ANALYSIS OF FINITE SELF MOTION AND FINITE DWELL IN CLOSED-LOOP MECHANISMS AND PARALLEL MANIPULATORS

摘要

In this paper, we present the necessary and sufficient criteria for finite self motion and finite dwell of the passive links of a parallel manipulator or a closed-loop mechanism. We study the first order properties of the constraint equations associated with the kinematic constraints inherent in a closed-loop mechanism or a parallel manipulator, and arrive at the criteria for the mechanism to gain a degree-of-freedom at a singular point of its workspace. By analyzing the second order properties of the constraint equations, we show that the gain of degree-of-freedom may lead to finite self motion of the passive links if certain configurational and architectural criteria are met. Special configurations and architecture may also lead to finite dwell of the passive links, and the criteria for the same has been derived. The results are illustrated with the help of several closed-loop mechanisms.