To determine a suitable kinematic structure for a specific application is a complex task. Some available methods may provide a list of possible architectures for a robot wrist. However, a systematic method for selecting one among others is still an open problem. The paper presents a qualitative procedure for topological synthesis based on criteria that consider wrist design requirements and parallel mechanism peculiarities. The performance of chosen topology is evaluated according to desired requirements.

1.
Rosheim
,
M. E.
, 1989,
Robot Wrist Actuators
,
Wiley
, NY.
2.
Tsai
,
L.-W.
, 1999,
Robot Analysis: The Mechanics of Serial and Parallel Manipulators
,
Wiley
, New York.
3.
Merlet
,
J. P.
, 2000,
Parallel Robots
,
Kluwer Academic Publishers
, Dordrecht.
4.
Gosselin
,
C. M.
,
Perreault
,
L.
, and
Vaillancourt
,
C.
, 1995, “
Simulation and Computer-Aided Kinematic Design of Three-Degree-Of-Freedom Spherical Parallel Manipulators
,”
J. Rob. Syst.
0741-2223
12
(
12
), pp
857
869
.
5.
Tesar
,
D.
, and
Butler
,
M. S.
, 1989, “
A Generalized Modular Architecture for Robot Structures
,”
Manuf. Rev.
0896-1611
2
(
2
), pp.
91
117
.
6.
Di Gregorio
,
R.
, 2001, “
A New Parallel Wrist Using Only Revolute Pairs: The 3-RUU Wrist
,”
Robotica
0263-5747,
19
, pp.
305
309
.
7.
Karouia
,
M.
, and
Hervé
,
J. M.
, 2002, “
The Novel 3-RUU Wrist with No Idle Pair
,”
Proceedings of the WORKSHOP on Fundamental Issues and Future Research Directions for Parallel Mechanisms and Manipulators
, Quebec, Canada, October 3–4, pp.
284
286
.
8.
Karouia
,
M.
, and
Hervé
,
J. M.
, 2000, “
A Three-Dof Tripod for Generating Spherical Rotation
,”
Advances in Robot Kinematics
,
J.
Lenarcic
and
M. M.
Stanisic
eds,
Kluwer Academic
, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, pp.
395
402
.
9.
Karouia
,
M.
, and
Hervé
,
J. M.
, 2002, “
An Orientational 3-DOF Parallel Mechanism
,”
Proceedings of the 3rd Chemnitz Parallel Kinematics Seminar
,
R.
Neugebauer
, ed., Chemnitz, Germany, April 23–25,
Fraunhoffer IWU
,
Chemnitz
, Vol.
16
, pp.
139
150
.
10.
Wiitala
,
J. M.
, and
Stanisic
,
M. M.
, 2000, “
Design of an Overconstrained and Dextrous Spherical Wrist
,”
ASME J. Mech. Des.
1050-0472,
122
(
3
), pp
347
353
.
11.
Kurtz
,
R.
, and
Hayward
,
V.
, 1992, “
Multiple-Goal Kinematic Optimization of a Parallel Spherical Mechanism with Actuator Redundancy
,”
IEEE Trans. Rob. Autom.
1042-296X,
8
(
5
), pp.
644
651
.
12.
Leguay-Durand
,
S.
, and
Reboulet
,
C.
, 1997, “
Optimal Design of a Redundant Spherical Parallel Manipulator
,”
Robotica
0263-5747,
15
, pp.
399
405
.
13.
Wang
,
J.
, and
Gosselin
,
C. M.
, 2004, “
Kinematic Analysis and Design of Kinematically Redundant Parallel Mechanisms
,”
ASME J. Mech. Des.
1050-0472,
126
(
1
), pp.
109
118
.
14.
Olson
,
D. G.
,
Erdman
,
A. G.
, and
Riley
,
D. R.
, 1985, “
A Systematic Procedure for Type Synthesis of Mechanisms with Literature Review
,”
Mech. Mach. Theory
0094-114X,
20
(
4
), pp.
285
295
.
15.
Hervé
,
J. M.
, 1978, “
Analyse Structurelle des Mécanismes par Groupe des Déplacements
,”
Mech. Mach. Theory
0094-114X,
13
, pp.
437
450
.
16.
Karouia
,
M.
, and
Hervé
,
J. M.
, 2002, “
A Family of Novel Orientational 3-Dof Parallel Robots
,”
Proceedings of RomanSy’2002
, Udine, Italy, July 1–4,
Springer
, pp.
359
368
.
17.
Huynh
,
P.
, and
Hervé
,
J. M.
, 2005, “
Equivalent Kinematic Chains of Three-Degree-of-Freedom Tripod Mechanisms with Planar-Spherical Bonds
,”
ASME J. Mech. Des.
1050-0472,
127
(
1
), pp.
95
102
.
18.
Angeles
,
J.
, 2004, “
The Qualitative Synthesis of Parallel Manipulators
,”
ASME J. Mech. Des.
1050-0472,
126
(
4
), pp.
617
624
.
19.
Martínez
,
J. M. R.
, and
Ravani
,
B.
, 2003, “
On Mobility Analysis of Linkages Using Group Theory
,”
ASME J. Mech. Des.
1050-0472,
125
(
1
), pp.
70
80
.
20.
Hunt
,
K. H.
, 1983, “
Structural Kinematics of In-Parallel-Actuated Robot-Arms
,”
ASME J. Mech., Transm., Autom. Des.
0738-0666,
105
, pp.
705
712
.
21.
Fang
,
Y.
, and
Tsai
,
L.-W.
, 2002, “
Structure Synthesis of a Class of 4-DoF and 5-DoF Parallel Manipulators with Identical Limb Structures
,”
Int. J. Robot. Res.
0278-3649,
21
(
9
), pp.
799
810
.
22.
Kong
,
X.
, and
Gosselin
,
C. M.
, 2004, “
Type Synthesis of 3-DOF Spherical Parallel Manipulators Based on Screw Theory
,”
ASME J. Mech. Des.
1050-0472,
126
(
1
), pp.
101
108
.
23.
Kong
,
X.
, and
Gosselin
,
C. M.
, 2004, “
Type Synthesis of Three-Degree-of-Freedom Spherical Parallel Manipulators
,”
Int. J. Robot. Res.
0278-3649,
23
(
3
), pp.
237
245
.
24.
Merlet
,
J. P.
, 2002, “
Still a Long Way on the Road for Parallel Mechanisms
,”
A key note speech to be presented at ASME DETC 2002 Conference
, Montréal. http://www-sop.inria.fr/coprin/ equipe/merlet/ASME/asme2002.htmlhttp://www-sop.inria.fr/coprin/ equipe/merlet/ASME/asme2002.html
25.
Merlet
,
J. P.
, 2002, “
An Initiative for the Kinematics Study of Parallel Manipulators
,”
Proceedings of the WORKSHOP on Fundamental Issues and Future Research Directions for Parallel Mechanisms and Manipulators
, Quebec, Canada, October 3-4, pp.
2
9
.
26.
Ananthasuresh
,
G. K.
, and
Kota
,
S.
, 1993, “
Type Synthesis and Creative Design: Historical review
,”
Modern Kinematics: Developments in the Last Forty Years
,
A. G.
Erdman
, ed.,
Wiley
, NY, pp.
30
36
.
27.
Gosselin
,
C. M.
;
Kong
,
X.
,
Foucault
,
S.
, and
Bonev
,
I. A.
, 2004, “
A Fully-Decoupled 3-DOF Translational Parallel Mechanism
,”
Proceedings of the 4th Chemnitz Parallel Kinematics Seminar
,
R.
Neugebauer
, ed., Chemnitz, Germany, April 20-21,
Fraunhoffer IWU
,
Chemnitz
, vol.
24
, pp.
595
610
.
28.
Shoham
,
M.
, and
Roth
,
B.
, 1997, “
Connectivity in Open and Closed Loop Robotic Mechanisms
,”
Mech. Mach. Theory
0094-114X,
32
(
3
), pp.
279
293
.
29.
Brogårdh
,
T.
, 2002, “
PKM Research - Important Issues, as seen from a Product Development Perspective at ABB Robotics
,”
Proceedings of the WORKSHOP on Fundamental Issues and Future Research Directions for Parallel Mechanisms and Manipulators
, Quebec, Canada, October 3-4, pp. 68–82.
30.
Zhang
,
D.
, and
Gosselin
,
C. M.
, 2001, “
Kinetostatic Modeling of n-DOF Parallel Mechanisms with a Passive Constraining Leg and Prismatic Actuators
,”
ASME J. Mech. Des.
1050-0472,
123
, pp.
375
381
.
31.
Bonev
,
I.
, 2001, “
ParalleMIC - The Parallel Mechanisms Information Center
,” http:// www.parallemic.org/ Terminology/ General.htmlhttp:// www.parallemic.org/ Terminology/ General.html
32.
Di Gregorio
,
R.
, 2004, “
The 3-RRS Wrist: A New, Simple and Non-Overconstrained Spherical Parallel Manipulator
,”
ASME J. Mech. Des.
1050-0472,
126
(
5
), pp.
850
855
.
33.
Takeda
,
Y.
,
Funabashi
,
H.
, and
Sasaki
,
Y.
, 1996, “
Development of a Spherical In-Parallel Actuated Mechanism with Three Degrees of Freedom with Large Working Space and High Motion Transmissibility
,”
JSME Int. J., Ser. C
1340-8062,
39
(
3
), pp.
541
548
.
34.
Jin
,
Q.
, and
Yang
,
T-L.
, 2004, “
Theory for Topology Synthesis of Parallel Manipulators and its Application to Three-Dimension-Translation Parallel Manipulators
,”
ASME J. Mech. Des.
1050-0472,
126
(
4
), pp.
625
639
.
36.
Valasek
,
M.
,
Sika
,
Z.
,
Bauma
,
V.
, and
Vampola
,
T.
, 2004, “
The Innovative Potential of Redundantly Actuated PKM
,”
Proceedings of the 4th Chemnitz Parallel Kinematics Seminar
,
R.
Neugebauer
, Chemnitz, Germany, April 20–21,
Fraunhoffer IWU
,
Chemnitz
, Vol.
24
, pp.
365
383
.
37.
Kim
,
J.
,
Park
,
F. C.
, and
Lee
,
J. M.
, 1999, “
A New Parallel Mechanism Machine Tool Capable of Five-Face Machining
,”
CIRP Ann.
.
38.
Hess-Coelho
,
T. A.
, 2002,
Topology, Analysis and Synthesis of Three-Dimensional Parallel Mechanisms
, Final Report No. 0471/01-1, CAPES (in Portuguese).
39.
Schnyder
,
M.
, et al.
, 2004, “
Spherical Joints with 3 and 4 Degrees of Freedom for 5-Axis Parallel Kinematic Machine Tool
,”
Proceedings of the 4th Chemnitz Parallel Kinematics Seminar
,
R.
Neugebauer
(ed.), Chemnitz, Germany, April 20-21,
Fraunhoffer IWU
,
Chemnitz
, Vol.
24
, pp.
487
502
.
You do not currently have access to this content.