A medical robot kinematics design approach based on knowledge management

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a methodology for medical robot kinematics design developed using a knowledge‐management approach.

Design/methodology/approach

A classification of medical robots is proposed based on their kinematic characteristics and 76 robot specifications were collected in a catalogue. Then, having drawn a generic specifications sheet, rules were proposed to choose a structure from these specifications.

Findings

Findings are situated at several levels: the catalogue, the classification of robots with respect to their kinematic characteristics, a generic and specific specifications sheet, and an organigram to choose the most relevant structure from the specifications.

Research limitations/implications

This structural synthesis represents a preliminary step in the design of medical robots which will be completed by an additional dimensional synthesis.

Originality/value

This work offers a new methodology for medical robots design distinct from what is usually done for medical or industrial robots design using intuition, expertise and non‐formal knowledge.

Citation

Smith‐Guerin, N., Nouaille, L., Vieyres, P. and Poisson, G. (2008), "A medical robot kinematics design approach based on knowledge management", Industrial Robot, Vol. 35 No. 4, pp. 316-323. https://doi.org/10.1108/01439910810876418