Mechanism development trends and present-day possibilities. Intelligent mechanisms. Adaptation in nature and engineering. Mechanical systems adaptation possibilities. Structure of adaptive technical system. Structural, kinematic and dynamic adaptation of mechanisms and mechanical structures. Concept of Adaptive Mechanics.

Links, joints and kinematic chains. Mobility and redundant constraints of kinematic chains. Possibilities to avoid redundant constraints in kinematic chains. Typical redundant constraints in mechanisms and ways of avoiding them.

Variation possibilities of mechanism position function. Variation of Mechanism position function by changing kinematic chain parameters (statically, kinematically and dynamically. Application in Adaptive mechanics.

Kinematic chains of variable structure. Structural relationships of kinematic chains of variable structure: Possibilities of kinematic chain structure variation. Applications in Adaptive Mechanics.

Sensory system role in intelligent mechanisms. Sensors: position (long and close distance), velocity, acceleration, load. Feedback. Principles of adaptive control. Case study: adaptive robot.

Active materials: piezoactive materials, shape memory alloys, electro and magnetorheological fluids, etc. Active materials and active materials composite structures possibilities and applications in Adaptive Mechanics. Self-adaptive mechanical structures.