Abstract
Isolation of spacecraft microvibrations is essential for the successful deployment of instruments relying on high-precision pointing. Hexapod platforms represent a promising solution, but the difficulties associated with attaining desirable 3D dynamics within acceptable mass and complexity budgets have led to a minimal practical adoption. This paper addresses the influence of strut boundary conditions (BCs) on system-level mechanical disturbance suppression. Inherent limitations of the traditional all-rotational joint configuration are highlighted and shown to originate in link mass and rotational inertia. A pin–slider BC alternative is proposed and analytically proven to alleviate them in both 2D and 3D. The advantages of the new BC hold for arbitrary parallel manipulators and are demonstrated for several hexapod geometries through numerical tests. A configuration with favourable performance is suggested. Finally, a novel planar joint that allows the physical realisation of the proposed BC is described and validated. Consequently, this work enables the development of platforms for microvibration attenuation that do not require active control.
•High-frequency attenuation is proven limited for all-rotational joint hexapods.•Proposed pin–slider link boundary condition improves isolation performance.•A general analytical model for the new boundary condition is derived.•A hexapod geometry with favourable dynamic characteristics is identified.•Planar joint design for physical implementation of the slider is delineated.