Self-leveling laser horizon for navigation guidance

A self-leveling laser horizon device for navigational guidance comprising:

• a sensor unit having a platform, at least one actuator to move said platform and at least one primary sensor to sense the movement of said platform along a first and second axis of rotation relative to the Earth's gravitational vector, and at least one secondary sensor to sense the yaw rate of said platform relative to the Earth's gravitational vector;
• a processing unit having a receiver to receive a signals from said sensor unit, a processor to process signals from said sensor unit at a predetermined refresh rate and a transmitter to deliver signals to said actuator to level said platform in a manner that is substantially perpendicular to the Earth's gravitational vector;
• a display unit that is operatively engaged to said processing unit and adapted to provide at least one humanly perceptible indicator of an artificial horizon within the vehicle which corresponds to the substantially perpendicular orientation of said platform relative to the Earth's gravitational vector;
• and
• a housing that is removably engaged to the substrate of the vehicle and having a power supply defined therein to provide a source of power to at least one of said sensor unit, said processing unit and said display unit, wherein said sensor unit, processing unit and display unit are operatively disposed within said housing to provide a portable artificial horizon device.

A self-leveling laser horizon device for navigational guidance comprising:

• a sensor unit having a platform, at least one actuator to move said platform and at least one sensor to sense the orientation of said platform relative to the Earth's gravitational vector;
• a processing unit operatively connected to said sensor unit and adapted to receive a signal from said sensor and direct said actuator to level said platform in a manner that is substantially perpendicular to the Earth's gravitational vector;
• a display unit that is operatively engaged to said processing unit and adapted to provide at least one humanly perceptible indicator of an artificial horizon within a vehicle which corresponds to the substantially perpendicular orientation of said platform relative to the Earth's gravitational vector;
• and
• a housing that is removably engaged to a substrate of the vehicle and having a power supply defined therein to provide a source of power to at least one of said sensor unit, said processing unit and said display unit, wherein said sensor unit, processing unit and display unit are operatively disposed within said housing.