Automated Design of Mechanical System for Generating Alternate Mechanism Concepts

Abstract

An automated design approach for combined mechanical system is presented in this paper. The mechanical system can be generated by combining mechanical units, in particularly, generate alternate mechanism concepts. Beginning with kinematic functions as the input and output of mechanism unit, which are presented as the input and output vectors. And then, equations are defined according to the input and output functional characteristic vectors. Meanwhile, the functional transition can also be established by motion relationship between the inputs and the outputs of combined system. And then, the combination models (series and parallel combined patterns) are provided from the different combination patterns. Additionally, the properties of the different combination are intensively researched and the decomposition rules. By manipulating the matrices and the vectors, a given task can be decomposed into sub-functions. An example is given to show the application of the concept.