Lightweight, Low Cost, Seeker Gimbals

The Army has requested development of a lightweight, low cost, precision seeker gimbal assembly that can operate in environments inducing high stress levels (temperature, vibration, and shock). Ross-Hime Designs, Inc. (RHD), Minneapolis, Minnesota, with its subcontractor Lockheed Martin Tactical Defense Systems, Eagan, Minnesota, offer a fundamental and radical mechanical advancement to improve existing capabilities in high stress gimbals. This is accomplished without the penalties of additional weight from external mechanical supporting structures, while maintaining gimbal assembly performance in the high stress operational environment. RHD tackles the core of the problem—the mechanical design of the 2-axis seeker gimbal itself. The proposed design eliminates the need for rotary joints, slip rings, or twist capsules because its revolutionary technology provides a flexible and practical solution to the rotary joint problem. A major benefit of this revolutionary design is a new, full 180o az/el horizon-to-horizon tracking capability. “Gimbal lock,” or singularity, is eliminated due to the unique double universal joint design. An innovative Non-Overlapping Ring shock mount protects the gimbal from shock and vibration while maintaining pointing accuracy. Bandwidth constraint, which is inherent in rotary joints, is eliminated altogether.