Development of a Stewart Platform-based 6-axis Force Sensor for Robot Fingers

This paper describes the development of a Stewart platform-based robot force sensor with distinctive structure of ball joints. The number of ball joints is only a half of the similar style sensors, so it is possible to reduce size and weight of the sensor. The structure of ball joint is described and discussed. Furthermore, we use strain gauges, but not liner voltage differential transformers, as sensing elements, in order to reduce size and weight of the sensor. It is also proposed that beams are replaced with pipes as sensing elements of the sensor. The ball joints and sensing elements with pipes can effectively reduce the error of the sensor. A geometric analysis model is also proposed. The external force and its moment can be measured with this model. Moreover, the performance of this sensor was tested. The test results conducted to evaluate the sensing capability of the sensor is reported and discussed.