallel manipulators in which the moving platform undergoes planar motion, is first dealt with using the virtual chain approach. Then, the types of 3-DOF parallel manipulators with both planar and translational operation modes are obtained. This work can be extended to the type synthesis of other classes of parallel manipulators with multiple operation modes