SBIR-STTR Award

A technique is proposed whereby the boresight alignment between a helicopter missile or rocket launch support structure and the reference system can bed determined in three axes. The technique employs newly-developed fast scanning electro-optical sensors and fast special microprocessor subsystems. The workplan includes design and evaluation of the appropriate algorithms, scaled experiments using a fast video simulator and programmble gimbal angles and frequencies, sensor fabrication, microprocessor fabrication, and peroformance of both low frame rate and high frame rate brassboard demonstration experiments.

A technique is proposed whereby the boresight alignment between a helicopter missile or rocket support structure and a convenient reference system can be measured in real time to predict the occurrence of the best alignment. The technique employs fast scanning programable optical sensors and fast special purpose microprocessor subsystem. The scope of work includes design upgrade of existing optical bench components and microprocessor electronics subsystem to helicopter flight requirements and flight test of data acquisition systems to obtain data for predictive algorithm design as well as real time digital microprocessor design and fabrication. The final product is a prototype dynamic boresight mensuration and prediction system suitable for operation in the onboard helicopter flight environment.