Multi-Criteria Design Optimization of Delta Robot with Four Degrees of Freedom

A delta robot with three degrees of freedom, having been well studied over the past 40 years, is one of the most popular parallel mechanisms. Nowadays, an urgent task is to study the properties of various modifications of this mechanism. The article considers a delta robot with four degrees of freedom, in which one of the kinematic chains with a parallelogram is divided into two, allowing the output link to have an additional rotational degree of freedom. To maximize the working area and minimize the cost of modification the optimization of the robot design was performed. The problem of maximizing a cubic workspace has been solved.

Modeling and Stability Analysis for the Vibrating Motion of Three Degrees-of-Freedom Dynamical System Near Resonance

The focus of this article is on the investigation of a dynamical system consisting of a linear damped transverse tuned-absorber connected with a non-linear damped-spring-pendulum, in which its hanged point moves in an elliptic path. The regulating system of motion is derived using Lagrange’s equations, which is then solved analytically up to the third approximation employing the approach of multiple scales (AMS). The emerging cases of resonance are categorized according to the solvability requirements wherein the modulation equations (ME) have been found. The stability areas and the instability ones are examined utilizing the Routh–Hurwitz criteria (RHC) and analyzed in line with the solutions at the steady state. The obtained results, resonance responses, and stability regions are addressed and graphically depicted to explore the positive influence of the various inputs of the physical parameters on the rheological behavior of the inspected system. The significance of the present work stems from its numerous applications in theoretical physics and engineering.

SHIP MANOEUVRING PREDICTION BASED ON NUMERICAL TOWING TANK TECHNIQUE

A practical procedure is proposed in this paper to predict ship manoeuvrability. A three degrees of freedom MMG (Japanese Manoeuvring Mathematical Modelling Group)-type model is established to simulate rudder manoeuver. Propeller thrust and rudder loads are calculated by empirical formulas, whereas the hull forces as well as moment are determined with hydrodynamic derivatives which are derived from CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) computations. An own developed RANS (Reynolds-Averaged Naiver-Stokes) solver on the base of OpenFOAM is applied to simulate a range of PMM (Planar Motion Mechanism) tests and Fourier analyses of the computed results are carried out to obtain the required derivatives. In order to demonstrate the effectivity of the whole procedure and the RANS computations, the US (United States) combatant DTMB 5415 is taken as a sample for an application. Forced motions of surge, sway, yaw and yaw with drift for the bare hull with bilge keels are simulated. Thereafter, simulations of standard rudder manoeuvers, i.e. turning and zigzag, are performed by applying the computed derivatives. The results are compared with available measured data. It has been shown that the present procedure together with the RANS method can be used to evaluate the manoeuvrability of a ship since general good agreements between the simulated results and measured data are achieved.

Optimization and Control of a Planar Three Degrees of Freedom Manipulator with Cable Actuation

The paper analyzes a planar three degrees of freedom manipulator with cable actuation. Such a system can be understood as a special type of hybrid parallel kinematic mechanism composed of the rigid serial chain and the additional auxiliary cable system. The advantage of the auxiliary cable mechanism is the ability to reconfigure the whole system. The fulfillment of sufficient prestressing is the constraint of the optimization process. Computed Torque Control with a cable force distribution algorithm is implemented. The control algorithm performance is examined on different trajectories, including non-smooth motion requests, and its robustness is tested by randomly generated errors of the model parameters in regulators. The results demonstrate that the optimized structure is capable of controlling the manipulator motion and keeping the cable prestressing within the given limits.

Planar Micro-Positioning Device Based on a 3D Digital Electromagnetic Actuator

In this paper, a novel micro-positioning device based on a 3D digital actuator is presented. The proposed system allows realizing planar motions of micro-objects, which could be implemented in several applications where micro-positioning tasks are needed such as micro-component manufacturing/assembly, biomedicine, scanning microscopy, etc. The device has three degrees of freedom, and it is able to achieve planar motions of a mobile plate in the xy-plane at two different levels along the z-axis. It consists of a hexagonal mobile part composed of a permanent magnet that can reach twelve discrete positions distributed between two z-axis levels (six at each level). Two different approaches are presented to perform positioning tasks of the plate using the digital actuator: the stick-slip and the lift-mode approaches. A comparison between these two approaches is provided on the basis of the plate displacement with respect to different current values and conveyed mass. It was observed that for a current of 2 A, the actuator is able to displace a mass of 1.15 g over a distance of 0.08 mm. The optimal positioning range of the planar device was found to be ±5.40 mm and ±7.05 mm along the x- and y-axis, respectively.

Research on modular implementation method of six-degree-of-freedom robotic arm

Single-joint modular design can reduce the work intensity of designers, and also can broaden the combination form of multi-degree-of-freedom robotic arm. In order to adapt to the changes of multiple degrees of freedom and multiple loads, this paper designs a series of standard modules with similar components and the same standard interface, but with different sizes only, and chooses different drive components according to the load when designing the size, and then designs the size of other parts according to the size of the drive components. The final combination of this series of modules into different degrees of freedom robotic arm, such as three degrees of freedom robotic arm, four degrees of freedom robotic arm or even six degrees of freedom robotic arm. In this paper, the most widely used six-degree-of-freedom robotic arm is used as an example, and a detailed design form is proposed.

Dynamical Characteristics of a Hydraulic Soft Actuator With Three Degrees of Freedom

In recent years, increasing attention and expanding research have been devoted to the study and application of soft actuators. Inherent compliance equips soft actuators with such advantages as incomparable flexibility, good environmental adaptability, safe interaction with the environment, etc. However, the highly nonlinear also bring challenges to modeling of dynamics. This study aims to explore the dynamical characteristics of an underwater hydraulic soft actuator. The actuator has three fiber-reinforced elastomer chambers distributed symmetrically inside. By controlling the pressure in the chambers through a hydraulic power system, the actuator can achieve spatial motion with three degrees of freedom. To describe the relationship between the input pressure combination and the actuator movement, a dynamic model considering the nonlinearity of viscoelastic material is developed based on Lagrangian method and constant curvature hypothesis. A series of experiments are carried out, including single-chamber actuation and multi-chamber actuation. The test results verify the effectiveness and precision of the model. Finally, the effects of the geometrical features on dynamic response are investigated through model-based simulation, which can provide guidance to parameter optimization. The proposed dynamic model can also contribute to behavior analysis, performance prediction, and motion control of the hydraulic soft actuator.