LoadPath Enhanced Gimbal System

Expanded operating environments, evolving interceptor platforms, and increased performance thresholds have given rise to technical challenges to existing seeker gimbal systems that necessitate evolution of the State-of-the-art (SOTA). LoadPaths approach is to develop flexure-based gimbal concepts that maintain or enhance existing system operating abilities such as field of regard, line of sight (LOS) measurement precision, slew rate etc., while evolving the SOTA in a way that both improves the capabilities of the gimbal and enables performance enhancements to the interceptor kill vehicle (KV). The resulting enhanced gimbal systems will require miniaturization, moving parts reduction, high-quality assembly, dense packaging, reliable actuation, and improved seeker platform position measurement precision. The LoadPath Enhanced Gimbal System (LEGS) is an innovative gimbal design approach that is capable of surviving high acceleration and vibration environments.Unlike current state-of-the-art gimbals that require numerous precision machined parts and complicated assembly processes, our approach leverages advanced manufacturing technology to reduce part count, minimize moving parts, integrate damping, improve performance, and enable automated assembly. LEGS technology provides a robust, cutting edge material-based approach to manufacturing and assembly of flexure-based gimbals that has the potential to revolutionize current and future interceptor seeker platforms, while maintaining compatibility with accepted homing guidance practices.Approved for Public Release | 17-MDA-9395(24 Oct 17)