Two practical methods for the forward kinematics of 3-3 type spatial and 3-RRR planar parallel manipulators

Abstract

The forward kinematics in parallel manipulators is a mathematically challenging issue, unlike serial manipulators. Kinematic constraint equations are non-linear transcendental equations that can be reduced to algebraic equations with appropriate transformations. For this reason, sophisticated and time-consuming methods such as the Bezout method, the Groebner bases method, and the like, are used. In this paper, we demonstrate that these equations can be solved by non-complicated mathematical methods for some special types of manipulators such as the 3-3 and 6-3 types of Stewart platforms, and the 3-RRR planar parallel manipulator. Our first method is an analytical approach that exploits the special structure of kinematic constraint equations and yields polynomials of 32nd and 16th order, as mentioned in the previous works. In the second method, an error function is defined. This error function is employed to find the most appropriate initial values for the non-linear equation solver which is used for solving kinematic constraint equations. Determining the initial values in this manner saves computation time and guarantees fast convergence to real solutions.