Kinematics Analysis of Two Parallel Locomotion Mechanisms

This dissertation presents the kinematics study on two cases of parallel locomotion mechanisms. A parallel locomotion mechanism can be defined as "a mechanism with parallel configuration and discrete contact with respect to the ground which renders a platform the ability to move". The first case is a tripedal robot and the second case is an actuated spoke wheel robot. The kinematics study on these two mobile robots mainly includes mobility, inverse and forward kinematics, instantaneous kinematics, singularity and so on. The tripedal robot STriDER (Self-excited Tripedal Dynamic Experimental Robot) is expected to walk utilizing its built-in passive dynamics, but in its triple stance phase, the kinematic configuration of the robot behaves like an in-parallel manipulator. The locomotion of this novel walking robot and its unique tripedal gait are discussed, followed by the definitions of its coordinate frames. Geometric methods are adopted for the forward and inverse displacement analysis in its triple stance phase. Simulations are presented to validate both the inverse and the forward displacement solutions. The instantaneous kinematics and singularity analysis are developed respectively. Based on the screw theory, the Jacobian matrices are assembled. Using Grassmann Line Geometry, each row of the Jacobian matrices is interpreted as a line in 3D space and the analytical conditions of the linear dependency cases are identified, which corresponds to the forward singular configurations of the robot. The actuated spoke wheel robot IMPASS (Intelligent Mobility Platform with Active Spoke System) is investigated as the second case. It is revealed that this robot has multiple modes of locomotion on the ground and it is able to change its topology by changing the contact scheme of its spokes with the ground. This robot is treated as a mechanism with variable topologies and Modified Grübler-Kutzbach criterion and Grassmann Line Geometry are adopted to identify the degrees of freedom (DOF) for each case of its topological structures. The characteristic DOF are then verified through the testing on the robot prototype. The forward and inverse kinematics is investigated for two cases of its topologies. In order to improve the computation efficiency of the inverse kinematics formulation, virtual serial manipulator models are constructed. The effectiveness of the virtual serial manipulator models has been validated with numerical simulations. In conclusion, kinematics analyses have been successfully performed on the two parallel locomotion mechanisms. The results are utilized to control the robots' motions in specific configurations. The foundation has been laid for the future development of the robot prototypes and the future research on dynamics, control, intelligence and so on.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Mechanical Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Ren, Ping

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Hong, Dennis W.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Ahmadian, Mehdi
• Sandu, Corina
• Sturges, Robert H.
• West, Robert L. Jr.

• Screw Theory
• Mechanisms with Variable Topologies
• Parallel Mechanisms
• Mobile Robotics
• Kinematics

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-09082010-153139

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/28909