Singularity analysis of 3-DOF planar parallel continuum robots with constant curvature links

Abstract

This paper presents the singularity analysis of 3-DOF planar parallel continuum robots (PCR) with three identical legs. Each of the legs contains two passive conventional rigid 1-DOF joints and one actuated planar continuum link, which bends with a constant curvature. All possible PCR architectures featuring such legs are enumerated and the kinematic velocity equations are provided for each of them. Afterwards, a singularity analysis is conducted based on the obtained Jacobian matrices, providing a geometrical understanding of singularity occurences. It is shown that while loci and occurrences of type II singularities are mostly analogous to conventional parallel kinematic mechanisms (PKM), type I singularity occurences for the PCR studied in this work are quite different from conventional PKM and less geometrically intuitive. The study provided in this paper can promote further investigations on planar parallel continuum robots, such as structural design and control.