A novel three-dimensional robotic surface is devised using triangular modules connected by revolute joints that mimic the constraints of a spherical joint at each triangle intersection. The finite element method (FEM) is applied to the dynamic loading of this device using three dimensional (6 degrees of freedom) beam elements to not only calculate the cartesian displacement and force, but also the angular displacement and torque at each joint. In this way, the traditional methods of finding joint forces and torques are completely bypassed. An effiecient algorithm is developed to linearly combine local mass and stiffness matrices into a full structural stiffness matrix for the easy application of loads. An analysis of optimal dynamic joint forces is carried out in Simulink® with the use of an algebraic Ricatti equation.

Volume Subject Area:
Modeling, Simulation and Control
Topics:
Finite element analysis, Robotics, Displacement, Finite element methods, Stiffness, Algebra, Algorithms, Degrees of freedom, Dynamic testing (Materials), Stress, Torque
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Copyright © 2011
 by ASME
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