USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Keith E Clark

Patrick T Donohue

Robert B Dillinger

Charles E Woods

Wayne A Fiebick

Sue Oah

Michael J Ripley-Lotee

Provided is a modified configuration that permits operation of instrumentation onboard platforms that may experience severe environmental conditions. The instrumentation permits autonomous acquisition of performance data. Acquired data may be recorded for later playback as well as provided to the platform's operator in real time in multiple formats, such as warning lights, digital displays, video, or audio. An application would be for sensor systems used on an automobile to record performance data, providing a warning when routine maintenance is due or a catastrophic failure is imminent. A specific application uses a flight-certified missile launcher pod on an F/A-18 aircraft, as incorporated in the aircraft's wingtip and modified to hold instrumentation conforming, at least in part, to the launcher pod's internal dimensions. This arrangement enables autonomous onboard display and recording of data from the captive carry testing of an AIM-9X missile and follow-on designs that may be based on the AIM-9X.

Integral data acquisition capacity

A stabilized gimbal platform is provided by use of rate gyro stabilized a of a gimbal ring. A bail gimbal is used with both pitch and yaw inner gimbals to provide low friction stabilization over a large angular pointing range. This bail ring combination surrounds a lens assembly sensor, an automatic light level control device suitable to search for and track targets in a given frequency or wavelength range. By aiming, the gimbal arrangement permits the entire lens sensor arrangement to actually point and steer towards the desired target direction. The bail is balanced with drive assembly to provide stability to the bail. The bail itself is not mounted on its axis of rotation but rather is off-axis mounted on bearings for support and driven by an off-axis torque motor drive. The bail assembly can be driven by a metal band to provide smooth rotation of the bail assembly.

Stabilized gimbal platform

A modular, apogee-control package is disclosed which can be added to exisg missiles, and which will limit the apogee of the missile trajectory by implementation of thrust vector control (TVC). The package comprises a boost guidance unit, a solid rocket propellant motor, and jet vane TVC.

Propulsion/control modular booster

A missile seeker optical system which provides off-boresight viewing angles p to 135.degree. by the addition of two spherical-toric corrector lenses which cooperate with a conventional achromatic lens used as the seeker objective.

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Ridgecrest, CA, United States of America

Keith E Clark