Mechanical Design and Kinematic Analysis of a Spherical Parallel Manipulator with Coaxial Input Shafts

Abstract

In this thesis a spherical parallel manipulator with coaxial input shafts (Coaxial SPM) is under study. It is a part of a bigger family of spherical parallel manipulators (SPM) with a special feature of unlimited roll rotation around its axis. This feature makes the Coaxial SPM of high interest for applications in motion control system. First, an approach for obtaining unique forward and inverse kinematics solutions is introduced, in order to relate the angular position of the manipulator servomotors to the position and orientation of Coaxial SPM mobile platform and vice versa. Then, a configuration space of the manipulator is defined by using a numerical procedure, in order to guarantee the absence of singularities and of collision between the manipulator links during the manipulator motion. Afterwards, the Cartesian space of the manipulator is generated. Results of these analyses are applied to the assembled mechanical prototype of Coaxial SPM for experimental verifications.