JointRRP

This component consists of 2 revolute joints with parallel axes of rotation that and a prismatic joint with a translational axis that is orthogonal to the revolute joint axes, see the default animation in the following figure (the axes vectors are not part of the default animation):

This joint aggregation introduces neither constraints nor state variables and should therefore be used in kinematic loops whenever possible to avoid non-linear systems of equations. It is only meaningful to use this component in planar loops. Basically, the position and orientation of the 3 joints as well as of frame_ia, frame_ib, and frame_im are calculated by solving analytically a non-linear equation, given the position and orientation at frame_a and at frame_b.

Connector frame_a is the "left" side of the first revolute joint whereas frame_ia is the "right side of this revolute joint, fixed in rod 1. Connector frame_b is the "right" side of the prismatic joint whereas frame_ib is the "left" side of this prismatic joint, fixed in rod 2. Finally, connector frame_im is the connector at the "right" side of the revolute joint in the middle, fixed in rod 2. The frames frame_b, frame_ib, frame_im are always parallel to each other.

The easiest way to define the parameters of this joint is by moving the MultiBody system in a reference configuration where all frames of all components are parallel to each other (alternatively, at least frame_a, frame_ia, frame_im, frame_ib, frame_b of the JointRRP joint should be parallel to each other when defining an instance of this component).

Basically, the JointRRP model consists internally of a universal - spherical - prismatic joint aggregation (= JointUSP). In a planar loop this will behave as if 2 revolute joints with parallel axes and 1 prismatic joint are connected by rigid rods.