Mechanism Simulation and Optimal Design of Five-Link Bionic Joint Driven by Two Antagonistic Pneumatic Muscles

Abstract EN

The five-link parallel mechanism is proposed to improve joint bionic performance, and the kinematics is established for the closed chain joint actuated by two antagonistic artificial pneumatic muscles (PMs).

Interference and singularity constraints are analyzed, and the joint torque model is given based on the spring-damp dynamics.

Through extracting the spring force term from torque equations, the compliance of bionic joint is derived and expressed as the ratio of angle to spring torque.

Energy consumption is analyzed using the PM length varying.

Based on MATLAB/SimMechanics, the relationships between the axil installation parameters and swing performances are illustrated through the simulations, including the effect of the installation height and width varying on the angle scope, swing response, compliance, and energy consumption.

The bionic shoulder and elbow joints are optimally designed.

Compared to the conventional joints, the swing angular range of the proposed joints is enhanced, and the contraction amount of PMs is reduced.

The optimal mechanism is more humanoid.