Workspace classification and quantification calculations of cable-driven parallel robots

Abstract

Large workspace is one of the promising advantages possessed by the cable-driven parallel robots (CDPR) over the conventional rigid-link robots. This paper focuses on the dynamic analysis and workspace classification based on the general motion equation of cable robot and the unilateral property of cables. The combinations of different types of two conditions lead to several different types of workspace, including static equilibrium workspace, wrench closure workspace, wrench feasible workspace, dynamic workspace, and collision-free workspace. A qualitative comparison of different types of workspaces is performed. The simulation results verify the relationship between the several types of workspaces. © 2014 Q. J. Duan and Xuechao Duan.