Configuration Analysis and Design of a Multidimensional Tele-operator Based on a 3-P(4S) Parallel Mechanism

Based on configuration analysis, different types of 3-P(4S) parallel mechanisms are designed and introduced in this paper. Application issues of parallel mechanisms are discussed and a double 3-P(4S) mechanism-based tele-operator is illustrated. Inverse and forward kinematics of the single 3-P(4S) parallel mechanism are derived and solved via MATLAB software; based on it, the workspace of the 3-P(4S) parallel mechanism is investigated. The relationship between the distribution angle of kinematic chain and volume of the workspace is derived, and the shapes of the workspace of single and double 3-P(4S) parallel mechanisms are plotted. A prototype is developed and an interactive simulation system is established based on SolidWorks and LabVIEW software. Testing results indicate that the proposed tele-operator can well perform tele-operation tasks. This research work lays a good basis for performances evaluation and parameter optimization of 3-P(4S) mechanisms. Besides, it provides new ideas for the applications of parallel mechanisms.