Design Outline for Mini-Arms Based on Manipulator Technology

Abstract

The design of small manipulators is an art requiring proficiency in diverse disciplines. This paper documents some of the general ideas illustrated by a particular design for an arm roughly one quarter human size. The material is divided into the following sections: A. General design constraints. B. Features of existing manipulator technology. C. Scaling relationships for major arm components. D. Design of a particular small manipulator. E. Comments on future possibilities.