In this paper we develop a complete classification scheme for planar, spherical and spatial four-bar linkages. The goal of this classification is to note all of the subtleties of motion that an arbitrary set of four link lengths can define. A classification should exist only between the mechanisms that exhibit similar ranges of motion at both the input and output. In the planar case, three para...

The paper introduces the Switching Four-bar Mechanism (sfm), a new low-dimensional kinematic abstraction forminiature legged robots, aimed at quasi-static motion planning in the horizontal plane. The model comprises a rigid torso and four rigid legs which engage in an alternating tetrapod gait. As the gait is executed, the torso and the legs form two switching four-bar linkages, parameterized b...

A distributed variant of multi-objective particle swarm optimization called multi-objective parallel asynchronous particle swarm optimization (MOPAPSO) was used to develop a new optimization-based synthesis routine for Grashof mechanisms. By using a formal multi-objective handling scheme based on Pareto dominance criteria, the need to pre-weight competing objective functions is removed and the ...

A 2 DOF resonant thorax structure has been designed and fabricated for the MFI project. Miniature piezoelectric PZN-PT unimorph actuators were fabricated and used to drive a four-bar transmission mechanism. The current thorax design utilizes two actuated four-bars and a spherical joint to drive a rigid wing. Rotationally compliant flexure joints have been tested with lifetimes over 10 cycles. W...