Design and Optimization of a Cable-driven Parallel Polishing Robot with Kinematic Error Modeling

Abstract This article presents the design and optimization of a cable-driven parallel polishing robot (CDPPR) with kinematic error modeling and introduces an improved nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) for multiobjective optimization. First, the mechanical design and kinematic and static modeling of the CDPPR are conducted. Subsequently, a kinematic error transfer model is established based on the evidence theory by considering the change of exit points of cables, and an error index is derived to measure the accuracy of the robot. Besides, another two performance indices including the workspace and static stiffness are proposed. Thus, a multiobjective optimization model is established to optimize the workspace, static stiffness, and error index, and an improved NSGA-II is developed. Finally, an experimental scaled prototype of the CDPPR is constructed, and numerical examples and experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the improved NSGA-II and the stability of the optimal configuration.