Design of a Linkage System to Write in Cursive

This paper presents a design methodology for a system of linkages that can trace planar Bezier curves that represent cursive handwriting of the alphabet and Chinese characters. This paper shows that the standard degree n Bezier curve can be reparameterized so that it takes the form of a trigonometric curve that can be drawn by a one degree-of-freedom coupled serial chain consisting of 2n links. A series of cubic Bezier curves that define a handwritten name yields a series of six-link coupled serial chains that trace these curves. We then show how to simplify this system using cubic trigonometric Bezier curves to obtain a series of four-link serial chains that approximate the system of Bezier curves. The result is a methodology for the design of a mechanical system that draws complex plane curves such as the cursive alphabet and Chinese characters.