Theoretically, parallel manipulators perform higher precision than their serial counterparts. However, the output accuracy is sensitive to their configurations and dimensions. This paper presents a kind of parallel manipulator with kinematically redundant structure, which can improve the output accuracy by optimizing the error transmission from the active joints to the end-effector. With the kinematic redundancy, free redundant variables can be defined as second task variables, which provide the possibility to select a proper configuration for least error transmission at any pose (the position and orientation) of the end-effector for a given task. Contrast to non-redundant manipulators, the output errors of the proposed manipulator, caused by the active joints input errors, can be optimized rather than determined. By this goal, new limbs with redundant parallel structures are introduced to non-redundant planar parallel manipulators. Numerical example shows that the new architecture has the potential to enhance the output accuracy for a given pose or prescribed trajectory of the end-effector.

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