stewart-simscape/org/cubic-configuration.org

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Cubic configuration for the Stewart Platform

Introduction   ignore

The discovery of the Cubic configuration is done in cite:geng94_six_degree_of_freed_activ. Further analysis is conducted in

The specificity of the Cubic configuration is that each actuator is orthogonal with the others.

The cubic (or orthogonal) configuration of the Stewart platform is now widely used (cite:preumont07_six_axis_singl_stage_activ,jafari03_orthog_gough_stewar_platf_microm).

According to cite:preumont07_six_axis_singl_stage_activ, the cubic configuration provides a uniform stiffness in all directions and minimizes the crosscoupling from actuator to sensor of different legs (being orthogonal to each other).

To generate and study the Cubic configuration, generateCubicConfiguration is used (description in section sec:generateCubicConfiguration). The goal is to study the benefits of using a cubic configuration:

  • Equal stiffness in all the degrees of freedom?
  • No coupling between the actuators?
  • Is the center of the cube an important point?

Configuration Analysis - Stiffness Matrix

Cubic Stewart platform centered with the cube center - Jacobian estimated at the cube center

We create a cubic Stewart platform (figure fig:3d-cubic-stewart-aligned) in such a way that the center of the cube (black dot) is located at the center of the Stewart platform (blue dot). The Jacobian matrix is estimated at the location of the center of the cube.

  stewart = initializeStewartPlatform();
  stewart = initializeFramesPositions(stewart, 'H', 100e-3, 'MO_B', -50e-3);
  stewart = generateCubicConfiguration(stewart, 'Hc', 100e-3, 'FOc', 50e-3, 'FHa', 0, 'MHb', 0);
  stewart = computeJointsPose(stewart);
  stewart = initializeStrutDynamics(stewart, 'Ki', ones(6,1));
  stewart = computeJacobian(stewart);
  stewart = initializeCylindricalPlatforms(stewart, 'Fpr', 175e-3, 'Mpr', 150e-3);
/tdehaeze/stewart-simscape/media/commit/d28751712f63e2f2d6bb804356962bbdf6700679/org/figs/3d-cubic-stewart-aligned.png
Centered cubic configuration
<<plt-matlab>>
/tdehaeze/stewart-simscape/media/commit/d28751712f63e2f2d6bb804356962bbdf6700679/org/figs/cubic_conf_centered_J_center.png
Cubic Stewart platform centered with the cube center - Jacobian estimated at the cube center (png, pdf)
2 0 -2.5e-16 0 2.1e-17 0
0 2 0 -7.8e-19 0 0
-2.5e-16 0 2 -2.4e-18 -1.4e-17 0
0 -7.8e-19 -2.4e-18 0.015 -4.3e-19 1.7e-18
1.8e-17 0 -1.1e-17 0 0.015 0
6.6e-18 -3.3e-18 0 1.7e-18 0 0.06

Cubic Stewart platform centered with the cube center - Jacobian not estimated at the cube center

We create a cubic Stewart platform with center of the cube located at the center of the Stewart platform (figure fig:3d-cubic-stewart-aligned). The Jacobian matrix is not estimated at the location of the center of the cube.

  stewart = initializeStewartPlatform();
  stewart = initializeFramesPositions(stewart, 'H', 100e-3, 'MO_B', 0);
  stewart = generateCubicConfiguration(stewart, 'Hc', 100e-3, 'FOc', 50e-3, 'FHa', 0, 'MHb', 0);
  stewart = computeJointsPose(stewart);
  stewart = initializeStrutDynamics(stewart, 'Ki', ones(6,1));
  stewart = computeJacobian(stewart);
  stewart = initializeCylindricalPlatforms(stewart, 'Fpr', 175e-3, 'Mpr', 150e-3);
<<plt-matlab>>
/tdehaeze/stewart-simscape/media/commit/d28751712f63e2f2d6bb804356962bbdf6700679/org/figs/cubic_conf_centered_J_not_center.png
Cubic Stewart platform centered with the cube center - Jacobian not estimated at the cube center (png, pdf)
2 0 -2.5e-16 1.4e-17 -0.1 0
0 2 0 0.1 0 0
-2.5e-16 0 2 3.4e-18 -1.4e-17 0
1.4e-17 0.1 3.4e-18 0.02 1.1e-20 3.4e-18
-0.1 0 -1.4e-17 1.4e-19 0.02 -1.7e-18
6.6e-18 -3.3e-18 0 3.6e-18 -1.7e-18 0.06

Cubic Stewart platform not centered with the cube center - Jacobian estimated at the cube center

Here, the "center" of the Stewart platform is not at the cube center (figure fig:3d-cubic-stewart-misaligned). The Jacobian is estimated at the cube center.

/tdehaeze/stewart-simscape/media/commit/d28751712f63e2f2d6bb804356962bbdf6700679/org/figs/3d-cubic-stewart-misaligned.png
Not centered cubic configuration
  stewart = initializeStewartPlatform();
  stewart = initializeFramesPositions(stewart, 'H', 80e-3, 'MO_B', -40e-3);
  stewart = generateCubicConfiguration(stewart, 'Hc', 100e-3, 'FOc', 50e-3, 'FHa', 0, 'MHb', 0);
  stewart = computeJointsPose(stewart);
  stewart = initializeStrutDynamics(stewart, 'Ki', ones(6,1));
  stewart = computeJacobian(stewart);
  stewart = initializeCylindricalPlatforms(stewart, 'Fpr', 175e-3, 'Mpr', 150e-3);
<<plt-matlab>>
/tdehaeze/stewart-simscape/media/commit/d28751712f63e2f2d6bb804356962bbdf6700679/org/figs/cubic_conf_not_centered_J_center.png
Cubic Stewart platform not centered with the cube center - Jacobian estimated at the cube center (png, pdf)
2 0 -1.7e-16 0 0.02 0
0 2 0 -0.02 0 2.8e-17
-1.7e-16 0 2 1.2e-19 -1.4e-17 1.4e-17
0 -0.02 1.2e-19 0.015 -4.3e-19 1.7e-18
0.02 0 -7.3e-18 -3.3e-21 0.015 0
6.6e-18 2.5e-17 0 2e-18 0 0.06

We obtain $k_x = k_y = k_z$ and $k_{\theta_x} = k_{\theta_y}$, but the Stiffness matrix is not diagonal.

Cubic Stewart platform not centered with the cube center - Jacobian estimated at the Stewart platform center

Here, the "center" of the Stewart platform is not at the cube center. The Jacobian is estimated at the center of the Stewart platform.

The center of the cube is at $z = 110$. The Stewart platform is from $z = H_0 = 75$ to $z = H_0 + H_{tot} = 175$. The center height of the Stewart platform is then at $z = \frac{175-75}{2} = 50$. The center of the cube from the top platform is at $z = 110 - 175 = -65$.

  stewart = initializeStewartPlatform();
  stewart = initializeFramesPositions(stewart, 'H', 80e-3, 'MO_B', -40e-3);
  stewart = generateCubicConfiguration(stewart, 'Hc', 100e-3, 'FOc', 50e-3, 'FHa', 0, 'MHb', 0);
  stewart = computeJointsPose(stewart);
  stewart = initializeStrutDynamics(stewart, 'Ki', ones(6,1));
  stewart = computeJacobian(stewart);
  stewart = initializeCylindricalPlatforms(stewart, 'Fpr', 175e-3, 'Mpr', 150e-3);
<<plt-matlab>>
/tdehaeze/stewart-simscape/media/commit/d28751712f63e2f2d6bb804356962bbdf6700679/org/figs/cubic_conf_not_centered_J_stewart_center.png
Cubic Stewart platform not centered with the cube center - Jacobian estimated at the Stewart platform center (png, pdf)
2 0 -1.7e-16 0 0.02 0
0 2 0 -0.02 0 2.8e-17
-1.7e-16 0 2 1.2e-19 -1.4e-17 1.4e-17
0 -0.02 1.2e-19 0.015 -4.3e-19 1.7e-18
0.02 0 -7.3e-18 -3.3e-21 0.015 0
6.6e-18 2.5e-17 0 2e-18 0 0.06

Conclusion

  • The cubic configuration permits to have $k_x = k_y = k_z$ and $k_{\theta_x} = k_{\theta_y}$
  • The stiffness matrix $K$ is diagonal for the cubic configuration if the Jacobian is estimated at the cube center.

Having Cube's center above the top platform

Let's say we want to have a decouple dynamics above the top platform. Thus, we want the cube's center to be located above the top center. This is possible, to do so:

  • The position of the center of the cube should be positioned at A
  • The Height of the "useful" part of the cube should be at least equal to two times the distance from F to A. It is possible to have small cube, but then to configuration is a little bit strange.
  stewart = initializeStewartPlatform();
  stewart = initializeFramesPositions(stewart, 'H', 100e-3, 'MO_B', 50e-3);
  FOc = stewart.H + stewart.MO_B(3);
  Hc = 2*(stewart.H + stewart.MO_B(3));
  stewart = generateCubicConfiguration(stewart, 'Hc', Hc, 'FOc', FOc, 'FHa', 10e-3, 'MHb', 10e-3);
  stewart = computeJointsPose(stewart);
  stewart = initializeStrutDynamics(stewart, 'Ki', ones(6,1));
  stewart = initializeJointDynamics(stewart, 'disable', true);
  stewart = initializeCylindricalPlatforms(stewart);
  stewart = initializeCylindricalStruts(stewart);
  stewart = computeJacobian(stewart);
  stewart = initializeStewartPose(stewart);
2 0 -3.2e-16 0 3.1e-16 0
0 2 0 -1.2e-16 0 0
-3.2e-16 0 2 5e-18 -5.6e-17 0
0 -1.2e-16 5e-18 0.14 3.5e-18 1.4e-17
3e-16 0 -5.4e-17 2.1e-19 0.14 -6.9e-18
7.4e-19 -2.6e-17 0 1.3e-17 -6.9e-18 0.54

We obtain $k_x = k_y = k_z$ and $k_{\theta_x} = k_{\theta_y}$, but the Stiffness matrix is not diagonal.

Functions

<<sec:functions>>

generateCubicConfiguration: Generate a Cubic Configuration

<<sec:generateCubicConfiguration>>

This Matlab function is accessible here.

Function description

  function [stewart] = generateCubicConfiguration(stewart, args)
  % generateCubicConfiguration - Generate a Cubic Configuration
  %
  % Syntax: [stewart] = generateCubicConfiguration(stewart, args)
  %
  % Inputs:
  %    - stewart - A structure with the following fields
  %        - geometry.H [1x1] - Total height of the platform [m]
  %    - args - Can have the following fields:
  %        - Hc  [1x1] - Height of the "useful" part of the cube [m]
  %        - FOc [1x1] - Height of the center of the cube with respect to {F} [m]
  %        - FHa [1x1] - Height of the plane joining the points ai with respect to the frame {F} [m]
  %        - MHb [1x1] - Height of the plane joining the points bi with respect to the frame {M} [m]
  %
  % Outputs:
  %    - stewart - updated Stewart structure with the added fields:
  %        - platform_F.Fa  [3x6] - Its i'th column is the position vector of joint ai with respect to {F}
  %        - platform_M.Mb  [3x6] - Its i'th column is the position vector of joint bi with respect to {M}

Documentation

/tdehaeze/stewart-simscape/media/commit/d28751712f63e2f2d6bb804356962bbdf6700679/org/figs/cubic-configuration-definition.png
Cubic Configuration

Optional Parameters

  arguments
      stewart
      args.Hc  (1,1) double {mustBeNumeric, mustBePositive} = 60e-3
      args.FOc (1,1) double {mustBeNumeric} = 50e-3
      args.FHa (1,1) double {mustBeNumeric, mustBeNonnegative} = 15e-3
      args.MHb (1,1) double {mustBeNumeric, mustBeNonnegative} = 15e-3
  end

Check the stewart structure elements

  assert(isfield(stewart.geometry, 'H'),   'stewart.geometry should have attribute H')
  H = stewart.geometry.H;

Position of the Cube

We define the useful points of the cube with respect to the Cube's center. ${}^{C}C$ are the 6 vertices of the cubes expressed in a frame {C} which is located at the center of the cube and aligned with {F} and {M}.

  sx = [ 2; -1; -1];
  sy = [ 0;  1; -1];
  sz = [ 1;  1;  1];

  R = [sx, sy, sz]./vecnorm([sx, sy, sz]);

  L = args.Hc*sqrt(3);

  Cc = R'*[[0;0;L],[L;0;L],[L;0;0],[L;L;0],[0;L;0],[0;L;L]] - [0;0;1.5*args.Hc];

  CCf = [Cc(:,1), Cc(:,3), Cc(:,3), Cc(:,5), Cc(:,5), Cc(:,1)]; % CCf(:,i) corresponds to the bottom cube's vertice corresponding to the i'th leg
  CCm = [Cc(:,2), Cc(:,2), Cc(:,4), Cc(:,4), Cc(:,6), Cc(:,6)]; % CCm(:,i) corresponds to the top cube's vertice corresponding to the i'th leg

Compute the pose

We can compute the vector of each leg ${}^{C}\hat{\bm{s}}_{i}$ (unit vector from ${}^{C}C_{f}$ to ${}^{C}C_{m}$).

  CSi = (CCm - CCf)./vecnorm(CCm - CCf);

We now which to compute the position of the joints $a_{i}$ and $b_{i}$.

  Fa = CCf + [0; 0; args.FOc] + ((args.FHa-(args.FOc-args.Hc/2))./CSi(3,:)).*CSi;
  Mb = CCf + [0; 0; args.FOc-H] + ((H-args.MHb-(args.FOc-args.Hc/2))./CSi(3,:)).*CSi;

Populate the stewart structure

  stewart.platform_F.Fa = Fa;
  stewart.platform_M.Mb = Mb;

Bibliography   ignore

bibliographystyle:unsrtnat bibliography:ref.bib