Correcting Duporcq's theorem

Mech Mach Theory. 2014 Mar:73:282-295. doi: 10.1016/j.mechmachtheory.2013.11.012.

Abstract

In 1898, Ernest Duporcq stated a famous theorem about rigid-body motions with spherical trajectories, without giving a rigorous proof. Today, this theorem is again of interest, as it is strongly connected with the topic of self-motions of planar Stewart-Gough platforms. We discuss Duporcq's theorem from this point of view and demonstrate that it is not correct. Moreover, we also present a revised version of this theorem.

Keywords: Architectural singularity; Borel Bricard problem; Self-motion; Stewart–Gough platform.