The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.

USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

David G Hoag

Wallace E Vander Velde

Joseph D Sabo

Eldon C Hall

Edward M Copps, Jr

J H Laning

Samuel A Forter

Ralph R Ragan

Daniel J Lickly

A laser pointing system directs a laser beam at one face of a steering mirror to produce a steered reflected beam. A highly attenuated portion of the laser beam passes through the mirror leaving at a second side, which side also reflects a stellar field. A star of the stellar field and the attenuated beam are both imaged on a star tracker. The mirror is moved so the two images coincide, thus aligning the steered beam parallel to the direction of the star. A gyro package detects changes in the system orientation to update the mirror reference position, and a processor provides command coordinates to move the beam from the stellar coordinates and cause it to point in a selected target direction.

Laser pointing system

An electromagnetic suspension system for suspending a platform element with respect to a base element includes electromagnetic isolator/actuators, having a permanent magnet with a pole gap between the magnetic poles, and a coil having turns of electrically conductive material. The coil and permanent magnet are positioned so that at least a portion of each of the coil turns is within the pole gap of the permanent magnet, with the portion being aligned substantially perpendicularly to the polar axis of the permanent magnet. When electric current is applied to the coil, an electromagnetic force is generated between the coil and the permanent magnet. This force is proportional to the current and substantially independent of relative velocity of motion between the coil and the magnet.

Electromagnetic isolator/actuator system

An inertial guidance system for a rocket powered ballistic missile which vides navigation and control while the missile is proceeding in its flight trajectory. Signals are generated within the confines of the missile and without outside information representative of angular and linear motion of the missile with respect to an inertial frame of reference, a digital computer compares these signals against a preset parameter stored in the computer to provide control signals along the pitch and yaw axes. An autopilot uses these control signals to provide mechanical control movements, and an exhaust nozzle deflection arrangement connected to the autopilot deflects the exhaust of the rocket for guidance along a predetermined flight trajectory.

Polaris guidance system

Growing community of inventors

Medway, MA, United States of America

David G Hoag