Laser Tracker III: Sandia National Laboratories` third generation laser tracking system
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States). Energetic and Environmental Test Dept.
At Sandia Labs` Coyote Canyon Test Complex, it became necessary to develop a precision single station solution to provide time space position information (tspi) when tracking airborne test vehicles. Sandia`s first laser tracker came on line in 1968, replacing the fixed camera technique for producing trajectory data. This system shortened data reduction time from weeks to minutes. Laser Tracker 11 began operations in 1982, replacing the original tracker. It incorporated improved optics and electronics, with the addition of a microprocessor-based real-time control (rtc) system within the main servo loop. The rtc added trajectory prediction with the loss of adequate tracking signal and automatic control of laser beam divergence according to target range. Laser Tracker III, an even more advanced version of the systems, came on line in 1990. Unlike LTII, which is mounted in a trailer and must by moved by a tractor, LTIII is mounted on its own four-wheel drive carrier. This allows the system to be used at even the most remote locations. It also incorporated improved optics and electronics with the addition of absolute ranging, acquisition on the fly, and automatic transition from manual Joystick tracking to laser tracking for aircraft tests. LTIII provides a unique state of the art tracking capability for missile, rocket sled, aircraft, submunition, and parachute testing. Used in conjunction with LTII, the systems together can provide either simultaneous or extended range tracking. Mobility, accuracy, reliability, and cost effectiveness enable these systems to support a variety of testing at Department of Energy and Department of Defense ranges.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 34416
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-95-0472C; CONF-950472-2; ON: DE95008525; TRN: AHC29511%%126
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: SPIE international symposium on aerospace/defense sensing and dual-use photonics, Orlando, FL (United States), 17-21 Apr 1995; Other Information: PBD: [1995]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
INCLUDING NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE DETECTORS
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
RANGE FINDERS
DESIGN
DETECTION
COORDINATES
TRAJECTORIES
DATA PROCESSING
REAL TIME SYSTEMS
PORTABLE EQUIPMENT
OPTICAL SYSTEMS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
FLIGHT TESTING
COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS
LASERS
DATA ACQUISITION
USES