Design and construction of a double-octahedral variable geometry truss manipulator

This thesis deals with the design and construction of a variable geometry truss (VGT) of the double-octahedral (pyramid-pyramid) geometry. The truss is expected to be the focus of several experimental research projects. In this thesis, a kinematic model is formulated, and the forward and inverse kinematic problems are solved. Issues of motor and instrumentation choices are addressed. Dimensional choices and the important problems of joint design are examined. A computer simulation is performed for force and vibration analysis. A fully collapsible double-octahedral variable geometry truss with three degrees of freedom was built using NC machining technologies. An improved second generation twenty-one degree-of-freedom truss will be built based on this original test article.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Mechanical Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1989

Author dc:creator

• Tidwell, Paul H.

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

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

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/74544

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/74544