Real-Time Forward Kinematics of the 6-6 Stewart Platform with One Extra Linear Sensor

Abstract

This paper deals with the forward kinematics of the 6-6 Stewart platform of planar base and moving platform using one extra linear sensor. Based on algebraic elimination method, it first derives an 8th-degree univariate equation and then finds tentative solution sets out of which the actual solution is to be selected. In order to provide more exact solution despite the error between measured sensor value and the theoretic alone, a correction method is also used in this paper. The overall procedure requires so little computation time that it can be efficiently used for real-time applications. In addition, unlike the iterative scheme e.g. Newton-Raphson, the algorithm does not require initial estimates of solution and is free of the problems that it does not converge to actual solution within limited time. The presented method has been implemented in C language and a numerical example is given to confirm the effectiveness and accuracy of the developed algorithm.