Autonomous, self leveling, self correcting stabilized platform

A method of stabilizing and self correcting a camera platform comprising:

• positioning a stabilized camera platform on a moving object;
• stabilizing the payload platform in at least two dimensions based on information collected by a first sensor package sensing motion of the moving object independent of motion of the payload platform;
• sensing by a second sensor package a position of the payload platform relative to a predetermined position;
• and
• self correcting the position of the payload platform to the predetermined position based on information collected by the second sensor package.

A stabilized platform comprising:

• a payload platform for supporting an article to be stabilized;
• a base;
• a stabilizing system connected between the payload platform and the base, the stabilizing system including means for moving the payload platform with respect to the base about two different axes for providing the payload platform with stabilization in two dimensions;
• a first sensor package for determining, in two transverse directions, motion of a moving object on which the stabilized platform is mounted;
• a second sensor package comprising sensor means fixed to the payload platform for providing information based on a position of the payload platform relative to a predetermined position;
• and
• a control system connected to the means for moving for stabilizing the platform in response to information provided by the first sensor package and the second sensor package, wherein the information provided by the first sensor package is independent of the stabilization of the platform provided by the means for moving, and the position of the platform is subject to drift over time from stabilization thereof based on information provided by the first sensor package, and wherein the control system responds to information provided by the second sensor package to correct for the drift from the predetermined position, and the first sensor package comprises rate of motion sensors and the sensor means comprises level sensors.

A stabilized platform comprising:

• a payload platform for supporting an article to be stabilized;
• a base;
• a stabilizing system connecting the payload platform to the base, the stabilizing system including at least two motors for rotating the payload platform with respect to the base about two perpendicular axes of rotation providing the payload platform with stabilization in two dimensions;
• a first sensor package fixed to said base for determining motion of a vehicle on which the stabilized platform is mounted in two perpendicular directions,
• a second sensor package including at least one level sensor fixed to the payload platform;
• and
• a control system for continuously stabilizing the platform based on information provided by the first sensor package and correcting for first sensor package anomalies based on information provided periodically by the second sensor package.

A method of stabilizing and self correcting a camera platform comprising:

• positioning a stabilized camera platform on a moving vehicle;
• continuously stabilizing the platform in at least two dimensions based on information collected by a first sensor package fixed relative to the moving vehicle and sensing motion of the moving vehicle;
• and
• periodically self correcting a position of the platform based on information collected by a second sensor package including a level sensor and mounted on the platform.

A stabilized platform comprising:

• a payload platform for supporting an article to be stabilized;
• a base;
• a stabilizing system connected between the payload platform and the base, the stabilizing system including means for moving the payload platform with respect to the base about two different axes for providing the payload platform with stabilization in two dimensions;
• a first sensor package for determining, in two transverse directions, motion of a moving object on which the stabilized platform is mounted;
• a second sensor package comprising sensor means for sensing a position of the payload platform and for providing information based on the position of the payload platform relative to a predetermined position;
• and
• a control system connected to the means for moving for stabilizing the platform in response to information provided by the first sensor package and the second sensor package, wherein the second sensor package is fixed to the payload platform, and wherein the control system allows a user to set an initial payload platform position and provides self correction of the platform to the initial position.

A stabilized platform comprising:

• a payload platform for supporting an article to be stabilized;
• a base;
• a stabilizing system connected between the payload platform and the base, the stabilizing system including means for moving the payload platform with respect to the base about two different axes for providing the payload platform with stabilization in two dimensions;
• a first sensor package for determining, in two transverse directions, motion of a moving object on which the stabilized platform is mounted;
• a second sensor package comprising sensor means for sensing a position of the payload platform and for providing information based on the position of the payload platform relative to a predetermined position;
• and
• a control system connected to the means for moving for stabilizing the platform in response to information provided by the first sensor package and the second sensor package, wherein the second sensor package is fixed to the payload platform, and wherein the control system responds to information from the first sensor package at a rate of at least as fast as about one hundred times per second and the control system responds to information from the second sensor package at a rate of about once per second to about once per minute.

A stabilized platform comprising:

• a payload platform for supporting an article to be stabilized;
• a base;
• a stabilizing system connected between the payload platform and the base, the stabilizing system including means for moving the payload platform with respect to the base about two different axes for providing the payload platform with stabilization in two dimensions;
• a first sensor package for determining, in two transverse directions, motion of a moving object on which the stabilized platform is mounted;
• a second sensor package comprising sensor means for sensing a position of the payload platform and for providing information based on the position of the payload platform relative to a predetermined position;
• and
• a control system connected to the means for moving for stabilizing the platform in response to information provided by the first sensor package and the second sensor package, wherein the second sensor package is fixed to the payload platform, and wherein the information provided by the first sensor package is independent of the stabilization of the payload platform provided by the means for moving, and the information provided by the second sensor package is dependent upon the stabilization of the payload platform.

A stabilized platform comprising:

• a payload platform for supporting an article to be stabilized;
• a base;
• a stabilizing system connected between the payload platform and the base, the stabilizing system including means for moving the payload platform with respect to the base about two different axes for providing the payload platform with stabilization in two dimensions;
• a first sensor package for determining, in two transverse directions, motion of a moving object on which the stabilized platform is mounted;
• a second sensor package comprising sensor means for sensing a position of the payload platform and for providing information based on the position of the payload platform relative to a predetermined position;
• and
• a control system connected to the means for moving for stabilizing the platform in response to information provided by the first sensor package and the second sensor package, wherein the second sensor package is fixed to the payload platform, and wherein the f sensor package comprises sensors for sensing a different type of information from the sensor means in the second sensor package.

A stabilized platform comprising:

• a payload platform for supporting an article to be stabilized;
• a base;
• a stabilizing system connected between the payload platform and the base, the stabilizing system including means for moving the payload platform with respect to the base about two different axes for providing the payload platform with stabilization in two dimensions;
• a first sensor package for determining, in two transverse directions, motion of a moving object on which the stabilized platform is mounted;
• a second sensor package comprising sensor means for sensing a position of the payload platform and for providing information based on the position of the payload platform relative to a predetermined position;
• and
• a control system connected to the means for moving for stabilizing the platform in response to information provided by the first sensor package and the second sensor package, wherein the control system responds to information from the first sensor package more often than the control system responds to information from the second sensor package.