Dimensional Synthesis and Performance Evaluation of Four Translational Parallel Manipulators

The optimum selection of a structure for a given application is a capital phase in typological synthesis of parallel robots. To help in this selection, this paper presents a performance evaluation of four translational parallel robots: Delta, 3-UPU, Romdhane-Affi-Fayet, and Tri-pyramid (TP). The problem is set as a multiobjective optimization using genetic algorithm methods, which uses kinematic criteria, that is, global dexterity and compactness, to ensure a prescribed workspace. The results are presented as Pareto fronts, which are used to compare the performances of the aforementioned structures. The obtained results show that the TP robot has the best kinematic performance, whereas the 3-UPU robot is the most compact for a given prescribed workspace.