Flir Systems, Incorporated

Chris Yeomans

Mark Johnson

Warwick Mills

Paul Stokes

Richard Timothy Moth

Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide accurate attitude estimation for a mobile structure. An attitude estimation system includes a logic device in communication with a gyroscope, an accelerometer, and/or a speed sensor. Sensor signals provided by the various sensors are used to determine an estimated absolute coordinate frame relative to the mobile structure, which can be referenced to the Earth's gravity. Angular velocities provided by the gyroscope are transformed to the estimated absolute coordinate frame and used to determine a stabilized attitude estimate for the mobile structure. The stabilized attitude estimate may be displayed to a user, used to calculate a heading or route for the mobile structure, and/or used to adjust a steering actuator, a propulsion system thrust, and/or other operational systems of the mobile structure.

Acceleration corrected attitude estimation systems and methods

Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide accurate positioning for a hydraulic steering system without a need for a steering reference transducer. A hydraulic steering system may include a logic device in communication with an autopilot pump controller. Control and sensor signals provided by the pump controller are used to determine a linear or uncompensated steering actuator speed and an estimate of the hydraulic elasticity of the steering system, which can be modeled as an estimate of the air volume trapped within the steering system. The hydraulic elasticity/air volume estimate is used to determine a corrected or compensated steering actuator speed, and the corrected steering actuator speed is used to accurately control the steering system.

Hydraulic slip compensation systems and methods

Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide automatic and substantially continuous calibration for compasses mounted to moving structures. A compass calibration system may include a logic device configured to receive one or more sensor signals and determine a corrected magnetic field based, at least in part, on a measured local magnetic field. The logic device may be adapted to receive an angular velocity, an acceleration, the measured local magnetic field, and/or a speed of a mobile structure; generate stabilized roll and pitch components of an orientation of the mobile structure based, at least in part, on the acceleration and angular velocity; and determine the corrected magnetic field based, at least in part, on the speed, the local magnetic field, the stabilized roll and pitch components, and/or the angular velocity.

Automatic compass calibration systems and methods

Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide stabilized directional control for a vehicle. A directional control system for an embodiment may include a logic device adapted to receive directional data about a vehicle and determine nominal vehicle feedback from the directional data. The nominal vehicle feedback may be used to adjust a directional control signal provided to an actuator of a vehicle. The directional control signal may be limited to a value below an actuator rate limit before a directional control signal is adjusted by the nominal vehicle feedback. A directional control system may include a logic device, a memory, one or more sensors, one or more actuators/controllers, and modules to interface with users, sensors, actuators, and/or other modules of a vehicle.

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Fareham, United Kingdom

Chris Yeomans