Kinetostatics analysis of a novel 6-DOF parallel manipulator with three planar limbs and equipped with three fingers

Abstract

It is significant to develop a robot hand with high rigidity by a 6-DOF parallel manipulator(PM). However, the existing 6-DOF PMs include spherical joint which has less capability of pulling force bearing, less rotation range and lower precision under alternately heavy loads. A novel 6-DOF PM with three planar limbs and equipped with three fingers is proposed and its kinematics and statics are analyzed systematically. A 3-dimension simulation mechanism of the proposed manipulator is constructed and its structure characteristics is analyzed. The kinematics formulae for solving the displacement, velocity, acceleration of the platform, the active legs and the fingers are established. The statics formulae are derived for solving the active forces of PM and the finger mechanisms. An analytic example is given for solving the kinematics and statics of proposed manipulator and the analytic solved results are verified by the simulation mechanism. It is proved from the error analysis of analytic solutions and simulation solutions that the derived analytic formulae are correct and provide the theoretical and technical foundations for its manufacturing, control and application.