Craig M Heatwole

Title: Innovations by Craig M. Heatwole in Satellite Technology

Introduction

Craig M. Heatwole is an accomplished inventor based in Redondo Beach, California. With a total of three patents to his name, Heatwole has significantly contributed to advancements in satellite technology. His expertise lies in the development of innovative gyroscopic systems that improve the reliability and accuracy of satellite attitude control.

Latest Patents

Heatwole’s latest patents include remarkable inventions that showcase his ingenuity. One of his notable inventions is the "Fault Detection Pseudo Gyro". This technology emulates mechanical gyros by processing measurement data from satellite appendages and reaction wheel tachometers. It effectively computes vehicular bus angular velocity while accounting for external torques and momentum transfer. This system enhances attitude reference and control systems, ensuring accurate vehicular angular velocity rates and enabling fault detection in hardware gyros and momentum sensors.

Another significant invention is the "Pseudo Gyro with Unmodeled Disturbance Torque Estimation". This advancement utilizes software processes to emulate mechanical gyros, using principles of conservation of momentum to derive vehicular bus angular velocity rates. A specific improvement in this invention is the bias torque estimator, which accounts for uncertainties in external torque estimations. This contributes to reliable system momentum computations and results in higher reliability, longer lifetimes, lower power consumption, and more accurate data within high bandwidth operations.

Career Highlights

Craig M. Heatwole has made his mark at The Aerospace Corporation, where he has implemented innovations that address critical challenges in satellite technology. His work emphasizes the importance of accuracy and reliability in the control systems that govern satellite behavior, making him an influential figure in his field.

Collaborations

Throughout his career, Heatwole has collaborated with esteemed colleagues such as Louis K. Herman and Girard M. Manke. These collaborations have fostered an environment of innovation and have led to significant advancements in satellite systems engineering.

Conclusion

With his impressive portfolio of patents and contributions to satellite technology, Craig M. Heatwole stands out as a leading inventor in the aerospace sector. His work not only showcases his technical expertise but also contributes to the future of reliable satellite operations and advancements in space exploration.