This paper deals with the conceptual design and optimal dimensional synthesis of a novel 2-DOF translational parallel robot for pick-and-place operations. In a conceptual design phase, the conditions for generating such kinds of parallel robots are investigated, leading to the invention of a 2-D version of the Delta robot. Combining this robot with a 1-DOF feed mechanism, a hybrid robot can be created which is particularly suitable for transporting objects at very high speed in a plane plus a relatively slow or step-by-step, yet long distance motion, normal to the plane. The kinematic optimality of the 2-DOF translational parallel robot is achieved by minimizing a global and comprehensive conditioning index subject to a set of appropriate constraints. The application of this robot to the development of a device for quality inspection of rechargeable batteries is used to demonstrate its applicability.

1.
Bonev, I., 2001, “Delta Parallel Robot—The Story of Success,” on line available: http://www.parallelmic.org
2.
Cervantez-Sanchez
,
J. J.
, and
Rendon-Sanchez
,
J. G.
,
1999
, “
A Simplified Approach for Obtaining the Workspace of a Class of 2-DOF Planar Parallel Robot
,”
Mech. Mach. Theory
,
34
(
7
), pp.
1057
1073
.
3.
Clavel, R., 1990, “Device for the Movement and Positioning of an Element in Space,” U.S. Patent 4976582, Dec. 11.
4.
Rey, L., and Clavel, R., 1999, “The Delta Parallel Robot,” Parallel Kinematic Machine, Boer, C. R., Molinari-Tosatti, L., Smith, K. S., eds., Springer, New York.
5.
Clavel, R., 1988, “Delta, A Fast Robot With Parallel Geometry,” The 18th Int. Symposium on Industrial Robots (ISIR), pp. 91–100, Sydney, Australia.
6.
Codourey, A., 1996, “Dynamic Modeling and Mass Matrix Evaluation of the Delta Parallel Robot for Axes Decoupling Control,” Proc. of IEEE/RSJ Int. Conf. on Intelligent Robots and Systems, pp. 1211–1218.
7.
Maurine, P., and Dombre, E., 1996, “A Calibration Procedure for the Parallel Robot Delta 4,” Proc. of IEEE Int. Conf. on Robotics and Automation (ICRA’96), pp. 975–980, Minneapolis, MN.
8.
Miller, K., 1992, “The Proposal of a New Model of Direct Drive Robot Delta-4 Dynamics,” Proc. of Int. Conf. on Advanced Robotics, pp. 411–416, Tokyo, Japan.
9.
Miller, K., 1995, “Experimental Verification of Modeling of Delta Robot Dynamics by Direct Application of Hamilton’s Principle,” Proc. of IEEE Int. Conf. on Robotics and Automation (ICRA’95), pp. 532–537, Nagoya, Japan.
10.
Miller, K., 1995, “On Accuracy and Computational Efficiency of Delta Direct Drive Robot Dynamics Mode,” Proc. of Int. Sym. on Microsystems, Intelligent Materials and Robots, pp. 568–571, Sendai, Japan, 1995
11.
Miller, K., 1995, “Model-Based Control of Delta Direct Drive Parallel Robot; Trajectory Tracking Experiments,” Proc. of the 26th International Symposium of Industrial Robots, pp. 491–496, Singapore.
12.
Miller
,
K.
,
1995
, “
Modeling of Dynamics and Model-Based Control of Delta Direct-Drive Parallel Robot
,”
J. of Robotics and Mechatronics
,
17
(
4
), pp.
344
352
.
13.
Miller
,
K.
, and
Clavel
,
R.
,
1992
, “
The Lagrange-Based Model of Delta-4 Robot Dynamics
,”
Robot System
,
8
(
4
), pp.
49
54
.
14.
Stamper, R. C., Tsai, L. W., and Walsh, G. C., 1997, “Optimization of a 3-DOF Translational Platform for Well-Conditioned Workspace,” Proc. of IEEE Int. Conf. on Robotics and Automation (ICRA’97), pp. 3250–3255, Albuquerque.
15.
Tsai, L. W., Walsh, G. C., and Stamper, R. C., 1996, “Kinematics of a Novel 3-DOF Translational Platform,” Proc. of IEEE Int. Conf. on Robotics and Automation (ICRA’96), pp. 3446–3451, Minneapolis, MN.
16.
Tsai, L. W., 1999, “The Enumeration of a Class of 3-DOF Parallel Manipulators,” Proc. of The 10th World Congress on the Theory of Machine and Mechanisms, pp. 1121–1126, Oulu, Finland.
17.
Tsai
,
L. W.
, and
Joshi
,
S.
,
2002
, “
Kinematics and Optimization of a 3UPU Parallel Manipulator
,”
ASME J. Mech. Des.
,
122
, No.
4
, pp.
439
446
.
18.
Huang, T., Li, M., and Li, Z. X., 2001, “A 2-DOF Translational Parallel Robot With Revolute Joints,” CN patent 1355087, Dec. 31.
19.
Gosselin
,
C. M.
, and
Angeles
,
J.
,
1989
, “
The Optimum Kinematic Design of a Spherical 3-DOF Parallel Manipulator
,”
ASME J. Mech. Des.
,
112
(
2
), pp.
202
207
.
20.
Gosselin
,
C. M.
, and
Angeles
,
J.
,
1991
, “
A Globe Performance Index for the Kinematic Optimization of Robotic Manipulators
,”
ASME J. Mech. Des.
,
113
(
3
), pp.
220
226
.
21.
Gosselin
,
C. M.
,
1993
, “
The Optimum Design of Robotic Manipulators Using Dexterity Indices
,”
Rob. Auton. Syst.
,
9
(
4
), pp.
213
226
.
22.
Huang
,
T.
,
Whitehouse
,
D. J.
, and
Wang
,
J. S.
,
1998
, “
Local Dexterity, Optimum Architecture and Design Criteria of Parallel Machine Tools
,”
CIRP Ann.
,
47
(
1
), pp.
347
351
.
23.
Huang
,
T.
,
Wang
,
J. S.
,
Gosselin
,
C. M.
, and
Whitehouse
,
D. J.
,
2000
, “
Kinematic Synthesis of Hexapods With Prescribed Orientation Capability and Well-Conditioned Dexterity
,”
SME J. of Manufacturing Processes
,
2
(
1
), pp.
36
47
.
24.
Salisbury
,
J. K.
, and
Craig
,
J. J.
,
1983
, “
Artificial Hands: Force Control and Kinematic Issues
,”
Int. J. Robot. Res.
,
1
(
1
), pp.
4
17
.
25.
Zanganeh
,
K.
, and
Angeles
,
J.
,
1997
, “
Kinematic Isotropy and the Optimum Design of Parallel Manipulators
,”
Int. J. Robot. Res.
,
6
(
2
), pp.
185
197
.
26.
Gosselin
,
C. M.
, and
Wang
,
J.
,
1997
, “
Singularity Loci of Planar Parallel Manipulators With Revolute Actuators
,”
Rob. Auton. Syst.
,
21
(
4
), pp.
377
398
.
27.
Singh
,
J. R.
, and
Rastegar
,
J.
,
1995
, “
Optimal Synthesis of Robot Manipulators Based on Global Kinematic Parameters
,”
Mech. Mach. Theory
,
30
(
4
), pp.
569
580
.
You do not currently have access to this content.