gimbal lock

Definitions

1. 1

   The loss of one degree of freedom in the three-dimensional rotational movement of a…

   The loss of one degree of freedom in the three-dimensional rotational movement of a three-gimbal mechanism, which occurs when the axes of two of the three gimbals are driven into a parallel configuration, so that the system's rotational movement becomes two-dimensional (and necessarily remains so until an appropriate force is applied); the equivalent situation in a simulation of rotational movement, when the mathematical model uses Euler angles (representing pitch, yaw and roll) or their equivalent.

   • Gimbal lock occurs when the pitch nears 90° or 270°, causing the bank and heading to lie along the same plane. This limits the item to only two rotation axes, as the bank and heading effectively do the same thing.
   • EVERY ANIMATOR CAN TELL YOU what gimbal lock does to their animations: during playback arms suddenly go crazy, wrists can spin like a top, heads can go exorcist on you.

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