This book provides a comprehensive overview of the current research status and open problems in the field of structural synthesis, based on which a systematic methodology for the structural analysis of planar kinematic chains, structural synthesis of planar kinematic chains, and creative design of mechanisms is presented.

The method presented in this book not only promotes the development of theoretical research in the field of mechanical science, and the development of industrial software for the creative design of mechanisms, but also generates novel high-performance mechanisms suitable for industrial application, which can improve the work efficiency and economic benefits.

This book offers theoretical guidance for students and researchers engaged in the field of mechanical engineering, especially the creative design of mechanism.

Prof. Dr. Huafeng Ding, born in 1977, received his first Ph.D. from Yanshan University, China, in 2007, and received his second Ph.D. from University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany, in 2015. He worked as an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow in Germany from 2010 to 2012 and won the Natural Science fund for Outstanding Youth Scholars in 2014. He is Full Professor and Dean of the School of Mechanical Engineering and Electronic Information, China University of Geosciences, and is Associate Editor of journal of Mechanism and Machine Theory. Prof. Ding's research interest is the intelligent design of mechanisms. He published over 100 research papers and 1 book published by Springer.

Prof. Dr. Wenjian Yang, born in 1990, received his Ph.D. from China University of Geosciences in June 2019. He worked as Postdoctor in University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany, from August 2019 to August 2021, and worked as Professor in China University of Geosciences from October 2021. Prof. Yang's research interest is the structural synthesis and creative design of mechanisms. He published 18 research papers, among which 13 papers were published in the top journal of mechanisms MMT and ASME JMD.

Prof. Dr. Andrés Kecskeméthy, born in 1957, received his Ph.D. from the University of Duisburg in 1993. He worked as Professor at University of Duisburg-Essen from 2002. He served as Editor-In-Chief of the Journal Mechanism and Machine Theory and served as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering of University Duisburg-Essen. He was elected as President of IFToMM in 2020. Prof. Kecskeméthy's research interest is the kinematics and dynamics analysis of mechanisms, and he published over 200 journal and proceedings papers and 7 books.