Motion Platform Actuator Alignment for Computational Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motion platform systems face complex computational challenges in high-speed applications due to non-proportional output signals from transducers and cross-coupling effects, leading to inefficient position and orientation control and protection of active devices from operational limits.

Innovation Solution

A specific alignment of active devices (linear actuators) and transducers, where the transducers are positioned in a geometric plane with a pivot joint, ensuring that output signals remain proportional to the length of the active devices, simplifying computations for position and orientation control and preventing actuator overextension.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If transducers are positioned immediately adjacent to actuators to provide discrete position sensing, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to cross-coupling effects and non-proportional output signals requiring complex computations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition sensing precisionVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A geometric plane is introduced as an intermediary conceptual framework that mediates between the transducer positioning and the computational processing. By constraining transducers to specific locations within this geometric plane, the system achieves proportional output signals without requiring complex computational corrections for cross-coupling effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the spatial parameter of transducer positioning from arbitrary adjacent locations to specific locations within a geometric plane. This parameter change transforms the output signal characteristics from non-proportional to proportional, thereby simplifying the computational requirements while maintaining measurement precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If complex computations are performed to solve cross-coupling effects and non-proportionality, then measurement accuracy is maintained, but productivity decreases due to time-consuming processing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition and orientation calculation accuracyVSAvoidcomputation speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The geometric plane configuration is established as a preliminary design constraint that pre-prevents the generation of cross-coupling effects and non-proportional signals. By configuring the system geometry beforehand, the need for complex real-time computations is eliminated, allowing for fast processing while maintaining accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If multiple transducers are positioned to cover all actuator positions, then reliability is improved through comprehensive monitoring, but device complexity increases due to additional components and calculations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactuator protection reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The geometric plane serves as a universal framework that simultaneously achieves multiple functions: it ensures proportional output signals from all transducers, eliminates cross-coupling effects, and provides comprehensive actuator monitoring. This single geometric constraint fulfills multiple reliability and control functions without requiring additional complex components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2973500B1Motion platform configuration
Publication Date: 2019.10.30 OCEANEERING INTERNATIONAL INC
  • EP2973500B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2973500B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP2973500B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

An improved motion platform configuration having a particular alignment configuration of the components which include a plurality of active devices, such as linear actuators, and a plurality of transducers, such as passive transducers. The particular alignment configuration of components simplifies computations that are based on the output signals from the transducers, thus providing better support for high speed motion platform applications.