Latest Papers

ASME Journal of Mechanisms and Robotics

  • Mechanical Characterization of Supernumerary Robotic Tails for Human Balance Augmentation
    on August 31, 2023 at 12:00 am

    AbstractHumans are intrinsically unstable in quiet stance from a rigid body system viewpoint; however, they maintain balance, thanks to neuro-muscular sensory control properties. With increasing levels of balance related incidents in industrial and ageing populations globally each year, the development of assistive mechanisms to augment human balance is paramount. This work investigates the mechanical characteristics of kinematically dissimilar one and two degrees-of-freedom (DoF) supernumerary robotic tails for balance augmentation. Through dynamic simulations and manipulability assessments, the importance of variable coupling inertia in creating a sufficient reaction torque is highlighted. It is shown that two-DoF tails with solely revolute joints are best suited to address the balance augmentation issue. Within the two-DoF options, the characteristics of open versus closed loop tails are investigated, with the ultimate design selection requiring trade-offs between environmental workspace, biomechanical factors, and manufacturing ease to be made.

Classification of 3-Degree-of-Freedom 3-UPU Translational Parallel Mechanisms Based on Constraint Singularity Loci Using Gröbner Cover

Abstract

A 3-degree-of-freedom (DOF) 3-UPU translational parallel mechanism (TPM) is one of the typical TPMs. Despite comprehensive studies on 3-UPU TPMs in which the joint axes on the base and the moving platform are coplanar, only a few 3-UPU TPMs with skewed base and moving platform have been proposed, and the impact of link parameters on constraint singularity loci of such TPMs has not been systematically investigated. The advances in computing comprehensive Gröbner system (CGS) or Gröbner cover of parametric polynomial systems provide an efficient tool for solving this problem. This paper presents a systematic classification of 3-UPU TPMs with skewed base and moving platform based on constraint singularity loci. First, the constraint singularity equation of a 3-UPU TPM is derived. Using Gröbner cover, the 3-UPU TPMs are classified into 12 types. Finally, a novel 3-UPU TPM is proposed. Reconfiguration analysis shows that unlike most existing 3-UPU TPMs which can transit from a 3-DOF translational mode to two or more 3-DOF operation modes, the proposed 3-UPU TPM can only transit from a 3-DOF translational mode to one general 3-DOF operation mode. The singularity locus divides the workspace of this 3-UPU TPM into two constraint singularity-free regions. As a by-product, a 3-UPU parallel mechanism that the moving platform can undergo 3-DOF translation and 1-DOF infinitesimal rotation is revealed. This work provides a solid foundation for the design of 3-UPU TPMs and a starting point for the classification of 3-UPU parallel mechanisms.

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