Six Degrees of Freedom - Engineering

Engineering

The term is important in mechanical systems, especially biomechanical systems for analyzing and measuring properties of these types of systems that need to account for all six degrees of freedom. Measurement of the six degrees of freedom is accomplished today through both AC and DC magnetic or electromagnetic fields in sensors that transmit positional and angular data to a processing unit. The data are made relevant through software that integrate the data based on the needs and programming of the users.

Ascension Technology Corporation has recently created a 6DoF device small enough to fit in a biopsy needle, allowing physicians to better research at minute levels. The new sensor passively senses pulsed DC magnetic fields generated by either a cubic transmitter or a flat transmitter and is available for integration and manufacturability by medical OEMs.

An example of six degree of freedom movement is the motion of a ship at sea. It is described as:

Translation:

1. Moving up and down (heaving);
2. Moving left and right (swaying);
3. Moving forward and backward (surging);

Rotation

1. Tilting forward and backward (pitching);
2. Turning left and right (yawing);
3. Tilting side to side (rolling).