MOTION DESIGN gets help from the cloud

By turning to the Internet cloud, it's possible to develop a simplified graphical tool resembling Mathcad and Matlab in concept that engineers can use interactively to quickly analyze various positioning stage configurations. Cloud-based tools may give good estimates within a few minutes of trial-and-error runs. Such tools have several advantages. First, in many cases the tool is free to use on the Web. Second, operation is usually self-explanatory with 24/7 availability in the cloud. Third, the tool is usually accessible by PC, cell phone, or even tablet. Combined with a manufacturers database of related components, the tool can help choose the optimum product for an application. These tools, such as the one presented in this article, must be used with caution and their results should always be validated by other tools or actual testing.