Non-contact optical distance measurement using intensity modulated light is exploited to realize a helmet tracking system that tracks the motion of a helmet with six degrees of freedom (6-DOF), i.e., x, y, z, roll, pitch, yaw. A discussion of system robustness of an all-optical helmet tracking system will be given. This will include the tracker's transmitter redundancy, algorithm control, and immunity to effects, that plague existing tracker systems, such as magnetic fields and metallic objects. The tracker can be implemented in any type of fixed-wing, rotary-wing aircraft or ground vehicle of any type and shape. Applications for the new tracker technology include, but are not limited to, manufacturing robotics, telesurgery, motion capture, helmet and body tracking. This talk will include a description of the system architecture, hardware and software. Data will be shown with a discussion of system errors.
We will report on the design and testing of a precision, remote, via fiber optics position transducer suitable for incorporation in a closed loop fly-by-light positioning system. The design is based on Visidyne developed technology for an ultra high resolution optical radar based on Continuous Wave modulated light at a frequency of 1 GHz. It produces digital position data with 12 bit precision e.g., for a travel distance, stroke of 6 inches or greater at a bandwidth, update rate of 1 KHz. The passive nature of the transducer at the actuator location and the high operating frequency makes it highly tolerant to even extreme levels of Electro Magnetic Interference and when constructed from high temperature material is can operate at temperatures well in excess of 300 degrees C. We will discuss transducer performance, precision and position stability with particular emphasis on the effects of length changes within the multi-mode optical fibers used to deliver and collect the light to and from the transducer. We will also discuss cost aspects of the design and their effect on overcoming market entry barriers.
Current and planned helmet system require precision metrology technique in order to provide accurate pointing information with low latency times. Existing systems using magnetic sensors to determined helmet position and orientation can provide adequate information to meet most requirements, however, the amount of time required for mapping the magnetic field within an aircraft cockpit is often seen to be excessive. While highly accurate optical based metrology systems can be designed to overcome the time consuming cockpit mapping problem, they have also been criticized as being overly complex and unsuitable for aircraft use. Visidyne, Inc. has developed an optical system that uses a proprietary measurement technique to measure the phase of low power, eyesafe, intensity modulated light beams, which, when properly installed within the cockpit can measure the x, y, z position and roll, pitch, yaw of the helmet, providing pointing precision that is within 1 milliradian, at an update rate of at least 100 Hz over a large motion box. The technique uses state-of-the-art electronics and optics that are both robust and reliable and add minimally to the helmet mass. This paper describes two approaches for applying this technology to the helmet tracking problem, each using precise measurements of distance between points on the helmet and known locations within the cockpit.
Unlike in the microwave domain, where open loop phase control is adequate, a phased array antenna working at optical frequencies will require precise closed loop control of each element pixel to realize a well defined high brightness far-field antenna pattern. We describe and present experimental data for a design that permits precision, to < (lambda) /100, phase control with a high bandwidth that compensates for temperature, mechanical effects, delay times of each phase shift element, and non- linear response. Experimentally, the output of a phase measurement system is used in an electronic feedback loop to dynamically linearize an inherently non-linear liquid crystal. The experiment consisted of a spatial heterodyne, temporal homodyne, fiber optic Mach-Zehnder interferometer to recover phase of a single nematic liquid crystal element. The resulting phase measurement, represented as an analog voltage, is used in a feedback loop to correct for the non- linear drive voltage-to-phase retardance response of the liquid crystal. A demonstration of this technique using several periodic drive waveforms at frequencies of 10-100 Hz was performed. Data are presented showing a phase retardance resolution of < 1 nm which enabled a significant improvement in the linearity of the liquid crystal response.
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