Optimization of planar mechanisms by using a minimum distance function

Abstract The paper examines the application of a general minimum distance error function to the dimensional kinematic synthesis of bidimensional mechanisms. The minimum distance approach makes it possible to solve the problem maintaining the same generality as that of the minimum deformation energy method while solving the problems that occasionally appear in the former method involving low stiffness mechanisms. It is a general method that can deal both with unprescribed and prescribed timing problems, and is applicable for path generation problems, function generation, solid guidance, and any combination of the aforementioned requirements as introduced in the usual precision point scheme. The method exhibits good convergence and computational efficiency. The minimum distance error function is solved with a sequential quadratic programming (SQP) approach. In the study, the synthesis problem is also optimized by using SQP, and the function can be easily adapted to other methods such as genetic algorithms. In the study, the minimum distance approach is initially presented. Subsequently, an efficient SQP method is developed by using analytic derivatives for solving. The next point addresses the application of the concept for the synthesis of mechanisms by using an SQP approach with approximate derivatives. This delivers a situation where the optimization is performed on an error function that itself consists of an inner optimization function. A few examples are presented and are also compared with the minimum deformation energy method. Finally, a few conclusions and future studies are discussed.