Automated or semi-automated directional positioning control of sensors, including, for example, image sensor such as video and still cameras operating over a range of electromagnetic frequencies, is important in a variety of applications. Such control may be utilized in manufacturing tooling and other applications but is more widely known as desirable for various surveillance and security applications, and is specifically important for use with aircraft to capture visual data from above. In one example, surveillance equipment may be used in an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) with sensor directional control to provide operator remote sensing and aerial situational assessment capabilities. In other examples, sensors may provide national airspace traffic sense-and-avoid threat detection. In still other examples, sensors may enable guidance of weaponry such as a cruise missile, where either an operator or an autonomous collision avoidance system rely on image sensor feedback to control the missile. In some examples, surveillance or other systems may employ systems or devices that provide for automated or semi-automated control of sensors, for example directional aiming of an image sensor. Such devices may also provide for motion stabilization of sensors.
Systems and devices that provide for the control and/or stabilization of image sensors may be referred to as gimbals. Gimbals enable the automatic or semi-automatic control of directional sensor positioning about a range of motion via various mechanical, electrical, and/or magnetic mechanisms. The range of motion of a gimbal may be about a single axis, or about multiple axes.
It may be advantageous to display and/or process data collected by a visual sensor of a gimbal system in real time, or close to real time. However, such data is often relatively large in size, which may render data transfer from the gimbal difficult.
A wired data connection to transmit data from a sensor of a gimbal system may cause forces that impede an ability of a gimbal to effectively position a visual sensor. Also, due to frequent and forceful gimbal movement, a wired data connection may become physically damaged over time, rendering a gimbal system wholly or partially inoperative.
Some gimbal systems employ one or more mechanical slip rings to transfer data from a sensor of the gimbal system. The mechanical slip rings may be placed on each axis of motion of a particular gimbal system. Aspects of a mechanical slip ring may limit an ability of designers to minimize the size of the gimbal system. Electromagnetic characteristics of mechanical slip rings may further cause the slip rings to have a limited data transfer rate.