The kinematics of modular spatial hyper-redundant manipulators formed from RPS-type limbs

This study addresses the kinematics, including position, velocity and acceleration analyses, of a modular spatial hyper-redundant manipulator built with a variable number of serially connected identical mechanical modules with autonomous motions. First, the kinematics of the base module, a three-legged in-parallel manipulator, is formulated using the theory of screws. After that, the results thus obtained, are applied recursively for accomplishing the kinematic analyses of the hyper-redundant manipulator at hand. A numerical exampled is included.

Research highlights► The kinematics of a hyper-redundant manipulator is achieved by means of the screw theory. ► The base module of the robot is a three-legged parallel manipulator. ► The robot under study has a compact topology due to the introduction of compound joints. ► A case study is verified with the aid of a commercially available software.