Analyzing Frequency Response of Inertial MEMS in Stabilization Systems

Introduction to Stabilization Systems UAV-mounted surveillance equipment, maritime microwave receivers, vehicle-mounted infrared imaging sensors, and similar instrument systems require stable platforms for best performance, but they are often used in applications that experience vibration and other undesirable kinds of motion. Vibration and normal vehicular movements cause communication loss, blurry images, and many other behaviors that degrade the instrument’s performance and ability to perform its desired function. Platform stabilization systems employ closed-loop control systems to actively cancel this type of motion, thus preserving mission-critical performance objectives for these instruments. Figure 1 is a generic block diagram of a platform stabilization system that uses servo motors to correct for angular motion. The feedback sensor provides dynamic orientation information for the instrument platform. The feedback controller processes this information and translates it into corrective control signals for the servo motors.