Mechatronic design of a Stewart platform as a base isolator with an active control system

Seismic isolation is a promising and effective method of seismic protection for structures. In many regions of the world exposed to seismic excitations and vibrations, elastomeric isolators, double frictional pendulum and sliders are used, demonstrating the minimization of damages during and after earthquakes; consequently, increasing the safety of the inhabitants and greater control of the structural damages of the building. This study has the purpose of designing a Stewart platform as a base seismic isolator with active displacement control for a five-story building, where engineering software such as Autodesk Inventor and ETABS was used, in addition to a microcontroller and a gyroscope sensor, to obtain the simulation efforts when applying the Stewart platform. Finally, it was obtained that the design parts did not present difficulties, since they had a safety factor of 1.5, being a resistant and ideal mechanical design. In the electronic and programming analyses, correct readings of the seismic movements were obtained by means of the GY-521 MPU-6050 sensor. Thanks to this study, an additional alternative for anti-seismic protection for structures will be available through the design of a Stewart platform.