A DAY/NIGHT REMOTE-CONTROLLED LLLTV CAMERA-SEXTANT SYSTEM FOR GENERAL AND CELESTIAL NAVIGATION

S. Feldman, G. Barton, B. Katz and R. Wilkinson

Peer Reviewed

Abstract:	Compact LLLTV cameras are available commercially with equivalence in sensitivity to low light levels down to starlight as are image intensification night vision telescopes. This suggested the development of a remote-controlled LLLTV camera-television sextant navigation system which the navigator, within the ship, can operate to obtain celestial body altitude sightings. The Naval Research Laboratory is developing a positionally stabilized LLLTV camera system for night General Navigation (observation of buoys and channel markers), search and surveillance, and with gating techniques for range-finding and station-keeping. Modification of the LLLTV camera, proposed at the Naval Ordnance Laboratory, through installation of sextant optics, i.e., index and horizon mirror, shades, gearing and motors for remote control of the index mirror, can provide the navigator the facility for making the junction of the sea horizon and celestial body on the CRT during the day or night. The altitude and observation time will be displayed in digital form either on the CRT and/or on LED’s through the use of integrated chip up/down counters and optical incremental disc encoders which convert index mirror angular rotation to digital pulses suitable for digital display and/or direct signal to a computer. This paper will discuss the NRL LLLTV system principles and the details of the modifications of the LLLTV Schmidt optics and electronics to provide the remote-controlled sextant function.
Published in:	NAVIGATION: Journal of the Institute of Navigation, Volume 20, Number 2
Pages:	116 - 125
Cite this article:	Feldman, S., Barton, G., Katz, B., Wilkinson, R., "A DAY/NIGHT REMOTE-CONTROLLED LLLTV CAMERA-SEXTANT SYSTEM FOR GENERAL AND CELESTIAL NAVIGATION", NAVIGATION: Journal of The Institute of Navigation, Vol. 20, No. 2, Summer 1973, pp. 116-125.
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