Stadimeter

Abstract: The camera or periscope system may include a taking lens, a beam steering device, a relay device, and an image rotation device. The camera or periscope system can be used to image in situations where the camera is not easily redirected to view a desired object of interest. The camera or periscope system is designed to be fixed to a mounting platform where the taking lens can be configured to point to the desired object of interest.

Abstract: The training device has a periscope (20), the optical axis of which can be directed at a target located within an imaged terrain segment. It also has a long-range guidance system which transmits starting and directional commands to the guided missile. The training device is equipped with a video camera (32), the optical axis of which extends parallel to the optical axis of the periscope (20) and the aperture angle of which corresponds essentially to the aperture angle of the periscope. It also possesses a data- processing system (D) which contains a trajectory generator (52), a target generator (54) and a process computer (46). It has, furthermore, an image mixer (40) which mixes the video signals supplied by the video camera and those supplied by the data-processing system, and finally a monitor (26), the video screen of which is located in the beam path of the periscope.

Abstract: The Naval Ordnance Laboratory has under development and feasibility study a new digital read-out marine sextant which can be operated in the day and during the night with light illumination as low as starlight. The traditional marine sextant, which has been essentially the same design since the 18th Century, has been altered completely retaining only the index mirror and horizon principle. Using a lightweight, rugged rectangular frame the index mirror upon the frame is turned by an accurate gear train that controls mechanical counter which reads in degrees, 0.1, 0.01, and 0.001 degrees. The optical or replacement night vision image intensification telescope is inserted coaxially into the frame. Dual knobs on each side of the index mirror housing allows the sextant to be operated equally well by a right-handed or left-handed observer. The new sextant will be easier to read, less prone to reading error, lighter in weight, better balanced than the traditional sextant, and it is expected to have an accuracy of 10 arc-seconds. The digital read-out capability of the new sextant may eventually lead to remote read-out of altitude and time and automatic computation of ship's position. A pilot model of the new sextant has been constructed for shore and sea evaluation.

Abstract: An optical device for vertically positioning a sextant to minimize the "tilt error" which occurs in a measured angle of altitude whenever the sextant is not held orthogonal to the horizon. The optical device can be fixed to the sextant and provides in the sextant's viewing area a secondary horizon which will align with the direct horizon only when the sextant is in a vertical orientation. The device is capable of periodic calibration and can be pivoted out of the line of sight when the sextant's user is initially locating the celestial body whose altitude is being measured.