NUWAR History
NUWAR's origins
and robotics research at UWA
NUWAR History
NUWAR's origins
and robotics research at UWA
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Parallel robots differ from
their serial counterparts in that they utilise several kinematic chains
in parallel instead of a single series of linkages. Devices of this type
date to 1938, when W.L.V. Pollard patented his car painting mechanism.
In particular, the Delta-4 consists of 3 identical arms connecting the
base and traveling plates. Each arm is driven by a separate motor mounted
on the base plate and one additional power source drives the tool.
Possessing only light members and high torque actuators,
the Delta-4 is capable of incredible accelerations (better than 500m/s2!)
and extremely precise manipulator placements. This lends itself ideally
to pick-and-place type applications, and led to Delta-4 being used in commercial
packaging applications. The shortcoming, however, of this model, and of
parallel robots in general, is the highly reduced workspace when compared
to a serial equivalent.
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more history
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Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering
The University of Western Australia
Nedlands, Perth, Western Australia 6009
WEB DESIGN: ZEIKE TAYLOR
zeike@tartarus.uwa.edu.au