Acceleration aided tracking of a designated target

In a system for tracking a target with respect to the position of a gimbaled sensor that is controlled in relation to azimuth and elevation error signals of a tracking control means, the apparatus comprising:

• an azimuth control for generating an azimuth angular rate command signal to control the gimbaled sensor in response to the generated azimuth error signal;
• an elevation control for generating an elevation angular rate command signal to control the gimbaled sensor in response to the elevation error signal and in response to an elevation angular acceleration aiding signal;
• and
• means for generating the elevation angular acceleration aiding signal in response to the elevation angular rate command signal and in response to the elevation deflection angle of said gimbaled sensor to provide acceleration aiding for said elevation control.

In a system for tracking a target with respect to a gimbaled sensor whose orientation with respect to the target is determined by azimuth, elevation and roll servos which are controlled in relation to azimuth and elevation error signals determined by a tracking control means, the apparatus comprising:

• an azimuth control for generating an azimuth angular rate command signal to control the azimuth servo in response to the azimuth error signal of the tracking control means;
• an elevation control for generating an elevation angular rate command signal to control the elevation servo in response to the elevation error signal of the tracking control means, and in response to the elevation angular acceleration aiding signal;
• and
• means for providing acceleration aiding for said elevation control by generating the elevation angular acceleration aiding signal to control said elevation control in response to the elevation angular rate command signal generated by said elevation control and in response to the elevation deflection angle of said gimbaled sensor.

For a method of tracking a target with respect to the position of a gimbaled sensor that is controlled in relation to azimuth and elevation error signal determined by a tracking control means, a method for controlling the gimbaled sensor including the steps of:

• generating an azimuth angular rate command signal for controlling the gimbaled sensor in response to the azimuth error signal of the tracking control means;
• generating an elevation angular rate command signal for controlling the gimbaled sensor in response to the elevation error signal of the tracking control means, and in response to an elevation angular acceleration aiding signal;
• and
• generating the elevation angular acceleration aiding signal in response to the elevation angular rate command signal, and in response to the elevation deflection angle of said gimbaled sensor to provide angular acceleration aiding for said step of generating an elevation angular rate command signal.