Demonstration of an Inverted Stewart Platform Target-Suspension System Using Lightweight, High-Tensile Strings

This paper presents the design, development, and testing of an inverted Stewart platform for suspending and positioning targets during RF antenna and signature testing. Previous string target-support systems have used multiple-string-attachment-point configurations that do not allow the target roll...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE antennas & propagation magazine 2007-10, Vol.49 (5), p.185-190
Main Authors: Buterbaugh, Alan, Kent, Brian M., Mentzer, Carl, Scott, Mark, Forster, William
Format: Magazinearticle
Language:English
Subjects:
Antennas
Azimuth
Cables
Cranes
Damping
Design engineering
Feedback
Force sensors
Platforms
Robots
Rolls
Sensor systems
Space missions
Stability
Strings
Support systems
System testing
Weight reduction
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This paper presents the design, development, and testing of an inverted Stewart platform for suspending and positioning targets during RF antenna and signature testing. Previous string target-support systems have used multiple-string-attachment-point configurations that do not allow the target roll or pitch to be modified during the azimuthal data collection. This presentation will discuss an in-house development of a scale model target-support system that allows for high-accuracy simultaneous target roll and pitch positioning. The inverted Stewart platform also offers unique stability of the target by damping out the torsional pendulum motion typically encountered in conventional string-support systems. In this paper, we will also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the string-support concepts, and provide design guidance for building an inverted Stewart-platform support system.
ISSN:1045-9243
1558-4143
DOI:10.1109/MAP.2007.4395340