A Real Parameter Continuation Method for Complete Solution of Forward Position Analysis of the General Stewart

Abstract

Stewart Platform is a six degree of freedom, parallel manipulator, which consists of a base platform, a coupler platform and six limbs connected at six distinct points on the base platform and the coupler platform. The forward position analysis problem of Stewart Platform amounts to finding all its possible configurations based on the knowledge of the lengths of its limbs. In this paper, we present a numerical method for solving the forward position analysis problem for the most general Stewart Platform. This is a numerical method based on the polynomial continuation as established in recent works in the literature. However, one main difference is that the start system and the homotopy used here are based on physical design rather than pure mathematical equations. First, the target Stewart Platform is geometrically simplified into a platform, which, as the start platform, can be solved analytically. Then, a homotopy is constructed between the kinematics equations of the start platform and those of the target platform. By changing the parameters of the start platform incrementally into the parameters of the target system while tracking solutions of the start platform, a complete set of 40 solutions to the target platform can be found. Through this process, all of the extraneous paths have been eliminated before the solution tracking procedure starts and only isolated solutions of the start platform are tracked. The process for solutions to switch between real and complex is examined.