Homothetic Jitterbug-like linkages

Conformal polyhedral linkages have drawn attention of scientists and engineers since the invention of Buckminster Fuller: a highly overconstrained spatial linkage, the Jitterbug. Many studies aimed to generalize Jitterbug-like linkages have been published, however a complete classification does not yet exist. This study introduces a definition for Jitterbug-like linkages and two major assumptions and then focuses on the properties of homothetic linkages.

► A family of spatial linkages with revolute joints only, called Jitterbug-like linkages. ► Conditions on special dimensions for these overconstrained mobile linkages. ► Construction method for homohedral, tetrahedral and tangential linkages.