Development of an air-borne stabilized camera mount

DURING flight tests at Goodyear Aircraft Corporation it was necessary to ascertain the exact location of the airplane with respect to its plotted course. For this purpose a camera was so mounted in the airplane that it was stabilized with respect to earth co-ordinates in three axes while the airplane was undergoing turns and random maneuvers. Two types of servo (stabilization systems) were considered, a motor-and-gear drive system, and a rate gyro system. The motor-and-gear system proved the more suitable. A torque source drive system is presently being investigated. A prototype has been built, and testing has begun.