Geometric design optimization of an under-actuated tendon-driven robotic gripper

The design optimization of a robotic gripper is of utmost importance for achieving a stable grasp behaviour. This work focuses on analysing the optimal design of an under-actuated tendon-driven robotic gripper with two 3-phalange fingers and a geometric design optimization method is proposed to achieve a stable grasp performance. The problem has twenty-two design variables, including three phalange lengths, three phalange widths, three radii of joint mandrels, a palm width and twelve route variables for allocation of six pulleys. First, the mathematical model between the active and contact forces is expressed in relation to the geometric dimensions of the robotic gripper. Second, the geometric model of transmission characteristics determined by the tendon routes for reducing the resistance is generated. Next, three objective functions and multiple geometric constraints are derived and integrated into two fitness models. Finally, the genetic algorithm is applied to addressing the optimization problem. Practical experiments are performed as well to validate the proposed approach. The approach is universal for optimizing any conventional under-actuated tendon-driven gripper. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.