Device for automatically tracking a moving object

Abstract

In a device for automatically tracking a moving object, which device includes: an optical measuring head rotatable about vertical and horizontal axes, the measuring head having first and second light transmitters for producing and emitting, respectively, a horizontally and a vertically sharply collimated light beam along respective beam axes, the transmitters being operative to cyclically sweep the beam axes horizontally and vertically, respectively, over given ranges about zero positions, and an optical receiver mounted to receive light echoes generated by reflections of the transmitted beams and having an optical axis oriented parallel to the beam axes when at the zero positions. The device further includes motorized horizontal and vertical servo drives connected for rotating the measuring head about the vertical and horizontal axes, regulating circuits connected to the receiver for converting the amplitude of the momentary deflection of the beam axes from their zero positions when a light echo of the beam emitted by each light transmitter is received by the receiver to a setting value for an associated servo drive to adjust the orientation of the measuring head in the sense of reducing that amplitude of the momentary deflection of the associated beam axis; and control elements connected to the first and second light transmitters for causing each transmitter to produce its associated light beam during successive, spaced periods.