A new computation method for the force-closure workspace of cable-driven parallel manipulators

For cable-driven parallel manipulators (CDPMs), it is known that maintaining positive cable tension is critical in constraining the moving platform. Hence, the force-closure workspace of CDPMs represents a set of poses where the cable tensions can balance arbitrary external wrench applied on the moving platform, proposed by researchers. A new computation method for the force-closure workspace of CDPMs is developed in this paper, and the new method is realized by calculating the null space of the structure matrix and solving the linear matrix inequalities. The detailed calculation procedures of the force-closure workspace for the incompletely restrained, completely restrained, and redundantly restrained CDPMs are given, respectively, and the advantages of the new method are analyzed according to the time complexity. The simulation experiments of the force-closure workspace computation are implemented on a six-degree of freedom (6-DOF) CDPM with eight cables, and then the superiority of the new method over the existing algorithm is studied.