Inertially Stabilized Platforms for Precision Pointing Applications to Directed-Energy Weapons and Space-Based Lasers (Preprint)

摘要

Tactical and space-based high-energy-laser weapon systems present interesting challenges for precision line-of-sight control. Sub-Murad pointing accuracies are required against dynamic targets. In addition, absolute pointing and inertial angular-rate measurements are required to support mission requirements. This article addresses directed-energy-weapon (DEW) precision pointing requirements and implementation alternatives in the context of strapdown and stable-platform inertial-reference technologies. Prior work has addressed details of stable platform design and test results. The contributions of the present article include the broader issues of DEW requirements drivers, integration of the stabilization system with the remaining optical system, and design tradeoffs between stable-platform and strapdown stabilization mechanizations.