scholarly journals Design of a Planar Cable-Driven Parallel Robot for Non-Contact Tasks

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (20) ◽  
pp. 9491
Author(s):  
Valentina Mattioni ◽  
Edoardo Ida’ ◽  
Marco Carricato

Cable-driven parallel robots offer significant advantages in terms of workspace dimensions and payload capability. Their mechanical structure and transmission system consist of light and extendable cables that can withstand high tensile loads. Cables are wound and unwound by a set of motorized winches, so that the robot workspace dimensions mainly depend on the amount of cable that each drum can store. For this reason, these manipulators are attractive for many industrial tasks to be performed on a large scale, such as handling, pick-and-place, and manufacturing, without a substantial increase in costs and mechanical complexity with respect to a small-scale application. This paper presents the design of a planar overconstrained cable-driven parallel robot for quasi-static non-contact operations on planar vertical surfaces, such as laser engraving, inspection and thermal treatment. The overall mechanical structure of the robot is shown, by focusing on the actuation and guidance systems. A novel concept of the cable guidance system is outlined, which allows for a simple kinematic model to control the manipulator. As an application example, a laser diode is mounted onto the end-effector of a prototype to perform laser engraving on a paper sheet. Observations on the experiments are reported and discussed.

2020 ◽  
pp. 107754632096194
Author(s):  
Haining Sun ◽  
Xiaoqiang Tang ◽  
Senhao Hou ◽  
Xiaoyu Wang

Specific satellites with ultralong wings play a crucial role in many fields. However, external disturbance and self-rotation could result in undesired vibrations of the flexible wings, which affect the normal operation of the satellites. In severe cases, the satellites would be damaged. Therefore, it is imperative to conduct vibration suppression for these flexible structures. Utilizing fuzzy-proportional integral derivative control and deep reinforcement learning (DRL), two active control methods are proposed in this article to rapidly suppress the vibration of flexible structures with quite small controllable force based on a cable-driven parallel robot. Inspired by the output law of DRL, a new control method named Tang and Sun control is innovatively presented based on the Lyapunov theory. To verify the effectiveness of these three control methods, three groups of simulations with different initial disturbances are implemented for each method. Besides, to enhance the contrast, a passive pretightening scheme is also tested. First, the dynamic model of the cable-driven parallel robot which comprises four cables and a flexible structure is established using the finite element method. Then, the dynamic behavior of the model under the controllable cable force is analyzed by the Newmark-ß method. Finally, these control methods are implemented by numerical simulations to evaluate their performance, and the results are satisfactory, which validates the controllers’ ability to suppress vibrations.


Author(s):  
Kwun-Lon Ting ◽  
Kuan-Lun Hsu

The paper presents a simple and effective kinematic model and methodology, based on Ting’s N-bar rotatability laws [2629], to assess the extent of the position uncertainty caused by joint clearances for any linkage and manipulators connected with revolute or prismatic pairs. The model is derived and explained with geometric rigor based on Ting’s rotatability laws. The significant contribution includes (1) the clearance link model for P-joint that catches the translation and oscillation characteristics of the slider within the clearance and separates the geometric effect of clearance from the input error, (2) a simple uncertainty linkage model that features a deterministic instantaneous structure mounted on non-deterministic flexible legs, (3) the generality of the method, which is effective for multiloop linkages and parallel manipulators. The discussion is carried out through symmetrically constructed planar eight-bar parallel robots. It is found that the uncertainty region of a three-leg parallel robot is enclosed by a hexagon, while that of its serial counterpart is enclosed by a circle inscribed by the hexagon. A numerical example is also presented. The finding and proof, though only based on three-leg planar 8-bar parallel robots, may have a wider implication suggesting that based on kinematics, parallel robots tends to inherit more position uncertainty than their serial counterparts. The use of more loops in parallel robots cannot fully offset the adverse effect on position uncertainty caused by the use of more joints.


Robotica ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Pierrot ◽  
C. Reynaud ◽  
A. Fournier

SummaryThe DELTA parallel robot, designed by an EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) research team, is a mechanical structure which has the advantage of parallel robots and ease of serial robots modeling. This paper presents solutions for a complete modeling of the DELTA parallel robot (direct and inverse kinematics, inverse statics, inverse dynamics), with few arithmetic and trigonometric operations. Our method is based on a satisfactory choice of kinematic parameters and on a few restricting hypotheses for the static and dynamic models. We give some details of each model, we present some computation results and we put the emphasis on some particular points, showing the capabilities of this mechanical structure.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 822-836
Author(s):  
Auday Al-Mayyahi ◽  
Ammar A. Aldair ◽  
Chris Chatwin

Abstract3-RRR planar parallel robots are utilized for solving precise material-handling problems in industrial automation applications. Thus, robust and stable control is required to deliver high accuracy in comparison to the state of the art. The operation of the mechanism is achieved based on three revolute (3-RRR) joints which are geometrically designed using an open-loop spatial robotic platform. The inverse kinematic model of the system is derived and analyzed by using the geometric structure with three revolute joints. The main variables in our design are the platform base positions, the geometry of the joint angles, and links of the 3-RRR planar parallel robot. These variables are calculated based on Cayley-Menger determinants and bilateration to determine the final position of the platform when moving and placing objects. Additionally, a proposed fractional order proportional integral derivative (FOPID) is optimized using the bat optimization algorithm to control the path tracking of the center of the 3-RRR planar parallel robot. The design is compared with the state of the art and simulated using the Matlab environment to validate the effectiveness of the proposed controller. Furthermore, real-time implementation has been tested to prove that the design performance is practical.


Author(s):  
Haining Sun ◽  
Xiaoqiang Tang ◽  
Jinhao Wei

Abstract Specific satellites with ultra-long wings play a crucial role in many fields. However, external disturbance and self-rotation could result in undesired vibrations of flexible wings, which affects the normal operation of the satellites. In severe cases, the satellites will be damaged. Therefore, it is imperative to conduct vibration suppression for these flexible structures. Utilizing deep reinforcement learning (DRL), an active control scheme is presented in this paper to rapidly suppress the vibration of flexible structures with quite small controllable force based on a cable-driven parallel robot (CDPR). To verify the controller’s effectiveness, three groups of simulation with different initial disturbance are implemented. Besides, to enhance the contrast, a passive pre-tightening scheme is also tested. First, the dynamic model of the CDPR that is comprised of four cables and a flexible structure is established using the finite element method. Then, the dynamic behavior of the model under the controllable cable force is analyzed by Newmark-ß method. Furthermore, the agent of DRL is trained by the deep deterministic policy gradient algorithm (DDPG). Finally, the control scheme is conducted on Simulink environment to evaluate its performance, and the results are satisfactory, which validates the controller’s ability to suppress vibrations.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Jun Gao ◽  
Bin Zhou ◽  
Bin Zi ◽  
Sen Qian ◽  
Ping Zhao

Abstract Cable-driven parallel robots (CDPRs) are a kind of mechanism with large workspace, fast response, and low inertia. However, due to the existence of fixed pulleys, it is unavoidable to bring uncertain cable lengths and lead to pose errors of the end-effector (EE). The inverse kinematic model of a CDPR for picking up medicines is established by considering radii of fixed pulleys. The influence of radii of fixed pulleys on errors of cable lengths is explored. Error transfer model of the CPDR is constructed, and uncertain sources of cable lengths are analyzed. Based on evidence theory and error transfer model, an evidence theory-based uncertainty analysis method (ETUAM) is presented. The structural performance function for kinematic response is derived based on error transfer model. Belief and plausibility measures of joint focal elements under the given threshold are obtained. Kinematic error simulations show that errors of cable lengths become larger with the increase of radii of fixed pulleys. Compared with the vertex method and Monte Carlo method, numerical examples demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the ETUAM when it comes to the kinematic uncertainty analysis of the CDPR.


Robotics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moritz Schappler ◽  
Svenja Tappe ◽  
Tobias Ortmaier

Industrial manipulators and parallel robots are often used for tasks, such as drilling or milling, that require three translational, but only two rotational degrees of freedom (“3T2R”). While kinematic models for specific mechanisms for these tasks exist, a general kinematic model for parallel robots is still missing. This paper presents the definition of the rotational component of kinematic constraints equations for parallel robots based on two reciprocal sets of Euler angles for the end-effector orientation and the orientation residual. The method allows completely removing the redundant coordinate in 3T2R tasks and to solve the inverse kinematics for general serial and parallel robots with the gradient descent algorithm. The functional redundancy of robots with full mobility is exploited using nullspace projection.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Li ◽  
Deyong Shang ◽  
Xun Fan ◽  
Yue Liu

Delta parallel robots are widely used in assembly detection, packaging sorting, precision positioning, and other fields. With the widespread use of robots, people have increasing requirements for motion accuracy and reliability. This paper considers the influence of various mechanism errors on the motion accuracy and analyzes the motion reliability of the mechanism. Firstly, we establish a kinematic model of the robot and obtain the relationship between the position of the end effector and the structural parameters based on the improved D–H transform rule. Secondly, an error model considering the dimension error, the error of revolute joint clearance, driving error, and the error of spherical joint clearance is established. Finally, taking an actual robot as an example, the comprehensive influence of mechanism errors on motion accuracy and reliability in different directions is quantitatively analyzed. It is shown that the driving error is a key factor determining the motion accuracy and reliability. The influence of mechanism errors on motion reliability is different in different directions. The influence of mechanism errors on reliability is small in the vertical direction, while it is great in the horizontal direction. Therefore, we should strictly control the mechanism errors, especially the driving angle, to ensure the motion accuracy and reliability. This research has significance for error compensation, motion reliability analysis, and reliability prediction in robots, and the conclusions can be extended to similar mechanisms.


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 172988141880384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonqlan Lin ◽  
Chi Ying Wu ◽  
Julian Chang

Cable-driven parallel robots comprise driven actuators that allow controlled cables to act in parallel on an end-effector. Such a robotic system has a potentially large reachable workspace, large load capacity, high payload-to-weight ratio, high reconfigurability, and low inertia, relative to rigid link serial and parallel robots. In this work, a multi-degrees-of-freedom cable-suspended robot that can carry out pick-and-place tasks in large workspaces with heavy loads is designed. The proposed cable-driven parallel robot is composed of a rigid frame and an end-effector that is suspended from eight cables—four upper cables and four lower cables. The lengths of the cables are computed from the given positions of the suspended end-effector using a kinematic model. However, most multi-cable-driven robots suffer from interference among the cables, requiring a complex control methodology to find a target goal. Owing to this issue with cable-driven parallel robots, the whole control structure decomposes positioning control missions and allocates them into upper level and lower level. The upper level control is responsible for tracking the suspended end-effector to the target region. The lower level control makes fine positional modifications. Experimental results reveal that the hybrid control mode notably improves positioning performance. The wide variety of issues that are considered in this work apply to aerostats, towing cranes, locomotion interfaces, and large-scale manufacturing that require cable-driven parallel robots.


1998 ◽  
Vol 08 (06) ◽  
pp. 1131-1152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huijun Yang

The central barrier, asymmetry and random perturbation in transport and mixing by Rossby waves in a jet were investigated by simple kinematic model. Two complementary methods were used: A high-resolution Lagrangian Field Advection Model (FAM) and a finite-time Lyapunov exponent analysis. The present study revealed the following: (1) A central barrier can be formed in two Rossby waves without shear flow as well as in a jet, (2) the central barrier may occur in the region with maximum jet speed relative to the phase speed of the traveling wave, whereas the chaotic mixing most likely occurs near the critical lines; the central barrier widens as the phase speed of traveling waves relative to the jet speed increases, (3) asymmetry of wave-breaking is directly related to asymmetry of the critical line location in a jet, (4) the central barrier survives small random perturbations, (5) global bifurcation from a homoclinic orbit to a heteroclinic orbit and global chaos are two main mechanisms for the central barrier destruction. The results suggest that the small scale motions and random processes may not significantly affect the major character of Lagrangian transport and mixing by large-scale geophysical flow. Also potential vorticity mixing provides a unique kinematic and dynamic view of many features of the geophysical flow.


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