Robot Arm Mechanism Eliminating Singular Postures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional robot arm mechanisms experience uncontrollable singular point postures due to lost degrees of freedom, leading to rapid joint movement and uncontrollable conditions, which are typically addressed by avoiding these points or sacrificing hand movement speed.

Innovation Solution

The robot arm mechanism incorporates a linear motion joint that extends or contracts along a third axis perpendicular to the other joints, allowing for offset distances between axes to prevent alignment and thus eliminate singular point postures by structurally arranging joints such that the axis of the third joint is offset from the second joint, preventing the alignment of revolute joints in a straight line.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional rotational joints are used for all three root axes, then the robot arm can achieve full six-degree-of-freedom movement, but singular point postures occur causing uncontrollable joint movement and loss of degree of freedom

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement capabilityVSAvoidcontrol stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the type of joint at the third root axis from rotational to linear motion, fundamentally altering the kinematic parameters of the system. This parameter change eliminates the singularity condition that occurs when all bending joints are at zero degree, as the linear motion joint cannot achieve the same rotational alignment that causes singularities in conventional robotic arms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If the third joint is positioned close to the second joint to reduce complexity, then device complexity is reduced, but singular point postures cannot be eliminated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvejoint arrangement complexityVSAvoidsingularity avoidance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a linear motion dimension along the third axis, perpendicular to the plane formed by the first two rotational joints. This dimensional change allows the third joint to move in a direction that prevents alignment of all three root axes, thereby eliminating singular point postures while maintaining a compact joint arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3210729B1Robot arm mechanism
Publication Date: 2021.07.21 LIFE ROBOTICS CO LTD
  • EP3210729B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3210729B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3210729B1 patent drawingFigure 5A~6B

AI summary

The object of the present invention is to provide a robot arm mechanism capable of structurally eliminating or reducing singular point postures within a movable range. The robot arm mechanism has a plurality of joints J1-J6. Of the plural joints, a first joint J1 is a rotational joint that rotates on a first axis RA1, a second joint J2 is a rotational joint that rotates on a second axis RA2, and a third joint J3 is a linear motion joint that moves along a third axis RA3. The second axis RA2 is perpendicular to the first axis RA1 and is a first distance L1 away from the first axis RA1. The third axis RA3 is perpendicular to the second axis RA2 and is a second distance L2 away from the second axis RA2.