Hexapods: The word sounds alien, but we see them every day. A hexapod (“hexa” is the Greek word for six; “pod” is Greek for foot) is simply a spatial motion machine with six driving elements. They can be seen at fairgrounds, as the motor for carnival rides, or on flight simulators for pilot training. In both cases, the cabin is mounted on six stilts whose length can be changed and rotated against each other, allowing the platform to move in all six degrees of freedom.

Essentially, hexapods are robots. They are used in many manufacturing sectors, including automotive. Hexapods have a parallel kinematic structure. Machines with a different kind of structure—known as serial kinematics—are far more popular in industry. Serial kinematics, particularly those that make up an articulated arm, have become well established in industrial production.

Hexapods, meanwhile, are used only in special cases, but their accuracy in these areas is unmatched. Their parallel kinematics offer higher positioning accuracy because the position errors of the axes are not cumulative, as in serial kinematics, but are only proportional to the overall movement.

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