Auto-alignment System for Masted Head Mirror Flexure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for imaging and sensing in ground vehicles face limitations such as restricted rotation range, excessive weight, and inefficiencies in mounting and switching between different systems, which hinder flexibility and performance.
Innovation Solution
An auto-alignment system for a masted head mirror that includes a mast with variable height, faceted mirrors, and beam-steering mirrors to correct for mast flexure, allowing for precise line-of-sight maintenance and enabling multiple optical systems to share a common masted portion, with sensors and navigation units inside the vehicle to adjust the line of sight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional ground systems are used for imaging and sensing, then they can ascertain information about object space, but they have restricted rotation range and excessive weight
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the optical components into two separate locations: sensors remain inside the vehicle while mirrors are positioned externally on the mast. This segmentation allows the heavy sensing equipment to stay within the vehicle (reducing moving weight on the mast) while maintaining full imaging and sensing capabilities through the external mirror system that reflects signals back to the internal sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a vertical mast structure to elevate mirrors above the vehicle's rotation plane, adding a vertical dimension to the optical path. This allows the sensors to remain within the vehicle's horizontal rotation plane while the mirrors operate in three-dimensional space, enabling unrestricted rotation range without increasing the weight of rotating components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional systems are mounted on the vehicle, then they can perform sensing functions, but switching between different systems is inefficient and lacks flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The mast structure with external mirrors serves as a universal platform that can work with multiple different sensor systems. Different sensors inside the vehicle can all utilize the same external mirror assembly, eliminating the need to physically switch between complete systems. The mirror system acts as a common interface that multiple internal sensors can access, providing versatility without requiring system changes.
3Weight of moving object
If sensors are positioned inside the vehicle with external mirrors, then weight is reduced on the vehicle, but maintaining precise line-of-sight alignment becomes challenging due to mast flexure
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates alignment sensors that detect the position of the external mirrors relative to the internal sensors and provide feedback signals. This feedback enables real-time adjustment of mirror positions or sensor pointing directions to compensate for mast flexure, maintaining precise line-of-sight alignment despite the separated sensor-mirror configuration and variable mast height.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system acts as an intermediary that processes alignment sensor data and coordinates adjustments between the mirror positions and sensor orientations. This intermediary control mechanism reconciles the physical separation between internal sensors and external mirrors, ensuring accurate line-of-sight maintenance while allowing the weight benefits of the distributed configuration.
4Device complexity
If a fixed mast height is used, then the system structure is simpler, but it cannot accommodate multiple optical systems or provide optimal viewing angles
Solution Approach 1:
The mast incorporates variable height capability that allows it to dynamically adjust its elevation to accommodate different optical system requirements. This dynamic adjustment enables multiple optical systems with different field-of-view and positioning requirements to share the same mast structure, providing versatility without requiring completely separate fixed-height masts for each system.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances flexibility and performance by reducing weight on the vehicle, allowing for easy system changes and accommodating multiple systems with a common masted portion, while maintaining precise line-of-sight alignment and reducing the need for extensive cabling and external equipment.
Implementation Method 1
a mast mirror configured to reflect signals to or from object space along a line of sight
Implementation Method 2
the mast mirror is configured to direct the error sensing beam onto the one or more faceted mirrors, the one or more faceted mirrors configured to reflect the error sensing beam to travel back to one of the one or more error sensing modules
Implementation Method 3
at least two beam-steering mirrors configured to prevent the line of sight for the one or more sensors from walking off the mast mirror by adjusting an angle and translation of the signals reflected off the mast mirror
Data Source
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AI summary
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, an optical sensor system comprises a mast (210, 310), a mast mirror (220, 320), a navigation unit (380), one or more faceted mirrors (370), and at least two beam-steering mirrors (495). The mast is elevated from a vehicle (140, 440). The mast mirror reflects signals either to or from object space along a line of sight. The navigation unit determines a location and attitude of the mast mirror. The one or more faceted mirrors reflect an error sensing beam (375) to reveal a flexure of the mast mirror. The at least two beam-steering mirrors prevent the line of sight for the signals reflected off the mast mirror from walking off the mast mirror by adjusting an angle and translation of the signals reflected off the mast mirror.