Forward displacement analysis and singularity analysis of a special 2-DOF 5R spherical parallel manipulator

This paper deals with the forward displacement analysis and singularity analysis of a special 2-DOF 5R spherical parallel manipulator, in which the angle between the axes of any two adjacent revolute joints is a right angle. An alternative formulation of the kinematic equations of the 5R spherical parallel manipulator is proposed. A formula is then derived to produce directly the unique current solution to the forward displacement analysis of the 5R spherical parallel manipulator. It will also be addressed to keep the spherical parallel manipulator in the same working mode and assembly mode by simply restraining the range of an input angle. Unlike other parallel manipulators, the 5R spherical parallel manipulator always undergoes self-motion in a type-II singular configuration, and the 3R leg of the 5R spherical parallel manipulator also always undergoes self-motion in a type-I singular configuration. © 2011 American Society of Mechanical Engineers.