For kinematic calibration of robots, we proposed using a low order Fourier series obtained by transforming the data for circular measurement paths. The errors of the realized paths were measured using a Double-Ball-Bar (DBB) system. Two nondimensional indices were proposed for evaluating the orthogonalities of the measurement paths and calibration parameters. An index was also proposed to evaluate the accuracy of the calibration with regard to measurement error. An algorithm for determining adequate measurement paths and an optimal set of a specified number of paths using these indices was also proposed. The effectiveness of the proposed method, indices, and algorithm was investigated through simulations and experiments with an experimental 6 dof in-parallel actuated worktable that we developed.

1.
Proc. Year 2000 Parallel Kinematic Machines Int. Conf., 2000.
2.
Takeda, Y., Funabashi, H., Kimura, M., and Hirose, K., 1999, “Development of a Spatial Six-Degree-of-Freedom In-Parallel Actuated Worktable With Rolling Spherical Bearings,” Proc. 9-th Int. Conf. Advanced Robotics (ICAR), pp. 551–556.
3.
Takeda, Y., Funabashi, H., Shen, G., Ichikawa, K., and Hirose, K., 2000, “Stiffness Analysis of a Spatial Six-Degree-of-Freedom In-Parallel Actuated Mechanism With Rolling Spherical Bearing,” Proc. Year 2000 Parallel Kinematic Machines Int. Conf., pp. 264–273.
4.
Takeda
,
Y.
, and
Funabashi
,
H.
,
1995
, “
Motion Transmissibility of In-Parallel Actuated Manipulators
,”
JSME Int. J.
,
38
(
4
), pp.
749
755
.
5.
Takeda
,
Y.
, and
Funabashi
,
H.
,
1996
, “
Kinematic and Static Characteristics of In-Parallel Actuated Manipulators at Singular Points and in Their Neighborhood
,”
JSME Int. J.
,
39
(
1
), pp.
85
93
.
6.
Takeda
,
Y.
,
Funabashi
,
H.
, and
Ichimaru
,
H.
,
1997
, “
Development of Spatial In-Parallel Actuated Manipulators With Six Degrees of Freedom With High Motion Transmissibility
,”
JSME Int. J.
,
40
(
2
), pp.
299
308
.
7.
Takeda
,
Y.
, and
Funabashi
,
H.
,
1999
, “
Kinematic Synthesis of In-Parallel Actuated Mechanisms Based on the Global Isotropy Index
,”
J. of Robotics and Mechatronics
,
11
(
5
), pp.
404
410
.
8.
Ota, H., Shibukawa, T., and Uchiyama, M., 2000, “Forward Kinematic Calibration Method for Parallel Mechanism Using Pose Data Measured by a Double Ball Bar System,” Proc. Year 2000 Parallel Kinematic Machines Int. Conf., pp. 57–62.
9.
Patel
,
A. J.
, and
Ehmann
,
K. F.
,
2000
, “
Calibration of a Hexapod Machine Tool Using a Redundant Leg
,”
Int. J. Mach. Tools Manuf.
,
40
, pp.
489
512
.
10.
Vischer
,
P.
, and
Clavel
,
R.
,
1998
, “
Kinematic Calibration of the Parallel Delta Robot
,”
Robotica
,
16
, pp.
207
218
.
11.
Wampler
,
C. W.
,
Hollerbach
,
J. M.
, and
Arai
,
T.
,
1995
, “
An Implicit Loop Method for Kinematic Calibration and Its Application to Closed-Chain Mechanisms
,”
IEEE Trans. Rob. Autom.
,
11
(
5
), pp.
710
724
.
12.
Nahvi, A., Hollerbach, J. M., and Hayward, V., 1994, “Calibration of a Parallel Robot Using Multiple Kinematic Closed Loops,” Proc. IEEE Int. Conf. Robotics and Automation, pp. 407–412.
13.
Zhuang
,
H.
,
Jiahua
,
Y.
, and
Masory
,
O.
,
1998
, “
Calibration of Stewart Platforms and Other Parallel Manipulators by Minimizing Inverse Kinematic Residuals
,”
J. Rob. Syst.
,
15
, pp.
395
405
.
14.
Daney, D., 2002 “Optimal Measurement Configuration for Gough Platform Calibration,” Proc. IEEE Int. Conf. Robotics and Automation, pp. 147–152.
15.
Zhuang
,
H.
,
1997
, “
Self-Calibration of Parallel Mechanisms With a Case Study on Stewart Platforms
,”
IEEE Trans. Rob. Autom.
,
13
, pp.
387
397
.
16.
Besnard, S., and Khalil, W., 2001, “Identifiable Parameters for Parallel Robots Kinematic Calibration,” Proc. 2001 IEEE Int. Conf. Robotics and Automation, pp. 2859–2866.
17.
Iurascu
,
C. C.
, and
Park
,
F. C.
,
2003
, “
Geometric Algorithms for Kinematic Calibration of Robots Containing Closed Loops
,”
ASME J. Mech. Des.
,
125
, pp.
23
32
.
18.
Borm
,
J. H.
,
1991
, “
Determination of Optimal Measurement Configurations for Robot Calibration Based on Observability Measure
,”
Int. J. Robot. Res.
,
10
(
1
), pp.
51
63
.
19.
Driels
,
M. R.
, and
Pathre
,
U. S.
,
1990
, “
Significance of Observation Strategy on the Design of Robot Calibration Experiments
,”
J. Rob. Syst.
,
7
(
2
), pp.
197
223
.
20.
Hollerbach
,
J. M.
, and
Wampler
,
C. W.
,
1996
, “
The Calibration Index and Taxonomy for Robot Kinematic Calibration Methods
,”
Int. J. Robot. Res.
,
15
(
6
), pp.
573
591
.
21.
Nahvi, A., and Hollerbach, J. M., 1996, “The Noise Amplification Index for Optimal Pose Selection in Robot Calibration,” Proc. IEEE Int. Conf. on Robotics and Automation, pp. 647–654.
22.
Zhuang, H., Wang, K., and Roth, Z. S., 1994, “Optimal Selection of Measurement Configurations for Robot Calibration Using Simulated Annealing,” Proc. IEEE Int. Conf. on Robotics and Automation, pp. 393–398.
23.
Kakino, Y., Ihara, Y., and Shinohara, A., 1993, “Accuracy Inspection of NC Machine Tools by Double Ball Bar Method,” Carl Hanser Verlag.
24.
Innocenti
,
C.
,
1998
, “
Closed-Form Determination of the Location of a Rigid-Body by Seven In-Parallel Linear Transducers
,”
ASME J. Mech. Des.
,
120
, pp.
293
298
.
25.
Salisbury
,
J. K.
, and
Craig
,
J. J.
,
1982
, “
Articulated Hands: Force Control and Kinematic Issues
,”
J. Ferment. Bioeng.
,
1
(
1
), pp.
4
17
.
26.
Forsythe, G. E., Malcolm, M. A., and Moler, C., B., 1977, Computer Methods for Mathematical Computations, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ.
You do not currently have access to this content.