An open architecture approach to kinematic analysis for computer-aided embodiment design

In addition to providing tools for the conceptual design of mechanisms, kinematic analysis is needed for the calculation of inertia loads in mechanisms during the embodiment phase of design. The goal of creating a computer-aided embodiment generator has raised the need to package this kinematic analysis such that it can be invoked directly, without the need for a separate user interface. This paper describes a set of kinematic and dynamic analysis procedures which have been developed for this purpose, explains how they work, and discusses their significance in the progress of computer-aided embodiment generation. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.