Abstract: A method of automatically controlling trim position of a marine drive with a control system on a marine vessel includes receiving a user-selected command to enter a launch control mode and then controlling a trim actuator to automatically position the marine drive in a tucked position, tucked position is between a vertical trim position and a minimum running trim position. Once a vessel condition of the marine vessel reaches a first threshold vessel condition the trim actuator is controlled to trim up the marine drive to a predetermined target trim position to generate wave behind the marine vessel.

Abstract: A lightweight portable microprocessor-assisted remote control camera system provides precise repeatable camera movement through the improved stability of a 3-axis gimbal design, which allows a lightweight large sensor camera to be placed almost anywhere and smoothly controlled remotely via a simple touchscreen interface. The computer control module provides a wide range of control options including remote adjustment of all camera, lens and gimbal parameters, which can be programmed, set and recalled, including stabilization and motion smoothing, via the touchscreen interface.

Abstract: A motor control device includes: a position command section configured to generate a position command for a control object; a position detecting section configured to detect a position of the control object or a position of a motor configured to drive the control object; and a position control section configured to control a position of the motor based on the position command and the detected position of the control object or the motor, in which at least one of the position command section and the position control section includes a vibration suppression filter configured to approximate a reverse characteristic of a vibration characteristic generated between the motor and the control object, and the vibration suppression filter changes a vibration suppression frequency according to at least one of the position and a mass of the control object.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gimbal adjustment method. The method includes obtaining a reference image frame sequence and a reference shooting trajectory formed by a movement of a mobile platform when shooting the reference image frame sequence, the reference image frame sequence including two or more reference image frames, the mobile platform including a gimbal and an imaging assembly; estimating a shooting angle based on the reference shooting trajectory, and adjusting the gimbal based on an estimated shooting angle during an image re-shooting; obtaining a current image frame; and determining an amount of adjustment control of the gimbal based on the current image frame and the reference image frame sequence, and adjusting the gimbal based on the amount of adjustment control.

Abstract: Camera stabilization systems are provided, and more particularly, an improved lightweight hand-held or vehicle-mounted camera stabilization system is provided, for use in photographic or video-related applications. A stabilization of the alignment is critical in particular on moving camera supports, such as vehicles, airborne objects, and camera cranes, in order to achieve the best possible results in film or video recordings.

Abstract: Systems and methods for model based vehicle navigation are provided. In one embodiment, a navigation system: a strapdown navigation processor; a propagator-estimator filter, the navigation processor configured to input inertial sensor data and navigation corrections from the filter to generate a navigation solution comprising a vehicle velocity estimate and a vehicle attitude estimate; a vehicle physics model configured to perform calculations utilizing dynamics equations for a rigid body. The model inputs 1) vehicle state estimates from the navigation solution and 2) platform inputs indicative of forces acting on a vehicle platform. The model outputs a set of three orthogonal predicted translational acceleration measurements based on the inputs.

Abstract: A rotary electric machine having a stator, and a rotor having a shaft and permanent magnets on the surface of the shaft, the permanent magnets having a face of concave overall shape directed toward the stator.

Abstract: A method for controlling a gimbal configured to carry a load includes detecting a motion state of a motion of the gimbal or the load, comparing the motion state to a preset threshold to obtain a comparison result, and controlling the gimbal to maintain the load in an original posture based on the comparison result.

Abstract: A gimbal having a split design, which can be used in an assembly for actuating an aerodynamic high lift device, is described. The gimbal enables a rotating load path when a force is transferred from the actuator to the high lift device via the gimbal. In particular, the split design can include two receivers which can be coupled to posts extending from a nut. The nut can be secured to a shaft which receives a force generated by the actuator. In one embodiment, the actuator can rotate the shaft to cause the gimbal to translate along the shaft. The split design provides a more compact form factor and is lighter in weight than traditional gimbal designs.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a motor controller which can effectively stop a motor at a specific position in a short period of time, and can achieve an orientation operation quickly. A motor controller is configured to stop a rotary shaft, and includes: a first time period calculator that calculates a target stop position and an acceleration at a time of positioning, a first time period that is to be taken by the rotary shaft to stop at the target stop position; a second time period calculation unit that calculates the target stop position and the acceleration at the time of positioning, a second time period that is to be taken by the rotary shaft to stop at the target stop position; a comparison unit that compares the first time period with the second period; and an orientated stop control unit that controls and stops the motor.

Abstract: Disclosed is an intelligent photography system including an intelligent tripod head, a search camera, a shooting camera, a communication component and a control component. The search camera is mounted on the intelligent tripod head, and configured to search for a target to be shot. The shooting camera is mounted on the intelligent tripod head, and configured to take a target image. The communication component is fixed on the intelligent tripod head. The control component includes a circuit board component electrically connected with the intelligent tripod head, the search camera, the shooting camera and the communication component respectively, so that remote control of the shooting camera for shooting is realized, photographers are freed, and better effects are achieved.

Abstract: A housing for a leveling system including one or more light bars, with each of the one or more light bars comprising a plurality of lights including a center light, the one or more light bars configured to act as a real-time level status indicator for the housing parallel to an axis Z by lit lights of the one or more light bars including an indication of where the level status for the housing parallel to the axis Z changes.

Abstract: The system (10) of FIG. 1 uses fixedly-located master and slave smartphone devices (12, 14) to determine a player position of a player (20) within playing arena, such as a tennis court. The master device (12) makes a local determination of the speed of sound using an audible ping to the slave device displaced from the master device by a known distance. The slave device (14) also responds with a time stamp associated with the receipt of one or more pings. Correlation over successive RF-reported time stamps allows the master device (12) to assess, relative to its own internal reference clock, a time offset and drift for a local clock in the slave device (14). A RF connection to a communications circuit and sensor (18) arrangement located in a racket held by a player permits the master device (12) to assess a time offset and drift for a local clock associated with the sensor.

Abstract: An activation method and a mechanism in which a pressure or flow sensor senses the pressure or flow rate of the treatment fluid being pumped through the drill string. A controller powered by a power source monitors the sensed pressure or flow rate within a first time window and via a suitable activator activates a first downhole tool or operation mode thereof if the sensed pressure or flow rate is stable with that time window. The controller monitors the sensed pressure or flow rate within a second time window and activates a second downhole tool or second operation mode of the first downhole tool if the sensed pressure or flow rate is stable with that time window. In one embodiment, the sensed pressure is combined with a rotation sensor sensing the rotation of the drill string. The controller logs the starting time for the pumping and the rotation.

Abstract: Controlling a stepper motor. A stepper motor is driven towards an index position. An attempt is made to stop the stepper motor on the index position in a fashion that would ordinarily cause the stepper motor to ring at the index position. Characteristics of one or more subsequent pulses that would counteract the ringing are determined. The one or more determined subsequent pulses are issued to the stepper motor.

Abstract: An illumination assembly includes a laser for producing a laser beam of light and an optical fiber disposed adjacent the laser and extending between a beam receiving end for receiving the laser beam of light from the laser and a beam emitting end for emitting the laser beam of light therefrom. A beam splitter splits the laser beam into a target beam and a feedback beam and directs the target beam toward the targeted object. A feedback sensor receives the feedback beam and generates a feedback signal to identify a targeted image portion correlated to the targeted object. A motor is operatively connected to the vehicle with the beam emitting end fixedly secured thereto. A controller receives the feedback signal generated by the feedback sensor and generates a control signal transmittable to the motor to position the beam emitting end of the optical fiber such that the target beam continues to be directed toward the targeted object.

Abstract: There is provided a method for determining an abnormality during operation of a high voltage disconnect switch, the method comprising: determining a current position of an arm of the high voltage disconnect switch operatively connected to a motor, the motor being operated for driving the arm of the high voltage disconnect switch; determining a torque of the motor corresponding to the current position of the arm; comparing the torque of the motor to a torque threshold for the current position of the arm; and outputting an abnormality signal based on the comparison.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for supporting and articulating a payload using stabilization platform. The stabilization platform may be configured to avoid gimbal lock. The stabilization platform may be configured to automatically transition between different modes of orientation.

Abstract: A position detection and simulation platform includes software configurable logic and programmable inputs and outputs to support software configuration only changes for use with a variety of position feedback devices including synchros, resolvers, linear variable differential transformers, and rotary variable differential transformers. Power to the software configurable outputs is dynamically controlled so that the power supply voltage presented to the outputs satisfies a minimum threshold above the amplitude of the output signal. Dynamic control is based on at least one of a digital representation of a signal to be output, an analog version of the signal to be output, or the signal being output.

Abstract: Enhanced stability for infrared countermeasure systems is provided by using a pair of single axis rate sensors having orthogonal active axes, preferably aligned with the elevation axis and the azimuth axis of the gimbal. The outputs of the orthogonal single axis rate sensors are used to detect instantaneous aircraft angular movement and to use the detected movement to drive the elevation and azimuth motors of the gimbal to move the output mirror for the gimbal to cancel the detected movement.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention compensate for one or more effects of a stage motor in a precision stage device. A feedforward module receives an input signal corresponding to the effect of the motor and generates a feedforward control signal that can be used to modify a motor control signal to compensate for the effect of the motor. In some embodiments, a control system is provided to compensate for a back-electromotive force generated by a motor, while in other embodiments, a control system may compensate for an inductive effect of a motor. Embodiments of the invention may be useful in precision stage devices, for example, lithography devices such as steppers and scanners.

Abstract: A position detection and simulation platform includes software configurable logic and programmable inputs and outputs to support software configuration only changes for use with a variety of position feedback devices including synchros, resolvers, linear variable differential transformers, and rotary variable differential transformers. Power to the software configurable outputs is dynamically controlled so that the power supply voltage presented to the outputs satisfies a minimum threshold above the amplitude of the output signal. Dynamic control is based on at least one of a digital representation of a signal to be output, an analog version of the signal to be output, or the signal being output.

Abstract: Provided is a method of obtaining an image of a disc, in which the method obtains an image of an analysis or test result object of a disc by minimizing a difference between the positionings of a magnet of the disc and a magnet of a feeding unit, and an apparatus for driving a disc, wherein the apparatus performs the method. The method includes: fixing a positioning of a disc by using magnetic attraction between a first magnet installed on the disc and a second magnet installed on a feeding unit; minimizing a difference between the positionings of the first and second magnets; and obtaining an image of an analysis or test result object of the disc.

Abstract: A hand-held or vehicle-mounted stabilization system including a platform supported by two or more rotatably-coupled gimbal frames each having a pivot assembly disposed at its rotation axis to couple an actuator to a rotation sensor having a rotation-sensitive sensor axis that is preferably fixedly disposed with respect to the rotation axis, and a controller for accepting the sensor signals and for producing each motor signal needed to dispose the platform in a predetermined angular position with respect to each rotation axis independent of changes in mount orientation. An alternative embodiment includes a controller for accepting an external slew signal sequence and for producing the motor signals needed to move the platform along a predetermined sequence of positions represented by the slew signal sequence.

Abstract: A press machine controller (10) for controlling a press machine (30) having a servo motor (41) to drive a slide (38) via a reduction mechanism (37) changed in reduction ratio in accordance with the position of the slide (38) is disclosed. The device includes a command generator (20) for generating at least one of a position command, a speed command and a torque command for the servo motor (41); a vibration command generator (13) for generating a vibration command based on a parameter preset for the press machine controller (10); a slide position detector (12) for detecting the position of the slide (38); and a vibration command adding portion (21, 22, 23) for adding the vibration command to any one of the position command, the speed command and the torque command for the servo motor (41) in the case where the slide position is in a predetermined range. The press machine, even if stopped with the slide at the bottom dead center, can be restarted with a small torque.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for sensing the position of a rotor in a hybrid stepper motor. First and second Hall sensors are positioned in a spaced-apart relationship with the first and second armatures of the rotor such that the first and second Hall sensors generate electrical outputs that are 90° out of phase with one another as the rotor rotates. The electrical outputs are adjusted relative to a reference, and the amplitude of the electrical outputs is further adjusted to account for spacing differences between the rotor and each of the first and second Hall sensors.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for estimating sensor signals to stabilize a posture of a mobile satellite tracking antenna.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for estimating sensor signals to stabilize a posture of a mobile satellite tracking antenna.

Abstract: A stabilization system including a platform supported by two or more rotatably-coupled gimbal frames each having a pivot assembly disposed at its rotation axis to couple an actuator to a rotation sensor having a rotation-sensitive sensor axis that is fixedly disposed with respect to the rotation axis, and a controller including means for accepting the sensor signals and for producing each motor signal needed to dispose the platform in a predetermined angular position with respect to each rotation axis independent of changes in the base orientation. A motion simulator embodiment includes controller means for accepting an external slew signal sequence and means for producing the motor signals needed to move the platform along a predetermined sequence of positions represented by the slew signal sequence.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus that controllably allows the relative rotation between structures, such as a gimbal and a structure to which it is mounted. According to one aspect, the apparatus includes a twist capsule assembly with internal stop mechanisms that controllably prevents the amount of clockwise and counterclockwise rotation with respect to a rotation axis. According to another aspect of the invention, by limiting the amount of relative rotation, other means of communicating power and signals between the structures can be used, thus avoiding or reducing the limitations imposed by conventional slip ring assemblies. According to yet another aspect, the invention includes techniques and structures for allowing conventionally shielded cables and wires to be used in place of slip rings, while allowing for rotation between structures, thus even further improving the communication of power and signals between structures.

Abstract: Disclosed is a non-reaction torque drive which can be called Reaction Free Drive or suspended support comprising: a Rotor, a Stator, two gyroscopes which are placed in side two frames, two high speed electro motors which rotate the two gyroscopes, and four 24v DC magnets which are used as actuators. The Drive not only conveys the torque to the output shaft, but also it removes a large percentage of reaction torque (about 95%) and does not pass the torque to its shell and support.

Abstract: A rotating stage assembly performs high precision rotational angle and position error correction by continuous sensing and correcting motor stage assembly errors. It performs these corrections, to adjust for motor environmental and operational errors by sensing and correcting using five sensors placed to measure the adjustments of five corresponding actuators, which adjust the entire motor rotating stage and rotary motor assembly relative to a reference frame.

Abstract: An exemplary anti-vibration apparatus used in an image pickup system includes a first light-reflecting unit, a driving mechanism configured for driving the light-reflecting unit to rotate, a servo circuit, at least one sensor configured for detecting an angular velocity of the anti-vibration apparatus and sending such signal to the servo circuit, the servo circuit is configured for generating a controlling signal received from the sensor and controlling the driving mechanism based on the controlling signal. The anti-vibration apparatus can eliminate the image vibration caused by the vibration of image pickup system.

Abstract: There are provided a motor control device and a method for deciding a velocity instruction shape within the limit of a movement range, a velocity, and an acceleration of an object device while maintaining the acceleration as high as possible in inertia identification. The motor control device includes a position control unit for generating a velocity instruction based on a position instruction and a motor position, a velocity control unit for generating a torque instruction based on the velocity instruction and a motor velocity, and a motor drive unit for generating motor current from the torque instruction.

Abstract: A device for establishing and/or monitoring a predetermined fill level in a container is provided, to indicate the fill level in a container and exhibiting a best possible, optimum fit for an application, which device includes: a mechanical oscillatory structure placed at the height of the predetermined fill level, which structure exhibits a membrane and two mutually separated oscillation bars formed thereon, an electromechanical transducer, which in operation excites the oscillatory structure to oscillate with oscillations, such that the oscillation bars execute oscillations perpendicular to their longitudinal axis, a receiver- and evaluation-unit, which uses the oscillations to establish and/or monitor whether the predetermined fill level has been reached, or not, in which the oscillation bars exhibit a shape in which a mass moment of inertia of a liquid quantity, which the oscillation bars move with them in the immersed state in the liquid, is as large as possible and greater than 0.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a laser alignment device which has a simple structure, easy operation and economical utility, and which includes a casing, a laser emitting unit that is mounted in the casing and may emit a planar laser beam, a first mounting plane and a second mounting plane connected fixedly to the laser emitting unit, a first and a second electronic obliquity sensing units fixed on the first and the second mounting planes respectively, an automatic adjusting means, a first and a second surfaces both of which may contact with the settling surface of the laser alignment device, said first surface being connected moveably with said laser emitting unit through said automatic adjusting means, and a control circuit connected electrically with said first and second obliquity sensing units and said automatic adjusting means, at least the first one of said first and second obliquity sensing units being a double shaft obliquity sensing unit.

Abstract: A position control device for causing a position of a control system, including a servomotor and a moving body driven by the servomotor, to track a command value. The position control device includes a sliding mode controller for receiving command position r and state variable x of the control system and for providing a control input u to the servomotor. State variable x is expressed as follows: x = [ ? ? . ] , where ? is feedback position and {dot over (?)} is feedback velocity. The position control device also includes a disturbance variable compensator for compensating control input u based on feedback velocity {dot over (?)}.

Abstract: When torque of a DC motor is dropped down to zero at a stop position, force is generated by deformation of a member for transmitting the torque of the DC motor. The force moves the driven body which is in the stopped state, which results in a shift of the driven body from the stop position. Therefore, a process for stopping the driven body is performed according to the amount of shift by an encoder which periodically outputs a pulse signal according to movement of the driven body, a unit for acquiring velocity information and position information of the driven body based on the pulse signal, a controlling unit for controlling a moving unit based on the velocity information and the position information, and a unit for calculating the amount of shift, which is caused by the force generated by the deformation of the member for transmitting the torque, at the stop position of the driven body.

Abstract: There is disclosed a predictive filter for predicting the future position of a look direction of a rotating directional antenna mounted on a vessel. Prediction of a look direction of the antenna at any instant is made from input of ship's compass data including roll data, pitch data and heading data, as well as data describing a rotational position of the antenna, output from an antenna synchro device. Smoothing of the digital roll, pitch and heading data and antenna position data is followed by application of a moving time window, filter which removes any offset from the data within of the moving time window to produce data having a zero mean. The zero mean data is input into an auto-regression algorithm, the output of which is combined with mean roll, pitch, heading, position and antenna velocity data to obtain predicted positions of the antenna relative to the vessel, and a predicted motion of the vessel.

Abstract: There is provided a control unit capable of rapid and precise stoppage of an object to be driven by a motor for use in a printer. The control unit has a speed control part to control the object by acceleration control, constant speed control, deceleration control, and stoppage control by controlling a current to be applied to the motor, and also an inertia calculating part to calculate inertia of the object based on angular acceleration of the motor under the acceleration control of the object, and current values to be applied to the motor under the acceleration control and the constant speed control of the object. The speed control part uses the calculated inertia for controlling the current to be applied to the motor.

Abstract: A device for establishing and/or monitoring a predetermined fill level in a container is provided, to indicate the fill level in a container and exhibiting a best possible, optimum fit for an application, which device includes: a mechanical oscillatory structure placed at the height of the predetermined fill level, which structure exhibits a membrane and two mutually separated oscillation bars formed thereon, an electromechanical transducer, which in operation excites the oscillatory structure to oscillate with oscillations, such that the oscillation bars execute oscillations perpendicular to their longitudinal axis, a receiver- and evaluation-unit, which uses the oscillations to establish and/or monitor whether the predetermined fill level has been reached, or not, in which the oscillation bars exhibit a shape in which a mass moment of inertia of a liquid quantity, which the oscillation bars move with them in the immersed state in the liquid, is as large as possible and greater than 0.

Abstract: When torque of a DC motor is dropped down to zero at a stop position, force is generated by deformation of a member for transmitting the torque of the DC motor. The force moves the driven body which is in the stopped state, which results in a shift of the driven body from the stop position. Therefore, a process for stopping the driven body is performed according to the amount of shift by an encoder which periodically outputs a pulse signal according to movement of the driven body, a unit for acquiring velocity information and position information of the driven body based on the pulse signal, a controlling unit for controlling a moving unit based on the velocity information and the position information, and a unit for calculating the amount of shift, which is caused by the force generated by the deformation of the member for transmitting the torque, at the stop position of the driven body.

Abstract: A method for determining the mass moment of inertia of an electric motor drive system of a machine, having a drive motor and further drive elements arranged downstream of the drive motor. The method includes a) determining a compensation current, which compensates losses occurring at a constant speed of the motor, so that a motor speed of the drive motor remains constant and b) determining an acceleration current, which generates a defined acceleration of the drive motor when the losses occurring at the constant speed of the drive motor are compensated. The method further entails c) calculating a mass moment of inertia of the electric motor drive system based on the determined acceleration current.

Abstract: This invention is directed to precision positioning devices which are well suited to manufacturing and inspection of semiconductor devices. A pair of coil assembles are attached to a base plate. The base plate forms a static portion of a gas bearing assembly. A carriage assembly, forming a movable portion of the gas bearing assembly, is capable of in-plane motion over the coil assembly. The carriage assembly contains permanent magnets and a soft magnetic bridge. A metrology component, such as a mirror, is attached to the carriage kinematically. Three in-plane constraints consist of substantially straight line connections between the metrology component and the carriage in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of motion of the gas bearings. Three out-of-plane constraints on the metrology component comprise substantially straight line connections between it and the gas bearings. The positioning device is operable in vacuum by directing the flow of gas out of the bearings to a vacuum pump.

Abstract: There is provided a control unit capable of rapid and precise stoppage of an object to be driven by a motor for use in a printer. The control unit has a speed control part to control the object by acceleration control, constant speed control, deceleration control, and stoppage control by controlling a current to be applied to the motor, and also an inertia calculating part to calculate inertia of the object based on angular acceleration of the motor under the acceleration control of the object, and current values to be applied to the motor under the acceleration control and the constant speed control of the object. The speed control part uses the calculated inertia for controlling the current to be applied to the motor.

Abstract: A method for determining the mass moment of inertia of an electric motor drive system of a machine, having a drive motor and further drive elements arranged downstream of the drive motor. The method includes a) determining a compensation current, which compensates losses occurring at a constant speed of the motor, so that a motor speed of the drive motor remains constant and b) determining an acceleration current, which generates a defined acceleration of the drive motor when the losses occurring at the constant speed of the drive motor are compensated. The method further entails c) calculating a mass moment of inertia of the electric motor drive system based on the determined acceleration current.

Abstract: A method of avoiding collisions between a robot and at least one other object such as another robot is provided in which the user does not need to make any provisions in a robot program for avoiding collisions and defining common work-areas. Furthermore, the method allows for automatic configuration of the workcell from a collision avoidance standpoint. It determines automatically which components have potential collisions with which other components. Since the inventive method is based on predicting the configurations of the moving components over a period of time sufficient enough to allow the machines to stop safely and checks for interference, a priori knowledge of trajectories is not required. If a collision is predicted the machines are commanded to a stop on or off their paths. In this way the inventive collision avoidance method can also be used as a safeguard with other explicit methods.

Abstract: A calculation system for calculating the control signals which are designed to perform a frequency-dependent weighting of the angular velocity signals and the angular position signals. The angular velocity indicators are preferably used for stabilization in a high frequency band while the angular position indicators are suitable for stabilization in a low frequency band. A further calculation system which is designed to perform the frequency-dependent weighting such that the control signals for frequencies below a certain frequency are substantially determined by the angular position signals and the control signals for higher frequencies are substantially determined by the angular velocity signals.

Abstract: A stage control apparatus which constitutes at least part of a control system for controlling a stage in alignment operation, including a compensator which generates a signal for controlling to drive the stage to a target position, a resonance elimination unit which has variable cutoff characteristics and eliminates a resonance frequency component contained in an output signal from the compensator to output the signal as a control signal for controlling the stage, and an adjustment unit which sets the cutoff characteristics of the resonance elimination unit, wherein the adjustment unit adjusts the cutoff characteristics of the resonance elimination unit on the basis of a signal generated in the control system.

Abstract: An electric power steering system is provided which employs an electric motor as a driving source to apply a steering assist force to a steering mechanism. The system includes: an operation degree detecting section for detecting an operation degree of an operation member; a motor current detecting section for detecting an electric current flowing through the electric motor; and a steering angle detecting section for detecting a steering angle of the steering mechanism. A reaction force from a road surface is computed on the basis of outputs of the operation degree detecting section, the motor current detecting section and the steering angle detecting section, and a driving target value of the electric motor is determined on the basis of the reaction force and the operation degree of the operation member.