Optical attitude reference

US4072281A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army · US

Inventors

• Walter E. Miller, Jr. · Huntsville, US
• Robert L. Sitton · Austin, US
• Anthony D. Blackmon · Madison, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 27, 1976
• Grant date: Feb 7, 1978
• Expiry date: Dec 27, 1996

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F41G7/26
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The optical attitude reference system provides missile attitude reference ing an optical beam in lieu of conventional gyroscopes. In the missile control systems autopilot, the system uses the properties of polarized light to determine missile roll angle relative to the beam transmitter reference axes at the launch site.