JointRRR

This component consists of 3 revolute joints with parallel axes of rotation that are connected together by two rods, 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 revolute 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 third revolute joint whereas frame_ib is the "left" side of this revolute 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 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 JointRRR joint should be parallel to each other when defining an instance of this component).

Basically, the JointRRR model consists internally of a universal - spherical - revolute joint aggregation (= JointUSR). In a planar loop this will behave as if 3 revolute joints with parallel axes are connected by rigid rods.