Recon/optical, Inc.

Lance D Gedde

James P Quinn

A system for measuring the attitude of the platform that is movable relative to a fixed frame. The system comprises at least three platform mounting assemblies, each of the three mounting assemblies comprising (a) an isolation mount interconnecting the platform to the frame, the isolation mount permitting the platform to move relative to the frame, and (b) a means for measuring the movement of a point on the platform relative to the frame along three orthogonal axes. For each of the three mounting assemblies, the means for measuring, in the preferred embodiment, comprise a set of three linear position sensors having a known fixed attachment point to the frame and an end portion that terminates at or about the point on the platform. The linear position sensors or potentiometers generate measurement signals corresponding to the measurements of platform movement. The system further comprises a data processor that receives the measurement signals and responsively calculates the attitude of the platform relative to the frame according to a procedure set forth in detail. In an embodiment of the invention wherein the platform includes an aerial reconnaissance camera system, and the platform is mounted to a portion of the aircraft frame. The data processor obtains from the aircraft's inertial navigation system current information as to roll, pitch and yaw of the aircraft and sums the calculated yaw, pitch and roll angles with aircraft roll, pitch and yaw information derived from an inertial navigation system. Thus, the data processor derives the attitude of the platform in an inertial frame of reference and corrects for platform movement caused by the passive isolation mounts, permitting precise pointing of the aerial reconnaissance camera.

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McHenry, IL, United States of America

Lance D Gedde