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Enumerating the Topological Configurations of the Reconfigurable Cube Mechanism with Eight Sub-cubes

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Advances in Reconfigurable Mechanisms and Robots II

Part of the book series: Mechanisms and Machine Science ((Mechan. Machine Science,volume 36))

Abstract

The reconfigurable cube mechanism (RCM), which is made of 23 connecting sub-cubes, is a toy with special design of reconfiguration that transfers eight configurations in one cycle. The aim of this paper is to enumerate all feasible RCMs with 23 sub-cubes that have similar reconfigurability but distinct topological configurations. The enumeration firstly considers all possible connecting sequences of links and joints. It is then filtered by three joint arrangement rules associated with the configurational isomorphism and cyclic reconfiguration detections. As a result, the RCM has only one feasible initial configuration to perform a cyclic reconfiguration. This feasible configuration should have three pairs of co-axial joints without any inside joint, which is exactly the existing design.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, 43, Sec. 4, Keelung Rd., Taipei, 106, Taiwan

    Lin-Chi Wu & Chin-Hsing Kuo

Authors
  1. Lin-Chi Wu
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  2. Chin-Hsing Kuo
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Correspondence to Chin-Hsing Kuo .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Beihang University, Beijing, China

    Xilun Ding

  2. Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

    Xianwen Kong

  3. Kings College London, Strand, LONDON WC2R 2LS, United Kingdom

    Jian S. Dai

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Wu, LC., Kuo, CH. (2016). Enumerating the Topological Configurations of the Reconfigurable Cube Mechanism with Eight Sub-cubes. In: Ding, X., Kong, X., Dai, J. (eds) Advances in Reconfigurable Mechanisms and Robots II. Mechanisms and Machine Science, vol 36. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23327-7_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23327-7_7

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-23326-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-23327-7

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

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