Strap‐down stabilization for multi‐load optoelectronic imaging platform

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a strap‐down image stable strategy for multi‐load optoelectronic imaging platform hung below a tethered aerostat.

Design/methodology/approach

Four two dimension pods, each with a visible light camera, are fixed on the optoelectronic platform. A POS (Position and Orientation System) is used to acquire the attitude rate data of optoelectronic platform, while the data can be coupled to the pods' servo systems through corresponding coordinate rotation, then the motors of pods will adjust the line of sight to the opposite way to keep the stabilization of image exported by visible light camcorders. Simultaneously, two rate gyros are installed at the inner frame of each pod, which are used as a backup to avoid the failure of POS.

Findings

Using one attitude and position measurement system can realize the stabilization of multi optoelectronic pods, which is same as or even better than the ratio gyro stabilization.

Research limitations/implications

As the tethered aerostat is a flexible body, it is affected a lot by the wind speed and wind direction at the low height (<1,000 m), which leads to the motors of pods always adjust the line of sight to the mechanical limiting of pods.

Practical implications

Strap‐down stabilization technology has been successfully used in the tethered aerostat monitoring platform to surveillance Shanghai World EXPO site. Long time experiments verify the feasible and effective of the multi‐load stabilization technology. The impact on the image by the adjustment of servos is less than 10 percent of the whole view of sight.

Originality/value

The paper introduces a strap‐down stabilization technology for multi‐load tethered aerostat platform, which is more suitable to be applied in the platform of relatively minor attitude change, like the airborne multi‐load platform and multi‐load UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) platform.

Citation

Wang, Y., Zhou, W., Han, X., Wang, Z. and Ding, J. (2012), "Strap‐down stabilization for multi‐load optoelectronic imaging platform", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 84 No. 2, pp. 94-102. https://doi.org/10.1108/00022661211207901