https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00909587/document

CAD-based approach for identification of elasto-static parameters of robotic manipulators

In this paper, a coupling methodology is involved and improved to correct the tool path deviations induced by the compliance of industrial robots during an incremental sheet forming task. For that purpose, a robust and systematic method is first proposed to derive the elastic model of their structure and an efficient FE simulation of the process is then used to predict accurately the forming forces. Their values are then defined as the inputs of the proposed elastic model to calculate the robot TCP pose errors induced by the elastic deformations. This avoids thus a first step of measurement of the forces required to form a test part with a stiff machine. An intensive experimental investigation is performed by forming a classical frustum cone and a non-symmetrical twisted pyramid. It validates the robustness of both the FE analysis and the proposed elastic modeling allowing the final geometry of the formed parts to converge towards their nominal specifications in a context of prototyping applications.

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Off-line compensation of the tool path deviations on robotic machining: Application to incremental sheet forming

Parallel kinematic mechanisms (PKM) have received particular attention due to their higher stiffness, increased payload capacity, and agility, when compared to their serial counterparts. Despite these significant advantages, however, most PKM designs, typically, yield limited workspace, problematic singularities, and configuration-dependent stiffness. In response, mechanism redundancy has emerged as an effective tool to address these and other problems. In this paper, we present an in-depth discussion of past research on PKM redundancy. The methodical review of the pertinent literature, first, introduces the concept of redundancy based on the number of actuators and the number of degrees of freedom required to perform a task and, then, discusses the two main types of redundancy according to the mobility of the mechanism, i.e., kinematic and actuation redundancy. Subsequently, research on the design aspects of redundant PKMs, including the various criteria used for design optimization is detailed. Primary advantages of PKM redundancy include workspace enlargement, singularity elimination/ avoidance, and improved joint-torque distribution. In this paper, these advantages are discussed in contrast to the main challenges redundant mechanisms present, such as in motion planning and control, and calibration. Other issues of PKM redundancy, briefly, presented herein for completeness are fault-tolerance, reconfigurability, cable-driven and hyper-redundant PKMs.

A Review of Redundant Parallel Kinematic Mechanisms

The paper presents an approach for the identification of elasto-static parameters of a robotic manipulator using the virtual experiments in a CAD environment. It is based on the numerical processing of the data extracted from the finite element analysis results, which are obtained for isolated manipulator links. This approach allows to obtain the desired stiffness matrices taking into account the complex shape of the links, couplings between rotational/translational deflections and particularities of the joints connecting adjacent links. These matrices are integral parts of the manipulator lumped stiffness model that are widely used in robotics due to its high computational efficiency. To improve the identification accuracy, recommendations for optimal settings of the virtual experiments are given, as well as relevant statistical processing techniques are proposed. Efficiency of the developed approach is confirmed by a simulation study that shows that the accuracy in evaluating the stiffness matrix elements is about 0.1%.

Redundancy in Parallel Mechanisms: A Review

https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00755943/document

Gaël Ecorchard

Papers

Elasto-geometrical modeling and calibration of redundantly actuated PKMs