Integrated Inertial Stabilization Mechanism for Laser Pointing Systems

The objective of this Phase I project is to design a micro inertial stabilization mechanism with embedded microelectromechanical system (MEMS) sensors, for laser pointing and stabilization. The stabilization mechanism design is based on AGNC-developed MEMS gyro technology and integrates the mechanical design of the platform with the microelectromechanical design of the inertial sensors. The application of the MEMS inertial sensors makes it possible to build a small, light, low-power, inexpensive and accurate pointing and stabilization system. The proposed inertial stabilization system has two gimbals that allow a mirror surface on the platform to be stabilized inertially, and, thus, the vehicle motion and vibration induced interference to the platform is isolated. This stabilization system meets the airborne application requirements by its small size, light weight, low power, fast beam steering, and reduced cost in design and production. It can be used in aircraft for laser pointing and tracking, camera and telescope stabilization control, optical communications, antenna pointing, telescope stabilization, laser pointing and control, and vehicle guidance. At the end of the project, a demonstration system will be presented.