Programmable positioner for the stress-free assembly of assemblies

An apparatus for positioning an object comprising:

• a base plate comprising at least a first base junction and a second base junction;
• a locator plate comprising at least a first locator junction and a second locator junction;
• at least a first, second, and third actuator interconnecting said base plate and said locator plate and being movable relative to one another to move said locator plate relative to said base plate, each of said actuators including a first end operatively connected to said base plate and a second end operatively connected to said locator plate, wherein;
• said first ends of said first and second actuators are operatively connected to said base plate at said first base junction and said first end of said third actuator is operatively connected to said base plate as said second base junction, each of said actuators extending divergently from said base plate to said locator plate such that,
• said second end of said first actuator is operatively connected to said locator plate at said first locator junction,
• said second end of said second actuator is operatively connected to said locator plate at said second locator junction, and
• said second end of said third actuator is operatively connected to said locator plate at said second locator junction adjacent said second end of said second actuator;
• and
• a control circuit connected to said actuators for selectively actuating said actuators to move said locator plate to a predetermined position relative to said base plate and responsive to a force applied to said locator plate for actuating said actuators to change the applied force.