Laser-optic missile control surface monitor

Abstract

A system uses laser optic technology for non-obtrusive monitoring of movements a missile control surface undergoing electromagnetic testing. The system includes a laser source, a detector positioned opposite the laser source, an attenuator assembly positioned between the laser source and the detector, and a recorder for recording data processed by the detector. The attenuator assembly consists of a framed translucent gray scale shaded window mounted on a block member, which in turn is mounted to the missile control surface. The control surface is a pivotally mounted canard member on the missile body. Generated laser beams project onto the gray scale shaded window. The gray scale shading affects the intensity of the directed laser beams (darker areas attenuate more light and lighter areas allow more light to pass through). Accordingly, data is obtained from tracking the different shades of the light intensities which are directly related in synchronization with the movements of the canard member of the monitor assembly. The resulting intensity data is detected and measured by the detector and then processed by the recorder. Thus, as the control surface moves, the recorded data provides a basis for determining recognition characteristics with respect to the missile control surface, such as (1) the direction of the movement, (2) the distance of the movement, and (3) the speed of the movement.