Compare Tabletop style platform with umbrella style platform of air bearings spacecraft simulator

The "Tabletop" and "umbrella" style platforms of 3DOF air-bearing spacecraft simulator were compared. According to the theory on kineto-elastodynamic analysis and on the spacecraft attitude kinetics, the formulary for the platform structure mass-center displacement is deduced. It is calculated that the unbalance torque resulted from deforming of the platform of air-bearing simulator acted on gravity. Both of the styles can be compared by analyzing unbalance torque influence by changing of distance between the plate and the center of rotation of the simulator.The result shows that tabletop style platform has such advantages as lower equilibrium sensitivity, higher adaptability for payload than umbrella style platform. However, because the rotation center of air bearing of tabletop style platform locates the plate of the platform, the maximal deflection angle of the simulator was restricted.