Optimal work space of parallel continuum manipulator consisting of compact bionic handling arms

Abstract

Parallel continuum manipulators are the main research focus these days. Parallel manipulators have other advantages than serial manipulators in terms of acceleration and positioning. In this work, we proposed the use of two Compact Bionic Handling Arm (CBHA) manipulators, attaching them to a common platform, to constitute a parallel continuum manipulator. A relation is developed for optimal platform length as a function of the inter-distance between bases of two arms, by using optimization of the volume of the common work space realized from multiple CBHA. The work is extended to parallel continuum manipulator consisting of three CBHA manipulators. Same for this case, after identifying work space of this parallel continuum manipulator, a relation is developed between different design parameters of manipulator using optimization of volume of its work space. As the work space is the main limitation in case of parallel manipulators, this approach to generate relation is useful for rigid as well as continuum manipulators to design them for optimal work space as per required application.