A contribution for developing more efficient dynamic modelling algorithms of parallel robots

Abstract

Parallel kinematic structures are considered very adequate architectures for positioning and orienting the tools of robotic mechanisms. However, developing dynamic models for this kind of systems is sometimes a difficult task. In fact, the direct application of traditional methods of robotics, for modelling and analysing such systems, usually does not lead to efficient and systematic algorithms. This work addresses this issue: to present a modular approach to generate the dynamic model and through some convenient modifications, how we can make these methods more applicable to parallel structures as well. Kane’s formulation to obtain the dynamic equations is shown to be one of the easiest ways to deal with redundant coordinates and kinematic constraints, so that a suitable choice of a set of coordinates allows the remaining of the modelling procedure to be computer aided. The advantages of this approach are discussed in the modelling of a 3-dof parallel asymmetric mechanism.