Two Natural Dexterity Indices for Parallel Manipulators: Angularity and Axiality

Abstract

This paper introduces two novel dexterity indices, namely, angularity and axiality, which are used to estimate the motion sensitivity of the mobile platform of a parallel manipulator undergoing a general motion involving translation and rotation. On the one hand, the angularity index can be used to measure the sensitivity of the mobile platform to change in rotation. On the other hand, the axiality index can be used to measure the sensitivity of the operation point (OP) of the mobile platform to change in translation. Since both indices were inspired by very fundamental concepts of classical kinematics (angular velocity vector and helicoidal velocity field), they offer a clear and simple physical insight, which is expected to be meaningful to the designer of parallel manipulators. Moreover, the proposed indices do not require obtaining a dimensionally homogeneous Jacobian matrix, nor do they depend on having similar types of actuators in each manipulator's leg. The details of the methodology are illustrated by considering a classical parallel manipulator.