Implementation and Assessment of a Virtual Laboratory of Parallel Robots Developed for Engineering Students

This paper presents a tool, LABEL, oriented to the teaching of parallel robotics. The application, organized as a set of tools developed using Easy Java Simulations, enables the study of the kinematics of parallel robotics. A set of classical parallel structures was implemented such that LABEL can solve the inverse and direct kinematic problem of 5R, 3RRR, and Delta robots. An intuitive graphical user interface lets the student change the joint coordinates or Cartesian coordinates of the end effector while observing a graphical representation of the robot. In addition, a set of five practical sessions based upon this tool was developed. During the practical sessions, the student analyzes the inverse kinematics of parallel structures and the direct kinematic problem. Moreover, LABEL makes it easy to analyze the singularities that appear in the solution of the inverse and direct kinematic problem. These singularities are analyzed through the use of a path planning application, which allows the user to plan a trajectory in the robot´s workspace. This helps the student to analyze the position and velocity of the end effector while observing the joint trajectories and speeds of the actuators. LABEL was implemented during the academic year 2011-2012 and has been well accepted. Finally, an assessment of LABEL is presented.