On the mechatronic servo bandwidth of a stewart platform for active vibration isolating in a super antenna

•To describe the rapidity of multiple-DOF mechatronic system, we presented a novel definition on mechatronic servo bandwidth of Stewart platform.•We developed a general method of analytically determining the mechatronic servo bandwidth according to the dynamical formulations.•We determined the mechatronic servo bandwidth analytically and experimentally.•The results mentioned above agree with each other.

As being independent of the magnitude of reference input signal, the conventional concept of servo bandwidth stemming from electronics fails to reflect the ability of the multiple degree-of-freedom (DOF) mechatronic system to perform vibration control. Considering the magnitude and frequency of reference input signal, a novel definition of mechatronic servo bandwidth of the Stewart platform-based active vibration isolator for a super antenna is proposed firstly. Then its mechatronic servo bandwidth is theoretically evaluated according to electrical and mechanical performances by using an optimization method. Experiments were conducted on the Stewart platform prototype, and the results validate the definition of and solution to the mechatronic servo bandwidth. From the application point of view, the mechatronic servo bandwidth can be employed to measure the manipulating rapidity of a multiple DOF mechatronic system and the range of vibrations that an isolator is able to overcome.