VRML2 Kinematic Links

by Qiming Wang and Sandy Ressler

The following small worlds illustrate kinematic links implemented in VRML2. The definitions of these links are roughly base on the STEP ISO standard (ISO 10303) Part 105. Two versions of each world exists (with the exception of the "screw" link). One version is implemented using PROTOs and the other without. The version without protos was necessitated due to an apparent bug in the PC version of CosmoPlayer. After loading the world click on a link to watch the action. Select the image for the PROTO version.

This is a revolute pair which constraints the motion between two adjacent links to a rotation about a common axis. [non PROTO version]
This is a cylindrical pair which constrains the motion between two adjacent links to a translation along a common axis and a rotation about it. [non PROTO version]
This is a prismatic pair which constraints the motion between two adjacent links to a translation about a common axis. [non PROTO version]
This is a spherical pair which constraint the motion between two adjacent links to the rotation about three independent axes that intersect in a common point. [non PROTO version]
This is a universal pair which constrains the motion between two adjacent links to two rotations about two intersecting axes. [non PROTO version]
This is a screw pair which constraints the motion between two adjacent links to a rotation about, and translation along, a common axis, where the translation is proportional to the rotation. The factor of proportionality is given by pitch which defines the translational displacement for one full rotation.

[Visualization and Virtual Reality Group][Open Virtual Reality Testbed]

National Institute of Standards and Technology
qwang@nist.gov sressler@nist.gov