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Technical Abstract
The
Air
Force
has
identified
the need
for a
small,
inexpensive
inertial
attitude reference system that functions as a
two-axis optical reference in high
performance aircraft applications.
Applied Technology Associates
(ATA) proposes
the Magnetohydrodynamic
(MHD)
Inertial
Reference
Unit (MIRU)
to meet the requirement. The
MIRU
will integrate innovative and
emerging
technologies of inexpensive low-noise
inertial sensors, electromagnetic actuators,
electronics,
and
state-of-the-art
digital
processors
and
software to
address
the Air
Force
need.
In
the past
year ATA
has
achieved
technology
advances
in MHD-based
inertial
angular
motion
sensing
that
directly
contribute to the feasibility of developing
the MIRU. ATA
Sensors, the Company's commercial division, completed the design, manufacture, and
successful market
introduction
of the
Model
ARS-12. This
innovative
product
possesses the
appropriate
size,
bandwidth,
measurement
noise
and
dynamic
range,
power
consumption, ruggedness, and cost
characteristics desired for an
aircraft optical reference unit.
The
MIRU
will use
the
Model
ARS-12
as the
basis
for
achieving
the
requisite
isolation
of the
telescope’s
optical
line-of-sight
(LOS) from the
aircraft
base
motion,
i.e., LOS
jitter
at 3 µrads
or less. Other
direct
lessons learned and technology
foundations
from ATA’s support
to the
Air Force
High
Altitude
Balloon
Experiment
(HABE)
will be
exploited
in
constructing the MIRU.
Anticipated
Benefits
The MIRU will address the need for line-of-sight (LOS) isolation and stabilization
by means
of a
precision
inertial
attitude
reference
unit for
optical
systems. Potential military and commercial applications
include optical
instruments on aircraft, spacecraft, ships,
and
ground
vehicles. Low-cost inertial attitude
sensors for
applications in automobiles and other consumer products such as
cameras and binoculars are
also related
opportunities.
Key
Words
Optical Pointing, Inertial Stabilization, Optical Reference System, Angular Rate
Sensor, Inertial Attitude Reference System,
Line-of-Sight Stabilization.
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30 years 
