Kinematic Geometry for the Saddle Line Fitting of Planar Discrete Positions

The position synthesis of planar linkages is to locate the center point of the moving joint on a rigid link, whose trajectory is a circle or a straight line. Utilizing the min-max optimization scheme, the fitting curve needs to minimize the maximum fitting error to acquire the dimension of a planar binary P-R link. Based on the saddle point programming, the fitting straight line is determined to the planar discrete point-path traced by the point of the rigid body in planar motion. The property and evolution of the defined saddle line error can be revealed from three given separate points. A quartic algebraic equation relating the fitting error and the coordinates is derived, which agrees with the classical theory. The effect of the fourth point is discussed in three cases through the constraint equations. The multi-position saddle line error is obtained by combination and comparison from the saddle point programming. Several examples are presented to illustrate the solution process for the saddle line error of the moving plane. The saddle line error surface and the contour map presented to show the variations of the fitting error in the fixed frame. The discrete kinematic geometry is then set up to disclose the relations of the separate positions of the rigid body, the location of the tracing point on the moving body, and the position and orientation of the saddle line to the point-path. This paper presents a new analytic geometry method for saddle line fitting and provides a theoretical foundation for position synthesis.