Low Cost Line of Sight Position/Stabilization Control System

Optical surveillance systems need real-time inertial line of sight (LOS) positioning and stabilization control to track the absolute position of targets within view. LOS position can be controlled in real time with an inertially stabilized pseudostar optical reference at the sensor's entrance aperture. The gyros that stabilize the pseudostar provide the LOS direction relative to inertial space when initialized against known stars. This concept decouples the sensor from its platform. The LOS position and control unit is comprised of a collimated light and three gyros on a hinged platform controlled by a servo system using two of the on-board gyros. The system must be compact, light weight, and have arc second angular resolution. Issues that will be addressed in Phase I include: gyro selection, system bandwidth, LOS slew rate, platform flexure, and servo system design.