A mathematical model is proposed for a revolute joint mechanism with an n-degree of freedom (DOF). The matrix approach is used for finding the relation between two consecutive links to determine desired link parameters such as position, velocity and acceleration using the forward kinematic approach. The matrix approach was confirmed for a proposed 10 DOF revolute type (R-type) human upper limb model with servo motors at each joint. Two DOFs are considered each at shoulder, elbow and wrist joint, followed by four DOF for the fingers. Two DOFs were considered for metacarpophalangeal (mcp) and one DOF each for proximal interphalangeal (pip) and distal interphalangeal (dip) joints. MATLAB script function was used to evaluate the mathematical model for determining kinematic parameters for all the proposed human upper limb model joints. The simplified method for kinematic analysis proposed in this paper will further simplify the dynamic modeling of any mechanism for determining joint torques and hence, easy to design control system for joint movements.

This paper proposed a novel three degree of freedom (DOF) parallel manipulator—two translations and one rotation. The mobility study and inverse kinematic analysis are conducted, and a CAD model is presented showing the design features. The optimization techniques based on artificial intelligence approaches are investigated to improve the system stiffness of the proposed 3-DOF parallel manipulator. Genetic algorithms and artificial neural networks are implemented as the intelligent optimization methods for the stiffness synthesis. The mean value and the standard deviation of the global stiffness distribution are proposed as the design indices. Both the single objective and multi-objective optimization issues are addressed. The effectiveness of this methodology is validated with Matlab.

This paper proposes a new family of spatial 3-DOF (degree of freedom) parallel manipulators with two translational and one rotational DOFs. The manipulators in this family are the variations of the parallel manipulators, which are capable of very high rotational capability, introduced by X.-J. Liu, J. Wang, and G. Pritschow (“A new family of spatial 3-DoF fully parallel manipulators with high rotational capability,” Mech. Mach. Theory40(4), 475–494, 2005). However, compared with those old manipulators, the new parallel manipulators proposed here have the advantages of simpler kinematics and structure, easier manufacturing, and energy saving.