In order to find an efficient solution, I started exploring different types of linear guides. Using kinematic design principles, I designed and analyzed seven different types of linear guides. Out of these seven designs, four are traditional contact-based designs whereas the other three are complaint mechanisms based design. Following are the seven mechanisms:

1. Metal Bush Sliding Guide: two rods slides inside two holes.

2. Hole and slot mechanism: two rods sliding in a hole and a slot.

3. Four bar mechanism: the Latch part is attached to the coupler. 

4. Linear ball guideway: Metal balls are inserted between two parts in motion.

5. Orthoplanar spring based mechanism: the latch part is attached to an orthoplanar spring.

6. Hole flexure-based mechanism: parallel movement achieved through hole flexures.

7. Parallel sheet flexure: parallel motion achieved through combination of two sheets.

I used numerical methods, Finite Element Method (FEM), as well as testing of fabricated prototypes to compare the efficiency of these mechanisms. Parallel sheet flexure, owing to its frictionless motion, resulted in 87% reduction in power consumption. The detailed analysis of these mechanisms was published in ASME 2017 (IDETC/CIE) conference (doi:10.1115/DETC2017-68311).