Abstract: A device for controlling the lag angle of optical fiber as it is wound on a obbin prior to the fiber wound bobbin being placed in a missile and payed out during flight on the missile. The device includes a laser light source which is projected into the groove between the turns of fiber being wound on the bobbin. A hemispherical detector receives the reflected laser light as it tracks the light between the grooves and any difference in the light intensity that is received by the detector is amplified and is used to speed up or slow down a reversible, variable speed motor which controls the winding of the fiber on the bobbin.

Abstract: A closed loop dynamic alignment fixture which has a pivot plate which is pted to have a rate gyro mounted thereon and a base which is adapted to be mounted on a rate table with means for automatically adjusting the pivot plate relative to the base plate and rate table to allow for the testing of the amount of misalignment of an input axis of the rate gyro that is mounted thereon to allow misalignment data to be gathered on high drift rate gyros.

Abstract: A sled test facility employing a tubular shaped track for testing missile d aircraft guidance and control systems. A blockhouse is at one end of the track and a recovery station at the other end. A compressor in the blockhouse and recovery station controls the g-profile of the sled as the sled moves in a cushion of air in the tubular track. Instrumentation and controls are provided in the blockhouse and recovering station.

Abstract: A device for controlling the twist associated with optical fiber being wo on a bobbin is disclosed. Signal transmission analysis in fibers wound on bobbins require techniques not normally encountered when considering long straight fibers. Signal loss on a fiber cable payout assembly is mainly due to small bends in the fiber at crossover positions and in the transmission regions where the winding travel changes directions. The signal attenuation in a length of optical fiber is also known to be a function of the amount of twist in the fiber both in the wound and payed out states. This invention allows the amount of twist of the optical fiber to be precisely controlled from zero to full (360 degrees twist per turn of the bobbin) twist to provide optimum signal transmission for both the wound and payed out states.

Abstract: A gyro bearing and caging mechanism in which a spherical gyro rotor is driven by an induction motor with bearing surfaces between the rotor and stator having a magnetic fluid that is held in place at discrete positions around the circumference of the rotor by permanent magnets imbedded in the spherical rotor and a movable caging plate with magnets in a surface thereof and magnetic fluid between surfaces of the caging plate and a top surface of the rotor for caging the rotor.

Abstract: A multifunction sensor provides two axes of angular rate and two axes of ear acceleration information from a single instrument. The multifunction sensor utilizes an air bearing rotor to support the spinning transducers. Angular rate measurements are made by utilizing two thin film transistors mounted on the rotor and oriented to sense strain about axes in a first plane orthogonal to the rotor spin axis. The two transducers output signals are summed to provide common mode rejection. A second set of thin film transistors are mounted on the rotor in a second plane orthogonal to that of the first set of transistors and oriented to sense strain along the axes orthogonal to the rotor spin axis. Two axes of acceleration can be measured by integrating this output signal at the proper time using a clock frequency. Angular rate and linear acceleration signals may be extracted from the rotating member via slip ring contacts or inductive pickoffs.

Abstract: An accelerometer employing a magnetic fluid bearing which permits movement f a magnetic cylinder along a designated sensitive axis. The device is used to measure acceleration in such applications as inertial platform leveling, thrust termination, and inertial reference triads. The position of the magnetic cylinder (proof mass) is measured by a capacitance bridge network. The output of this capacitance network is a voltage which is proportional in direction and magnitude to the applied acceleration. This voltage will be amplified by an operational amplifier.

Abstract: A fluidic accelerometer employing a transverse-impact modulator for measug acceleration or velocity of a body along a specified axis of the accelerometer. This device uses two similar collinear power-input tubes directed toward each other. The axially opposing power jets from the tubes impact where the flow meets an air-bearing supported proofmass containing annular rings and produce symmetrical radial flow cones at the balance point. A change in the position of the proofmass causes the balance point to move which causes the radial flow cones to become asymmetrical and a net pressure difference is developed in the output receivers.

Abstract: A fluidic accelerometer employing a direct-impact modulator for measuring celeration or velocity of a body along a specified axis of the accelerometer. This device uses two similar collinear power-input tubes directed toward each other. The axially opposing power jets from the tubes impact where the flow meets an air-bearing supported proofmass containing annular rings and produce symmetrical radial flow cones at the balance point. A change in the position of the proofmass causes the balance point to move which causes the radial flow cones to become asymmetrical and a net pressure difference is developed in the output receivers.

Abstract: A radial arm tracker with a constant drive ratio for use in monitoring the osition of a guidance platform during the firing azimuth alignment phase. One end of the radial arm is mounted to the rotor of an encoder and a telescope is pivotally mounted at the free end of the radial arm through a constant ratio drive system to a stator of an encoder. The stator of the encoder is coupled to a north seeking device. The missile firing azimuth is referenced to the output of the north seeking device through the radial arm tracker.