Track: Modeling and Simulation

Abstract

Robots are used to assist human beings in various applications. There is a need to improve the performance of robot structures by cutting cost and to provide light-weighted material systems. An area of flexible link manipulator has gained more interest from researchers in robotics. When compared with rigid-link manipulators, flexible manipulators are easy to manoeuvre, high-speed performance and higher payload-to-weight ratio. It has been noted that in previous and recent years’ experiments were proposed in analysing tip deflection. In this paper a model of 2DOF Flexible Link Manipulator (FLM) in a cantilever configuration, it has been designed from a lightweight material. The aim is to assess the stability of the FLM model with a set of varying payloads attached at the tip as to what will be the maximum load it can withstand. The Inventor design tool was used to simulate the loading procedures, which assisted with Finite element analysis. Results are compared against the allowable maximum deflection limit of cantilever configuration. Results on how the model deflects are produced with the safety factor at each loaded condition and numerical results of maximum deflection produced by the set of varying loads were compared with the FEA results. And based on the results assessed, conclusions are made with a set of safety factor and how the light weighted design is advantageous in the industry to improve safety and performance.