Journal for Geometry and Graphics Volume 14 (2010), No. 2, 147–169. Flexible Octahedra in the Projective Extension of the Euclidean 3-Space Georg Nawratil Institute of Discrete Mathematics and Geometry, Vienna University of Technology Wiedner Hauptstrasse 8-10/104, Vienna, A-1040, Austria email:
[email protected] Abstract. In this paper we complete the classification of flexible octahedra in the projective extension of the Euclidean 3-space. If all vertices are Euclidean points then we get the well known Bricard octahedra. All flexible octahedra with one vertex on the plane at infinity were already determined by the author in the context of self-motions of TSSM manipulators with two parallel rotary axes. Therefore we are only interested in those cases where at least two vertices are ideal points. Our approach is based on Kokotsakis meshes and reducible compositions of two four-bar linkages. Key Words: Flexible octahedra, Kokotsakis meshes, Bricard octahedra MSC 2010: 53A17, 52B10 1. Introduction A polyhedron is said to be flexible if its spatial shape can be changed continuously due to changes of its dihedral angles only, i.e., every face remains congruent to itself during the flex. 1.1. Review In 1897 R. Bricard [5] proved that there are three types of flexible octahedra1 in the Euclidean 3-space E3. These so-called Bricard octahedra are as follows: Type 1: All three pairs of opposite vertices are symmetric with respect to a common line. Type 2: Two pairs of opposite vertices are symmetric with respect to a common plane which passes through the remaining two vertices.