Dynamic Gyroscopic Stabilization Of A Platform In 6-Degrees Of Freedom

There are many optics and metrology-related applications which require a stable work surface in an unstable environment, whether that environment is vibrating, in an aircraft, on a vessel at sea, or elsewhere. Under normal conditions, the work surface is subject to these environmental disturbances.  Hexapod motion platforms provide a good basis to compensate for motion in 6 degrees of freedom.  In previous articles, the use for these parallel kinematic mechanisms has been explained in camera quality testing applications and for improving image stabilization algorithms.

In a recent test, we used a gyroscope to provide feedback to a hexapod controller in order to compensate for multi-degree-of-freedom disturbances and to maintain a horizontal top plate during the process.