Lockheed Martin Corporation

Lockheed Missiles & Space Company, Inc.

Aerocine Ventures, Inc.

Aerobo

Kenneth Roy Lorell

Brian Streem

Jean-Noel Aubrun

Robert R Clappier

Patrick Champagne

Paul J Reshatoff

Kristoph Matthews

Jean-Noël Aubrun

Alan Lee Duncan

David M Stubbs

Howard C Holmes

Natarajan Shankar

Stephen Randolph Winzer

Scott Miller

Mark Wolfson

Craig L Horn

Donald F Zacharie

Jean-Noel Auburn

A device projects a virtual three-dimensional map of a physical environment onto an area captured by an image sensor of the device. The device receives user input to begin tracking device motion. In response to receiving the user input, the device tracks its motion within the area. The device determines location data within the area and orientation data of the image sensor within the area based on the tracked motion of the device. At least one of the location data or the orientation data is converted to real-world coordinates based on the virtual three-dimensional map of the physical environment. Path data is generated for a physical vehicle based on the at least one converted location or orientation data.

Motion tracking interface for planning travel path

An imaging device can be mounted on a vehicle and used to capture images. The imaging device can include a camera assembly rotatable relative to a platform of the vehicle and about two or three camera axes. The camera assembly can include a camera and a mirror attached to the camera. The mirror can be rotatable relative to the camera and about one or two mirror axes, different from the camera axes. Users can provide input to controllers that operate the vehicle, the camera, and the mirror to control both flight and the line-of-sight of the camera. The controllers combine separate inputs as well as measured conditions, such as inertial angles, to coordinate control of vehicle, camera, and mirror parameters, such as yaw adjustments to both the camera and the mirror to achieve a desired line-of-sight.

Image stabilization and pointing control mechanization for aircraft imaging systems

A telescope comprises a folding reflector comprising a plurality of sections configured to fold at a plurality of substantially parallel hinges, a support structure configured to support at least two of the plurality of sections of the folding reflector and further configured to fold at one of the plurality of substantially parallel hinges, a corrector assembly configured to deploy from a stowed position in which an optical axis of the corrector assembly is substantially parallel to the parallel hinges to a deployed position in which the optical axis is substantially perpendicular to the folding reflector when the folding reflector is deployed. The telescope further comprises a hexapod configured to stow and deploy the corrector assembly.

Scanning wide field telescope (SWIFT) spaceflight-deployed payload

An enhanced optical delay line device for providing multiple degree of freedom active control, including first and second actively-controlled mirrors, each of the actively-controlled mirrors having two rotational degrees of freedom and one translational degree of freedom. The first actively-controlled mirror is mounted substantially orthogonally to the second actively-controlled mirror. The system also includes a closed-loop control system, the control system providing six mechanical degrees of freedom of active control for the enhanced optical delay line device by controlling the first and second actively-controlled mirrors based upon a command input and mirror position signals. The present invention is smaller than conventional optical delay line devices, has better performance, and eliminates the need for one of the FSMs, bringing the total number of mechanisms down to two from three.

Enhanced optical delay line with multiple degree of freedom active control

A high-bandwidth deformable fast steering mirror ('HDFSM') system, including an electromechanical fast steering mirror ('FSM') apparatus, and a deformable mirror (&#x201c;DM&#x201d;) apparatus mounted on the electromechanical FSM apparatus. The DM apparatus further includes a DM substrate, a backplane assembly, a plurality of electrostrictive actuators in physical communication with and between the DM substrate and the backplane assembly, for deforming the DM substrate, and a plurality of strain gauges, each strain gauge mounted on one of the plurality of electrostrictive actuators, the plurality of strain gauges measuring individual positions of the plurality of electrostrictive actuators and transmitting the positions as actuator position signals. The high-bandwidth deformable FSM also includes a closed-loop control system, the control system controlling the electromechanical FSM apparatus and the DM apparatus based upon a command input and the actuator position signals.

Hybrid high-bandwidth deformable fast steering mirror

A deployment hinge for deploying an appendage, including a movable portion affixed to the appendage, and a stationary portion affixed to a stationary body. In a non-deployed state, the movable portion is mechanically engaged with the stationary portion and a mechanical load is transferred between the stationary portion and the movable portion. In a deployed state, the movable portion is mechanically disengaged from the stationary portion, and a mechanical load is prevented from being transferred to the movable portion from the stationary portion.

Deployment hinge

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a linear motion flexural apparatus to provide friction-free linear travel for large stroke motion. In one embodiment, a linear motion flexural apparatus comprises a first member having a first surface, and a second member having a second surface which is spaced from the first surface of the first member. One of the first member and the second member is movable relative to another one of the first member and the second member in a linear direction. At least one sheet is disposed between the first surface of the first member and the second surface of the second member. Each sheet has a first edge portion and a second edge portion generally opposite from the first edge portion. The first edge portion is attached to the first surface of the first member. The second edge portion is attached to the second surface of the second member. Each sheet has a curved portion with a shape which is substantially unchanged during movement between the first member and the second member in the linear direction.

Large stroke linear motion flexural apparatus

A steerable mirror assembly, the assembly comprising a mounting plate and a mirror with a mounting surface and a reflective surface. The assembly further comprising at least one flexible connector coupled between the mounting plate and a peripheral portion of the mirror. The flexible connector is adapted to allow the mirror to move within a predetermined range along an axis perpendicular to the surface of the mirror and adapted to allow tilting of the mirror. The assembly also comprising at least one moveable support member coupled between the mounting plate and the mounting surface of the mirror. The moveable support member provides mechanical support to the mirror and is adapted to move the mirror within a predetermined range along an axis perpendicular to the surface of the mirror and adapted to allow tilting of the mirror. The assembly additionally comprising at least one position sensor.

Actively-supported multi-degree of freedom steerable mirror apparatus and method

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a compact and lightweight, automated latching device which includes a passive catch configured to be engaged with a motor-powered latch to form a mechanical connection between two structure in a precise and repeatable manner. An active damping mechanism is used to dissipate any vibrational energy that may be present in the latched structure. The apparatus may be used to precisely orient and attach a deployable element, usually of a space vehicle, to the main body of the vehicle. In one embodiment, a latching apparatus comprises a catch having a catch body and a probe connected to the catch body. A latch has a main housing and a grip mechanism movable relative to the main housing. The grip mechanism is configured to grip the probe and to be actuatable to pull the probe toward the latch. A damping member is coupled with the main housing of the latch, and is movable relative to the main housing of the latch toward the catch. The damping member is actuatable to exert a damping force against the catch body of the catch.

Automated latching device with active damping

An adaptive control includes a digital error correction system (DECS) to reduce control system error to near zero by anticipating a problem and feeding forward in time a correction to deal with the problem before it happens. The adaptive control is used in a controlled system of the kind which is cyclical in operation and which operates in response to repetitive cycle commands so that the operation of the system is substantially predictable for a significant number of cycles of operation. The adaptive control is incorporated in a spatial chopping or scanning telescope system of the kind in which a telescope mirror is moved in repetitive cycle motions and in a rigidly prescribed pattern between varied orientations and wherein the mirror is held for a prescribed, relatively long period of time in each orientation and is moved rapidly in a relatively short period of time from one orientation to another. The adaptive control permits accurate control of the command waveform frequency and shape, enables the telescope system to keep position error near zero by using, in combination with the feedback loop, a feed forward loop directly driving the actuators during the transition period and actively holding the mirror in position during the dwell periods. The adaptive control provides the ability to eliminate overshoot and ringing, because the force command provides the precise amount of braking required to exactly stop the mirror motion.

Adaptive error correction control system for optimizing mirror

An adaptive control includes a digital error correction system (DECS) to reduce control system error to near zero by anticipating a problem and feeding forward in time a correction to deal with the problem before it happens. The adaptive control is used in a controlled system of the kind which is cyclical in operation and which operates in response to repetitive cycle commands so that the operation of the system is substantially predictable for a significant number of cycles of operation. The adaptive control is incorporated in a refrigerator system in which two Stirling cycle refrigerators are mounted in opposition to one another. The adaptive control permits accurate control of the command waveform frequency and shape, enables the refrigerator system to be more thermodynamically efficient, and enables the two refrigerators to exactly cancel each other's vibration.

Growing community of inventors

Los Altos, CA, United States of America

Kenneth Roy Lorell