Shipboard Auto-Tracking with a Unique Gimbal System

We propose to develop a unique gimbal system for shipboard auto-tracking based on technology developed by the proposing team for an airborne system. The airborne system features jitter control to less than 10 microradians while performing line of sight stabilized tracking from aircraft. Two MetroLaser gimbals now in service are delivering 3-5 microradian performance. The high bandwidth control system completely compensates for roll, pitch, and yaw of the moving vehicle. Much of the technology is directly applicable to the shipboard problem. The control system will always maintain lock-on of operator designated targets using edge, correlation, or centroid tracking after handover from the ship's radar. Sea State 3 is within the gimbals' performance envelope. The combination of MetroLaser's rigid structures and the Hughes patented quasi-strapdown equation solution results in a gimbal of exceptional stability and performance. Either a mirror or a sensor package mounted directly on the gimbal can be adapted to meet the Navy requirement. We will assess critical issues such as materials, field-of-regard, protective coatings and candidate mounting locations. Phase I culminates in a recommended configuration and design analysis for a prototype gimbal.