Abstract: Solving of complex motion requirement is always a focused research point of mechanical kinematic scheme during the conceptual design process. By integrating motion attributes of mechanism, such as motion type, axis, velocity attributes, to motion characteristic transformation matrix, a novel top-down solving method of complex motion requirements is presented to decompose the complex requirements into several simpler ones by sophisticated matrix operation-row and column shifting and velocity character expanding strategy. Differs from the traditional solving method, this method has two advantages, the first is that it is more easier to be operated and realized by a computer, and the second is it is a creative process by nature.

Key words: Mechanism combination, Top-down design, Conceptual design, Motion characteristic, Cranes, Parameterization, Rapidly lightweight design, Structure optimization, System