This paper presents an original use of Evolutionary Algorithms in order to approximate by a closed form the inverse kinematic model (IKM) of analytical, nonanalytical and general (i.e. with an arbitrary geometry) manipulators. The objective is to provide a fast and general solution to the inverse kinematic problem when it is extensively evaluated as in design processes of manipulators. A mathem...

This paper examines the problem of realizing a 6-DOF motion platform by proposing a closed loop kinematic architecture that benefits from an anthropological serial manipulator design. In contrast to standard motion platforms based on linear actuators, a mechanism with actuator design inspired from anthropological kinematic structure offers a relatively larger motion envelope and higher dexterit...

In this paper, we design a nonlinear controller for the kinematic model of an underactuated rigid spacecraft that ensures uniform, ultimately bounded (UUB) tracking provided the initial errors are selected sufficiently small. The result is achieved via a judicious formulation of the spacecraft kinematics and the novel design of a Lyapunov-based controller. We also discuss how standard backstepp...

Parallel mechanisms frequently contain an unstable type of singularity that has no counterpart in serial mechanisms. When the mechanism is at or near this type of singularity, it loses the ability to counteract external forces in certain directions. This paper considers the application of additional kinematic constraint through passive joint braking in the close neighborhood of unstable poses. ...

The kinematic bases by which humans imagine an object turn from one orientation to another are unknown. The studies reported here show that individuals of high spatial ability are, in most cases, unable to imagine a Shepard-Metzler object rotate about an axis and angle so as to accurately envision its appearance. Nor can they conceive of the axis and angle by which it would rotate in a shortest...