Embedded PC/104 Platform Stabilization System

This system will be used to create a stable platform for an airborne camera. It will receive attitude data from a high speed Inertial Measurement Unit. The pitch and roll information will then be used to drive pitch and roll motors, keeping the camera platform pointed at its target regardless of variations in the plane’s pitch and roll.  In this implementation yaw compensation is not performed.  A GPS unit has also been added to the system so that positional information can be logged along with the attitude information.

This system is comprised of a Pentium III module in a PC104 Plus form factor.  We’ve added modules for analog and digital I/O, additional COM ports, and a PCMCIA interface.  The system is rugged, compact, and low power.

The PC/104 modules in their enclosure.

Veridian Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)

Honeywell Digital Compass for use with IMU

Garmin GPS Unit