This paper reports the design and modelling of a new piezo-driven microgripper with large output displacements. The design of the microgripper is based on the double-rocker mechanism and the parallelogram mechanism. The microgripper can produce a large output displacement and a parallel movement of the gripper tips. Theoretical models for the microgripper are derived using the pseudorigid-body-model method. Through several finite-element analysis simulations, the optimal geometric parameters of the microgripper are obtained, and the theoretical models are evaluated and verified. The performance of the proposed microgripper is demonstrated by several experiments, and a micromanipulation case is presented. The experimental results indicate that the microgripper with the double-rocker mechanism has a large output displacement of 213.9 μm and a large amplification ratio of 21.4. The microgripper is capable of multiscale micromanipulation.

This paper presents the design, modeling and position/force control of a new piezo-driven microgripper with integrated position and force sensors. The structural design of the microgripper is based on double amplification mechanisms employing the bridge-type mechanism and the parallelogram mechanism. The microgripper can generate a large gripping range and pure translation of the gripping arm. Through the pseudorigid-bodymodel method, theoretical models are derived. By means of several finite-element analysis simulations, the optimal structural parameters for the microgripper are acquired and the theoretical models are analyzed and validated. Furthermore, to improve the performance of the microgripper, a new hybrid position/force control scheme employing a nonlinear fuzzy logic controller combined with an incremental proportional-integral controller is presented. The control scheme is capable of regulating the position and the gripping force of the microgripper simultaneously. Experimental investigation and validation were performed and the experimental results verify the effectiveness of the developed structural design and the proposed hybrid control scheme.

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This paper presents the design, implementation and control of a new piezoelectrically actuated compliant micromanipulator dedicated to multiscale, precision and reliable operations. To begin with, the manipulator is devised to obtain multi degrees of freedom and large workspace ranges. Two-stage amplification mechanisms (consists of the leverage and the rocker mechanisms) and composite parallelogram mechanisms are combined to construct the lower microstage. Meanwhile, the structure design of the upper dual-driven microgripper is based on the bridge-type mechanism and the unilateral parallelogram mechanism. Through finite-element analysis, the structural parameters of the micromanipulator are optimized and the structural interaction performances are examined. Moreover, a cooperative control strategy is proposed to achieve the synchronous control of the motion trajectory, the gripper position and the contact force. Precision motion control in terms of the hysteresis phenomenon and system disturbances is ensured by using an adaptive sliding mode control (SMC). In particular, an improved nonsymmetrical Bouc–Wen model and a fuzzy regulator are proposed in the SMC. Several experimental investigations are conducted to validate the effectiveness of the developed micromanipulator by performing transferring operations of a micro-object. Experimental results demonstrate that the micromanipulator presents good characteristics, and precision and robust operation can be acquired using the cooperative controller.

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