3 ms·
Quaternions are a mathematical model. Are they also a mechanical solution?
by alisonkisk 5y ago
Quaternions are a mathematical model. Are they also a mechanical solution?
- krisoft 5y agoOne can argue that the solution where they add a 4th gimbal to the stable platform to avoid the possibility of a gimbal lock is kinda-sorta a mechanical equivalent for a quaternion. See for example the famous exchange between CapCom and Apollo 11 Command Module Pilot Michael Collins: https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/30953/did-michael-collins-ask-for-a-fourth-gimbal-for-christmas-is-there-a-recording https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/30953/did-michael-... But when I wrote that really all I meant is that it is advised to use quaternions to represent the attitude information in the software which fills the gap between the sensors and the actuators.