Applications: Platform Stabilization

Moog Crossbow's inertial systems address platform stabilization applications for antenna and camera systems.  

Antenna Stabilization Applications

Antenna systems typically use Moog Crossbow inertial sensor data (azimuth and elevation) to actively point the antenna at a desired satellite position in the sky.  Our Products are excellent choices because they measure continuous absolute roll, pitch, and azimuth.

Camera Stabilization Applications

Camera systems require fine precision from an active stabilization system like the Moog Crossbow inertial systems to avoid errors caused by sensor noise, bias, or bandwidth/phase delay.

Two of the common issues include horizon leveling and jitter reduction.  Horizon leveling is typically required on aerial cameras as they zoom in on a particular target on the ground or distance. A Moog Crossbow inertial system is strapped down to the aircraft and supplies roll and pitch data to the active gimbal.  The gimbal uses the roll, pitch and the gimbal's azimuth location data relative to the aircraft in order to hold the camera at a constant angle relative to the horizon.

Jitter reduction is simply measuring the activity of the camera and applying corrective signals to the motors. An Inertial Measurement Unit measures rate only is typically used since no absolute position information is required.  In digital video applications, jitter can be removed without the use of motors but sophisticated signal processing and rate/accelerometer data from an IMU. Placing the sensor on the camera allows the controller to do closed loop control around a zero rate / null sensor reading. In other words the sensor is actually measuring the error signal for the controller.

Recommended Products:

1. VG700MB - The VG700MB is an intelligent vertical gyro for measuring roll, pitch and yaw angles in dynamic environments. The VG700CB uses Moog Crossbow’s third generation Fiber Optic Rate Gyro technology resulting in superior performance, reliability, and stability over time.
   
   
2. NAV440- The Moog Crossbow NAV440 is a low-cost complete GPS-Aided MEMS-Based Inertial System and allows measuring roll, pitch and heading angles in dynamic environments.  In addition to enhanced attitude measurements, the NAV440 also provides velocity and heading data at up to 100 Hz.  The inertial system is aided by both GPS velocity and GPS track to improve stability and reduce the latency associated with standalone GPS measurements.

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Benefits to Customer:

• Complete Dynamic Information including angle rates and accelerations –Moog Crossbow inertial systems calculate roll, pitch and heading angles by integrating the angular rate sensor outputs. An integrated adaptive vertical erection algorithm compensates the roll and pitch for gyro bias-induced errors using the long term gravity reference provided by the accelerometers.
  
  
• Low-Voltage and Light Weight – Moog Crossbow’s products offer very high spatial resolution and an unparalleled operational flexibility to meet demanding sensing applications in vehicle mounted or man portable, battery powered platforms.