Smitty constructed this prototype of our spherical deployable structure. It is an assembly of spherical rhombus linkages that expands to form a semi-circular structure.

Here are two videos of our first attempt to build prototypes for some of our six-bar linkage design concepts. These models were built by Steve and Justin with guidance from Smitty.

This is the six-bar linkage that guides a bottom drawer to a position that is level with the top drawer. The links were cut from aluminum and are wobbly.

This six-bar linkage deploys a television display from a horizontal position in the ceiling to a vertical position for viewing. The links are welded steel tube, and the system moves more smoothly.

Chris Longhurst has assembled a number of descriptive articles and illustrations about automotive engines, transmissions, steering, suspensions, brakes and tires on his site http://www.carbibles.com

Automotive information

Also information about roller coaster simulation software can be found on his personal website http://www.chris-longhurst.com/nolimits.html.

Mikhail Zhuk generated this animation of Jerome Choe’s concept for a six-bar linkage that rotates a 70in TV monitor down from the ceiling around a virtual pivot positioned down from the ceiling and in front of the wall. We hope to build a physical prototype. (UCI Robotics and Automation Lab)

This video shows the operation of a cam-driven toy artist.

I found it on Dug North’s Automata/Automaton blog, http://dugnorth.com/blog/

My class notes on cam-follower systems can be downloaded at the link: http://synthetica.eng.uci.edu/~mccarthy/mechanicaldesign101/McCarthyNotes-Cams2.pdf

Lecture notes on cam-follower systems

Prof. A. J. Klein Breteler maintains an array of mechanism models at TU-Delft. Access videos of these models at the site: http://wbmttt.tudelft.nl/cadom/Models/Index.htm

Whiteboard models TU-Delft

Ilian Bonev maintains bibliography and patent databases on parallel mechanisms and much more at ParallelMIC. Access it at the link http://www.parallemic.org/

Parallel Mechanisms information center

This articulated model horse is by the artist James Watt.

A kit for this device and other designs can be found on his web-site: http://clockworkrobot.com/

This animation of Jerome Choe’s concept for a spherical archway was generated by Mikhail Zhuk. Spherical rhombus elements form a foldable structure. (UCI Robotics and Automation Lab)

Mathias Kastens maintains a site that closely tracks student formula teams, design activities and competition details around the world. Access it at the link:
http://www.fstotal.com