Synthesis of four-bar linkage motion generation using optimization algorithms

Motion generation of a four-bar linkage is a type of mechanism synthesis that has a wide range of applications such as a pick-and-place operation in manufacturing. In this research, the use of meta-heuristics for motion generation of a four-bar linkage is demonstrated. Three problems of motion generation were posed as a constrained optimization probably using the weighted sum technique to handle two types of tracking errors. A simple penalty function technique was used to deal with design constraints while three meta-heuristics including differential evolution (DE), self-adaptive differential evolution (JADE) and teaching learning based optimization (TLBO) were employed to solve the problems. Comparative results and the effect of the constraint handling technique are illustrated and discussed.