Workspace Computation and Analysis of a Planar 2-DoF Translational Tensegrity Mechanism

Author(s):  
Samuel Chen ◽  
Marc Arsenault

Tensegrity mechanisms are interesting candidates for high-acceleration robotic applications since their use of cables allows for a reduction in the weight and inertia of their mobile parts. In this work, a planar two-degree-of-freedom translational tensegrity mechanism that could be used for pick and place applications is introduced. The mechanism uses a strategic actuation scheme to generate the translational motion as well as to ensure that the cables remain taut at all times. Analytical solutions to the direct and inverse kinematic problems are developed and the mechanism’s workspace boundaries are computed in both the actuator and Cartesian spaces. The influence of the mechanism’s geometry on the size and shape of the Cartesian workspace are then studied. Based on workspace size only, it is found that the optimal mechanism geometry corresponds to a relatively large ratio between the length of the struts and the width of the base and end-effector.

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Chen ◽  
Marc Arsenault

Tensegrity mechanisms are interesting candidates for high-acceleration robotic applications since their use of cables allows for a reduction in the weight and inertia of their mobile parts. In this work, a planar two-degree-of-freedom translational tensegrity mechanism that could be used for pick and place applications is introduced. The mechanism uses a strategic actuation scheme to generate the translational motion as well as to ensure that the cables remain taut at all times. Analytical solutions to the direct and inverse kinematic problems are developed, and the mechanism’s workspace boundaries are computed in both the actuator and Cartesian spaces. The influence of the mechanism’s geometry on the size and shape of the Cartesian workspace are then studied. Based on workspace size only, it is found that the optimal mechanism geometry corresponds to a relatively large ratio between the length of the struts and the width of the base and end-effector.


2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 573-584 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris A. Mohr ◽  
Marc Arsenault

This paper presents a novel three-degree-of-freedom mechanism based on a known tensegrity architecture. The mechanism is cable driven and shown to exhibit three-dimensional translational motion. Analytical solutions to the direct and inverse kinematic problems are produced based on the geometry and statics of the mechanism. The boundaries of the reachable Cartesian workspace are developed based on maintaining valid tensegrity configurations and requiring the actuated cables to be in tension. The low inertia, relatively large workspace volume and the movement produced by the mechanism make it promising for high speed applications such as pick and place operations.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Ben Haughey

<p>Development in pick-and-place robotic manipulators continues to grow as factory processes are streamlined. One configuration of these manipulators is the two degree of freedom, planar, parallel manipulator (2DOFPPM). A machine building company, RML Engineering Ltd., wishes to develop custom robotic manipulators that are optimised for individual pick-and-place applications. This thesis develops several tools to assist in the design process. The 2DOFPPM’s structure lends itself to fast and accurate translations in a single plane. However, the performance of the 2DOFPPM is highly dependent on its dimensions. The kinematics of the 2DOFPPM are explored and used to examine the reachable workspace of the manipulator. This method of analysis also gives insight into the relative speed and accuracy of the manipulator’s end-effector in the workspace. A simulation model of the 2DOFPPM has been developed in Matlab’s® SimMechanics®. This allows the detailed analysis of the manipulator’s dynamics. In order to provide meaningful input into the simulation model, a cubic spline trajectory planner is created. The algorithm uses an iterative approach of minimising the time between knots along the path, while ensuring the kinematic and dynamic limits of the motors and end-effector are abided by. The resulting trajectory can be considered near-minimum in terms of its cycle-time. The dimensions of the 2DOFPPM have a large effect on the performance of the manipulator. Four major dimensions are analysed to see the effect each has on the cycle-time over a standardised path. The dimensions are the proximal and distal arms, spacing of the motors and the height of the manipulator above the workspace. The solution space of all feasible combinations of these dimensions is produced revealing cycle-times with a large degree of variation over the same path. Several optimisation algorithms are applied to finding the manipulator configuration with the fastest cycle-time. A random restart hill-climber, stochastic hill-climber, simulated annealing and a genetic algorithm are developed. After each algorithm’s parameters are tuned, the genetic algorithm is shown to outperform the other techniques.</p>


Author(s):  
Neil M. Bajaj ◽  
Aaron M. Dollar

Abstract The wrist plays the crucial role of orienting a hand or end effector without significant translational motion, a critical requirement of successful manipulation. In this paper, we present the kinematic design optimization a two degree of freedom universal, two-prismatic-spherical-spherical (U, 2-PSS) parallel wrist mechanism. By varying the geometric parameters of the mechanism, we examine configurations that maximize the Global Conditioning Index, a metric describing the quality of the motion and torque, over the desired workspace, which mimics a healthy human wrist range of motion in circumduction (flexion/extension and abduction/adduction). We further investigate the effects of sizing constraints on the resulting optimized design which satisfies the imposed sizing constraints.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Ben Haughey

<p>Development in pick-and-place robotic manipulators continues to grow as factory processes are streamlined. One configuration of these manipulators is the two degree of freedom, planar, parallel manipulator (2DOFPPM). A machine building company, RML Engineering Ltd., wishes to develop custom robotic manipulators that are optimised for individual pick-and-place applications. This thesis develops several tools to assist in the design process. The 2DOFPPM’s structure lends itself to fast and accurate translations in a single plane. However, the performance of the 2DOFPPM is highly dependent on its dimensions. The kinematics of the 2DOFPPM are explored and used to examine the reachable workspace of the manipulator. This method of analysis also gives insight into the relative speed and accuracy of the manipulator’s end-effector in the workspace. A simulation model of the 2DOFPPM has been developed in Matlab’s® SimMechanics®. This allows the detailed analysis of the manipulator’s dynamics. In order to provide meaningful input into the simulation model, a cubic spline trajectory planner is created. The algorithm uses an iterative approach of minimising the time between knots along the path, while ensuring the kinematic and dynamic limits of the motors and end-effector are abided by. The resulting trajectory can be considered near-minimum in terms of its cycle-time. The dimensions of the 2DOFPPM have a large effect on the performance of the manipulator. Four major dimensions are analysed to see the effect each has on the cycle-time over a standardised path. The dimensions are the proximal and distal arms, spacing of the motors and the height of the manipulator above the workspace. The solution space of all feasible combinations of these dimensions is produced revealing cycle-times with a large degree of variation over the same path. Several optimisation algorithms are applied to finding the manipulator configuration with the fastest cycle-time. A random restart hill-climber, stochastic hill-climber, simulated annealing and a genetic algorithm are developed. After each algorithm’s parameters are tuned, the genetic algorithm is shown to outperform the other techniques.</p>


Author(s):  
Meiying Zhang ◽  
Thierry Laliberté ◽  
Clément Gosselin

This paper proposes the use of passive force and torque limiting devices to bound the maximum forces that can be applied at the end-effector or along the links of a robot, thereby ensuring the safety of human-robot interaction. Planar isotropic force limiting modules are proposed and used to analyze the force capabilities of a two-degree-of-freedom planar serial robot. The force capabilities at the end-effector are first analyzed. It is shown that, using isotropic force limiting modules, the performance to safety index remains excellent for all configurations of the robot. The maximum contact forces along the links of the robot are then analyzed. Force and torque limiters are distributed along the structure of the robot in order to ensure that the forces applied at any point of contact along the links are bounded. A power analysis is then presented in order to support the results. Finally, examples of mechanical designs of force/torque limiters are shown to illustrate a possible practical implementation of the concept.


Author(s):  
Gim Song Soh ◽  
J. Michael McCarthy

In this paper, we use seven-position synthesis to add four TS constraints to a TRS serial chain robot and obtain a two degree-of-freedom spatial eight-bar linkage. The TRS chain is an elbow manipulator, similar to a PUMA robot. We synthesize a TS dyad to connect the base of the robot to its forearm, and then we synthesize three TS dyads that connect the upper arm of the robot to its end-effector. The result is a two degree-of-freedom spatial eight-bar linkage that moves through seven prescribed positions. It consists of a TRST loop supporting a 3TS-RS platform, which we denote as a TS-TRS-3TS spatial linkage. We formulate and solve the design equations for the TS dyads, and analyze the resulting eight-bar linkage. An example demonstrates our results.


Author(s):  
Clément M. Gosselin ◽  
Ammar Hadj-Messaoud

Abstract This paper proposes some new polynomial solutions to the trajectory planning problem encountered in pick-and-place operations. When a robotic manipulator is used for such operations, it is possible to plan the required trajectory in joint space, provided that the inverse kinematic problem has been solved for the initial and final configurations — and possibly for a lift-off and a set-down configuration — and that the workspace is free of obstacles. Polynomial solutions to this problem can be found in the literature. However, they usually provide continuity up to the second derivative only, leading to a discontinuous jerk. The solutions derived in this paper preserve the continuity of the third derivative of the joint coordinates, thereby ensuring smooth trajectories with smooth variations of the actuator currents. Moreover, whenever possible, unique polynomial expressions valid between the initial and final configurations are used in order to simplify the logic. Polynomial formulations without lift-off and set-down configurations are first presented. Then, these intermediate configurations are introduced, leading to a new set of solutions. A global algorithm is then discussed in order to clearly indicate the relationship between the different solutions. Finally, an example illustrating the application to a pick-and-place operation is solved.


Author(s):  
Albert C. J. Luo ◽  
Bo Yu

In this paper, galloping vibrations of a lightly iced transmission line are investigated through a two-degree-of-freedom (2-DOF) nonlinear oscillator. The 2-DOF nonlinear oscillator is used to describe the transverse and torsional motions of the galloping cables. The analytical solutions of periodic motions of galloping cables are presented through generalized harmonic balanced method. The analytical solutions of periodic motions for the galloping cable are compared with the numerical solutions, and the corresponding stability and bifurcation of periodic motions are analyzed by the eigenvalues analysis. To demonstrate the accuracy of the analytical solutions of periodic motions, the harmonic amplitudes are presented. This investigation will help one better understand galloping mechanism of iced transmission lines.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Puren Ouyang ◽  
Yuqi Hu ◽  
Wenhui Yue ◽  
Deshun Liu

Reduction of contour error is a very important issue for high precise contour tracking applications, and many control systems were proposed to deal with contour tracking problems for two/three axial translational motion systems. However, there is no research on cross-coupled contour tracking control for serial multi-DOF robot manipulators. In this paper, the contouring control of multi-DOF serial manipulators is developed for the first time and a new cross-coupled PD (CC-PD) control law is proposed, based on contour errors of the end-effector and tracking errors of the joints. It is a combination of PD control for trajectory tracking at joint level and PD control for contour tracking at the end-effector level. The contour error of the end-effector is transformed to the equivalent tracking errors of the joints using the Jacobian regulation, and the CC-PD control law is implemented in the joint level. Stability analysis of the proposed CC-PD control system is conducted using the Lyapunov method, followed by some simulation studies for linear and nonlinear contour tracking to verify the effectiveness of the proposed CC-PD control system.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document