Multiple DOF Platform with Multiple Air Jets

We have been studying noncontact object manipulation technology in which a single ball-shaped object is floated and controlled for its 3D position with multiple air jets driven by a pan-tilt actuator. In this paper, we try to control position and orientation of an arbitrary shaped object. Here an arbitrary object is connected with a triangle platform which is composed of three spheres linked with thin wires. Each sphere is spatially controlled by an air jet unit which consists of an air jet on a pan-tilt actuator. Kinematics of the air jet platform as a parallel link mechanism is calculated and a control method for the air jet platform is proposed.