Microcomputer control algorithms for weapon pointing and stabilization

Since late 1978. technology efforts have been underway within the Fire Control and Small Caliber Weapon Systems Laboratory. Dover. NJ. to exploit state-of-the-art advances in modern control theory and microprocessors for weapon pointing and stabilization. Results to date have been quite encouraging and serve to emphasize the importance of these two emerging technologies in the design of future high performance armament systems. This paper describes the discrete-time regulator microprocessor algorithms which have been implemented and tested on a microcomputer-based servo control system located in the Stabilization Research Laboratory facility at ARADCOM. These algorithms include reduced-order observers for estimating system states and disturbances. and - based digital control laws for precision stabilization in the presence of external disturbances.