Abstract: A device projects a virtual three-dimensional map of a physical environment onto an area captured by an image sensor of the device. The device receives user input to begin tracking device motion. In response to receiving the user input, the device tracks its motion within the area. The device determines location data within the area and orientation data of the image sensor within the area based on the tracked motion of the device. At least one of the location data or the orientation data is converted to real-world coordinates based on the virtual three-dimensional map of the physical environment. Path data is generated for a physical vehicle based on the at least one converted location or orientation data.

Abstract: A device projects a virtual three-dimensional map of a physical environment onto an area captured by an image sensor of the device. The device receives user input to begin tracking device motion. In response to receiving the user input, the device tracks its motion within the area. The device determines location data within the area and orientation data of the image sensor within the area based on the tracked motion of the device. At least one of the location data or the orientation data is converted to real-world coordinates based on the virtual three-dimensional map of the physical environment. Path data is generated for a physical vehicle based on the at least one converted location or orientation data.

Abstract: A device projects a virtual three-dimensional map of a physical environment onto an area captured by an image sensor of the device. The device receives user input to begin tracking device motion. In response to receiving the user input, the device tracks its motion within the area. The device determines location data within the area and orientation data of the image sensor within the area based on the tracked motion of the device. At least one of the location data or the orientation data is converted to real-world coordinates based on the virtual three-dimensional map of the physical environment. Path data is generated for a physical vehicle based on the at least one converted location or orientation data.

Abstract: A device projects a virtual three-dimensional map of a physical environment onto an area captured by an image sensor of the device. The device receives user input to begin tracking device motion. In response to receiving the user input, the device tracks its motion within the area. The device determines location data within the area and orientation data of the image sensor within the area based on the tracked motion of the device. At least one of the location data or the orientation data is converted to real-world coordinates based on the virtual three-dimensional map of the physical environment. Path data is generated for a physical vehicle based on the at least one converted location or orientation data.

Abstract: An imaging device can be mounted on a vehicle and used to capture images. The imaging device can include a camera assembly rotatable relative to a platform of the vehicle and about two or three camera axes. The camera assembly can include a camera and a mirror attached to the camera. The mirror can be rotatable relative to the camera and about one or two mirror axes, different from the camera axes. Users can provide input to controllers that operate the vehicle, the camera, and the mirror to control both flight and the line-of-sight of the camera. The controllers combine separate inputs as well as measured conditions, such as inertial angles, to coordinate control of vehicle, camera, and mirror parameters, such as yaw adjustments to both the camera and the mirror to achieve a desired line-of-sight.

Abstract: An imaging device can be mounted on a vehicle and used to capture images. The imaging device can include a camera assembly rotatable relative to a platform of the vehicle and about two or three camera axes. The camera assembly can include a camera and a mirror attached to the camera. The mirror can be rotatable relative to the camera and about one or two mirror axes, different from the camera axes. Users can provide input to controllers that operate the vehicle, the camera, and the mirror to control both flight and the line-of-sight of the camera. The controllers combine separate inputs as well as measured conditions, such as inertial angles, to coordinate control of vehicle, camera, and mirror parameters, such as yaw adjustments to both the camera and the mirror to achieve a desired line-of-sight.

Abstract: A telescope comprises a folding reflector comprising a plurality of sections configured to fold at a plurality of substantially parallel hinges, a support structure configured to support at least two of the plurality of sections of the folding reflector and further configured to fold at one of the plurality of substantially parallel hinges, a corrector assembly configured to deploy from a stowed position in which an optical axis of the corrector assembly is substantially parallel to the parallel hinges to a deployed position in which the optical axis is substantially perpendicular to the folding reflector when the folding reflector is deployed. The telescope further comprises a hexapod configured to stow and deploy the corrector assembly.

Abstract: A high-bandwidth deformable fast steering mirror (“HDFSM”) system, including an electromechanical fast steering mirror (“FSM”) apparatus, and a deformable mirror (“DM”) apparatus mounted on the electromechanical FSM apparatus. The DM apparatus further includes a DM substrate, a backplane assembly, a plurality of electrostrictive actuators in physical communication with and between the DM substrate and the backplane assembly, for deforming the DM substrate, and a plurality of strain gauges, each strain gauge mounted on one of the plurality of electrostrictive actuators, the plurality of strain gauges measuring individual positions of the plurality of electrostrictive actuators and transmitting the positions as actuator position signals. The high-bandwidth deformable FSM also includes a closed-loop control system, the control system controlling the electromechanical FSM apparatus and the DM apparatus based upon a command input and the actuator position signals.

Abstract: A deployment hinge for deploying an appendage, including a movable portion affixed to the appendage, and a stationary portion affixed to a stationary body. In a non-deployed state, the movable portion is mechanically engaged with the stationary portion and a mechanical load is transferred between the stationary portion and the movable portion. In a deployed state, the movable portion is mechanically disengaged from the stationary portion, and a mechanical load is prevented from being transferred to the movable portion from the stationary portion.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a linear motion flexural apparatus to provide friction-free linear travel for large stroke motion. In one embodiment, a linear motion flexural apparatus comprises a first member having a first surface, and a second member having a second surface which is spaced from the first surface of the first member. One of the first member and the second member is movable relative to another one of the first member and the second member in a linear direction. At least one sheet is disposed between the first surface of the first member and the second surface of the second member. Each sheet has a first edge portion and a second edge portion generally opposite from the first edge portion. The first edge portion is attached to the first surface of the first member. The second edge portion is attached to the second surface of the second member.

Abstract: An adaptive control includes a digital error correction system (DECS) to reduce control system error to near zero by anticipating a problem and feeding forward in time a correction to deal with the problem before it happens. The adaptive control is used in a controlled system of the kind which is cyclical in operation and which operates in response to repetitive cycle commands so that the operation of the system is substantially predictable for a significant number of cycles of operation. The adaptive control is incorporated in a spatial chopping or scanning telescope system of the kind in which a telescope mirror is moved in repetitive cycle motions and in a rigidly prescribed pattern between varied orientations and wherein the mirror is held for a prescribed, relatively long period of time in each orientation and is moved rapidly in a relatively short period of time from one orientation to another.

Abstract: An adaptive control includes a digital error correction system (DECS) to reduce control system error to near zero by anticipating a problem and feeding forward in time a correction to deal with the problem before it happens. The adaptive control is used in a controlled system of the kind which is cyclical in operation and which operates in response to repetitive cycle commands so that the operation of the system is substantially predictable for a significant number of cycles of operation. The adaptive control is incorporated in a refrigerator system in which two Stirling cycle refrigerators are mounted in opposition to one another. The adaptive control permits accurate control of the command waveform frequency and shape, enables the refrigerator system to be more thermodynamically efficient, and enables the two refrigerators to exactly cancel each other's vibration.

Abstract: In a strapped-down gyroscope space vehicle attitude control system, a method and apparatus are provided for gyro drift and input axis misalignment error compensation employing a sun and a star tracker and preselected vehicle calibration maneuvers. During the preselected maneuvers using the sun and a star as external references, the outputs of two-axis strapped-down gyroscopes nominally aligned with the optical axis of the sun and star trackers are measured. The measured outputs provide gyro drift calibration, roll, pitch and yaw axis scale factors and values corresponding to the degree of nonorthogonality between the roll axis and the pitch and yaw gyro input axes and the nonorthogonality of the roll and pitch axes relative to the yaw axis. With the calibration data so obtained stored in a special purpose digital computer, the vehicle is then rolled and yawed through precomputed angles as modified by the calibration data to acquire a target without further recourse to external references.