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Chapter 3
Robot Mechanisms
A robot is a machine capable of physical motion for interacting with the environment.
Physical interactions include manipulation, locomotion, and any other tasks changing the state of the
environment or the state of the robot relative to the environment. A robot has some form of
mechanisms for performing a class of tasks. A rich variety of robot mechanisms has been developed
in the last few decades. In this chapter, we will first overview various types of mechanisms used for
generating robotic motion, and introduce some taxonomy of mechanical structures before going into a
more detailed analysis in the subsequent chapters.

3.1 Joint Primitives and Serial Linkages

A robot mechanism is a multi-body system with the multiple bodies connected together. We
begin by treating each body as rigid, ignoring elasticity and any deformations caused by large load
conditions. Each rigid body involved in a robot mechanism is called a link, and a combination of links
is referred to as a linkage. In describing a linkage it is fundamental to represent how a pair of links is
connected to each other. There are two types of primitive connections between a pair of links, as
shown in Figure 3.1.1. The first is a prismatic joint where the pair of links makes a translational
displacement along a fixed axis. In other words, one link slides on the other along a straight line.
Therefore, it is also called a sliding joint. The second type of primitive joint is a revolute joint where a
pair of links rotates about a fixed axis. This type of joint is often referred to as a hinge, articulated, or
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rotational joint.

(a) Prismatic joint (b) Revolute joint

Figure 3.1.1 Primitive joint types: (a) a prismatic joint and (b) a revolute joint

Combining these two types of primitive joints, we can create many useful mechanisms for
robot manipulation and locomotion. These two types of primitive joints are simple to build and are
well grounded in engineering design. Most of the robots that have been built are combinations of only
these two types. Let us look at some examples.

Robot mechanisms analogous to coordinate systems

One of the fundamental functional requirements for a robotic system is to locate its end-effecter,
e.g. a hand, a leg, or any other part of the body performing a task, in three-dimensional space. If the
kinematic structure of such a robot mechanism is analogous to a coordinate system,

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It is interesting to note that all biological creatures are made of revolute type joints; there are no
sliding joints involved in their extremities.
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it may suffice this positioning requirement. Figures 3.1.2 ~ 4 show three types of robot arm
structures corresponding to the Cartesian coordinate system, the cylindrical coordinate system,
and the spherical coordinate system, respectively. The Cartesian coordinate robot shown in Figure
3.1.2 has three prismatic joints, corresponding to three axes denoted x, y , and z. The cylindrical
robot consists of one revolute joint and two prismatic joints, with r, and z representing the co-
ordinates of the end-effecter. Likewise, the spherical robot has two revolute joints denoted and
and one prismatic joint denoted r.

Figure 3.1.2 Cartesian coordinate robot

Figure 3.1.3 Cylindrical coordinate robot

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Figure 3.1.4 Spherical coordinate robot.

There are many other ways of locating an end-effecter in three-dimensional space. Figure 3.1.5 ~ 6 show two
other kinematic structures that allow the robot to locate its end-effecter in three-dimensional space. Although
these mechanisms have no analogy with common coordinate systems, they are capable of locating the end-
effecter in space, and have salient features desirable for specific tasks. The first one is a so-called SCALAR
robot consisting of two revolute joints and one prismatic joint.
This robot structure is particularly desirable for assembly automation in manufacturing systems, having a
wide workspace in the horizontal direction and an independent vertical axis appropriate for insertion of parts.

z2 z1 z0

θ 1

d3 2 1

3
0

Figure 3.1.5 SCALAR type robot.

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The second type, called an articulated robot or an elbow robot, consists of all three revolute
joints, like a human arm. This type of robot has a great degree of flexibility and versatility, being the
most standard structure of robot manipulators. The third kinematic structure, also consisting of three
revolute joints, has a unique mass balancing structure. The counter balance at the elbow eliminates
gravity load for all three joints, thus reducing toque requirements for the actuators. This structure has
been used for the direct-drive robots having no gear reducer.

Figure 3.1.6 Articulated robot

Note that all the above robot structures are made of serial connections of primitive joints.
This class of kinematic structures, termed a serial linkage, constitutes the fundamental makeup of
robot mechanisms. They have no kinematic constraint in each joint motion, i.e. each joint
displacement is a generalized coordinate. This facilitates the analysis and control of the robot
mechanism. There are, however, different classes of mechanisms used for robot structures. Although
more complex, they do provide some useful properties. We will look at these other mechanisms in
the subsequent sections.
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3.2 Parallel Linkages

Primitive joints can be arranged in parallel as well as in series. Figure 3.2.1 illustrates such a
parallel link mechanism. It is a five-bar-linkage consisting of five links, including the base link,
connected by five joints. This can be viewed as two serial linkage arms connected at a particular
point, point A in the figure. It is important to note that there is a closed kinematic chain formed by the
five links and, thereby, the two serial link arms must conform to a certain geometric constraint. It is
clear from the figure that the end-effecter position is determined if two of the five joint angles are
given. For example, if angles 1? and 3? of joints 1 and 3 are determined, then all the link positions are
determined, as is the end-effecter’s. Driving joints 1 and 3 with two actuators, we can move the end-
effecter within the vertical plane. It should be noted that, if more than two joints were actively driven
by independent actuators, a conflict among three actuators would occur due to the closed-loop
kinematic chain. Three of the five joints should be passive joints, which are free to rotate. Only two
joints should be active joints, driven by independent actuators.

Point A Link 2
Joint 5 End Effecter

Joint 2 Passive
joints
Link 4
Closed
Loop
Link 1 Joint 4
θ1 Link 3
θ3

Joint 1 Joint 3 Link 0

Active Joints

Figure 3.2.1 Five-bar-link parallel link robot

This type of parallel linkage, having a closed-loop kinematic chain, has significant features. First,
placing both actuators at the base link makes the robot arm lighter, compared to the serial link arm with
the second motor fixed to the tip of link 1. Second, a larger end-effecter load can be born with the two
serial linkage arms sharing the load.

Figure 3.2.2 shows the Stewart mechanism, which consists of a moving platform, a fixed base, and six
powered cylinders connecting the moving platform to the base frame. The position and orientation of
the moving platform are determined by the six independent actuators. The load acting on the moving
platform is born by the six "arms". Therefore, the load capacity is generally large, and dynamic
response is fast for this type of robot mechanisms. Note, however, that this mechanism has spherical
joints, a different type of joints than the primitive joints we considered initially.
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Figure 3.2.2 Stewart mechanism parallel-link robot