Compliant four-bar mechanisms treated in previous works consisted of at least one rigid moving link, and such mechanisms synthesized for motion generation tasks have always comprised a rigid coupler link, bearing with the conventional definition of motion generation for rigid-link mechanisms. This paper introduces a new task called compliantsegment motion generation where the coupler is a flexi...

This article presents the structure and theoretical foundations of the Learning Object Review Instrument (LORI), an evaluation aid available through the E-Learning Research and Assessment Network at http://www.elera.net. A primary goal of LORI is to balance assessment validity with efficiency of the evaluation process. The instrument enables learning object users to create reviews consisting of...

This paper focuses on the complex design process of planar compliant mechanisms with flexure hinges. In the following a systematic methodology of the transition from lever mechanisms generated intuitively by the developer or non-intuitively by topology optimization to applicable compliant mechanism is presented. An extended pseudo-rigid-body model (PRBM) is used for the analysis and the modific...

This paper presents a sampling of research in design of engineering systems in the Department of Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Recent activity in design principles for actively controlled and autonomous systems, normative decision based design theory and methodology, and bio-inspired compliant mechanisms and soft robotics is pre...

Topology and size optimization methods are used to design compliant mechanisms that produce a constant output force for a given actuator characteristic of linearly decreasing force versus displacement. The design procedure consists of two stages: (i) topology optimization using two-dimensional (2-D) continuum parametrization, and (ii) size optimization of the beam-element abstraction derived fr...

The present work aims to evolve the multiple topologies of path generating compliant mechanisms. The trade-off solution’s based topologies are developed by simultaneously minimization of weight and supplied input energy to elastic structures. The functional aspect of these compliant mechanisms is accomplished by imposing the constraints on precision points to generate the user-defined path. The...

The conceptual design of compliant mechanisms is generally performed using one of two methods: topology optimization or the Pseudo-Rigid-Body Model. In this paper, we present a conceptual design methodology which utilizes a building block approach. The concept of the instant center is developed for compliant mechanisms and is used to characterize the building blocks. The building block characte...