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.

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This paper deals with the kinematic calibration and motion control of a triple-level spatial positioner consisting of the cable-driven parallel manipulator (CDPM), active gyro stabilizer (AGS), and the Stewart platform. A six-degree-of-freedom laser tracker is employed when calibrating the benchmark positions and measuring the real-time position and orientation in motion control, which makes it a straightforward solution to tackle with hierarchical mechatronic system actuated by servomotors with incremental encoders. Then the trajectory planning and motion control of the triple-level robotic spatial positioner are explored to verify the correctness and to what extent the calibration improves the system. This CDPM based spatial positioner has an accuracy of several millimeters though it has a ten-meter workspace.

Due to the urgent need for high precision surgical equipment for minimally invasive spinal surgery, a novel robot-assistant system was developed for the accurate placement of pedicle screws in lumbar spinal surgeries. The structure of the robot was based on a macro-micro mechanism, which includes a serial mechanism (macro part) and a bi-planar 5R parallel mechanism (micro part). The macro part was used to achieve a large workspace, while the micro part was used to obtain high stiffness and accuracy. Based on the transfer function of dimension errors, the factors affecting the accuracy of the end effectors were analyzed. Then the manufacturing errors and joint angle error on the position-stance of the end effectors were investigated. Eventually, the mechanism of the strain energy produced by the deformation of linkage via forced assembly and displacements of the output point were calculated. The amount of the transfer errors was quantitatively analyzed by the simulation. Experimental tests show that the error of the bi-planar 5R mechanism can be controlled no more than 1 mm for translation and 1° for rotation, which satisfies the required absolute position accuracy of the robot.

This paper presents a kinematic analysis and simulation of a hybrid structure applied to the new design cable‐suspended feed structure (CSFS) for the next generation of large spherical radio telescopes. First, considering the requirement that feeds should be tilted from 40° to 60° and that the tracking precision in steady state is 4mm, a novel design of the feed supporting structure including a cable‐cabin structure, an AB axis structure and a Stewart platform is performed. Next, kinematic analysis and the simulation of the CSFS are done. Simulations have been developed in combination with the 50m CSFS model, which demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed three‐level cable‐suspended feed system