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US 2011/0214503 A1Published application
Compact gradiometer with accelerometer based rotational control
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsDaniel E. Dosch, Thomas R. Metzger, Patrick W. Garten
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Abstract
A rotational stabilization system and method which allows for greater spatial separation of accelerometer sensors while maintaining or reducing an existing external footprint.
Claims20
A gravity gradiometer system comprising:
- a gravity gradiometer instrument (GGI) comprising at least one accelerometer disposed on an instrument package;
- a stabilization coupler having three rotational degrees of freedom, the stabilization coupler arranged centrally relative to said instrument package to provide rotation of said GGI along a spin axis orthogonal to the center of said stabilization coupler.
A method of stabilizing a gravity gradiometer system comprising accelerometers configured for providing data indicative of gradient gravitational forces on a test mass, the method comprising:
- receiving via said accelerometers data indicative of components of linear, gravitational, and rotational acceleration;
- combining said accelerometer data in a manner so as to cancel the linear and gravitational components to generate a signal indicative of rotational motion from said accelerometers;
- comparing said signal indicative of rotation motion with threshold data;
- and
- generating a servo command based on said comparison and indicative of an offset to said rotational acceleration measurement from said accelerometers.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.