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This paper describes a procedure for simulating rigid link mechanisms on an analog computer. The computer circuit enables one to record all kinematic variables, i.e., displacements, velocities, and accelerations, for any point on the mechanism using conventional, commercially available computing elements. Also included in the paper is a scaled analog circuit for simulating velocities and displacements for the four-bar linkage, along with records of these parameters from the author’s simulation.

The investigator using analog or hybrid computers in mechanism study encounters great complexity and a requirement for considerable equipment when a simulation is extended to accelerations and dynamics. This paper describes a resolver circuit which is a link analogy giving position, velocity, and acceleration terms in rectangular coordinates when driven with a voltage representing the angular acceleration of the link. It is an elaboration of former resolution methods dealing only with either position or velocity. Its utility involves a savings of computing components and it constitutes a fundamental building block when used in mechanism simulation.