Precision tripod motion system

A tripod motion system, comprising:

• a bottom plate including three spaced-apart bottom single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) hinge portions;
• a top plate including three spaced-apart top three-degrees-of-freedom (TDOF) joint portions, with the top plate configured to receive a workpiece;
• and
• three linear actuators pivotally coupled to the three bottom SDOF hinge portions of the bottom plate and coupled to the three top TDOF joint portions of the top plate, with each linear actuator of the three linear actuators configured to change length over a linear actuation span, with a linear actuator of the three linear actuators comprising:
• a positioning actuator configured to extend or retract the linear actuator to a predetermined set position;
• and
• one or more displacing actuators configured to boost the positioning actuator and hold the linear actuator at the predetermined set position.

An actuation method for a tripod motion system, comprising:

• in the tripod motion system, receiving a predetermined set position to be achieved by the tripod motion system, with the predetermined set position including three set positions for three linear actuators of the tripod motion system;
• in the tripod motion system, moving a positioning actuator of a linear actuator substantially to the corresponding predetermined set position, with each linear actuator of the three linear actuators being coupled to a bottom single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) hinge on a bottom plate of the tripod motion system and being further coupled to a top three-degrees-of-freedom (TDOF) joint on a top plate of the tripod motion system;
• and
• in the tripod motion system, moving one or more displacing actuators of the linear actuator to boost the linear actuator and to hold the linear actuator at the predetermined set position, with the one or more displacing actuators of the linear actuator providing a majority of a displacement force generated by the linear actuator.