Design and Simulation of a Seven-Degree-of-Freedom Hydraulic Robot Arm

Abstract

The current reliance on manual rescue is inefficient, and lightweight, highly flexible, and intelligent robots need to be investigated. Global seismic disasters occur often, and rescue jobs are defined by tight timetables and high functional and intellectual requirements. This study develops a hydraulically powered redundant robotic arm with seven degrees of freedom. To determine the force situation of the robotic arm in various positions, the common digging and handling conditions of the robotic arm are dynamically simulated in ADAMS. A finite element analysis is then performed for the dangerous force situation to confirm the structural strength of the robotic arm. The hydraulic manipulator prototype is manufactured, and stress–strain experiments are conducted on the robotic arm to verify the finite element simulation’s reliability.

Keywords

• hydraulic robotic arm
• redundant manipulator
• manipulator dynamics simulation
• finite element analysis
• stress–strain experiments