A smart car for the surface shape measurement of large antenna based on laser tracker

Yonggang Gu; Jing Hu; Yi Jin; Chao Zhai

doi:10.1117/12.926200

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13 September 2012 A smart car for the surface shape measurement of large antenna based on laser tracker

Yonggang Gu, Jing Hu, Yi Jin, Chao Zhai

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Proceedings Volume 8450, Modern Technologies in Space- and Ground-based Telescopes and Instrumentation II; 84505P (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926200
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2012, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

The geometric accuracy of the surface shape of large antenna is an important indicator of antenna’s quality. Currently, high-precision measurement of large antenna surface shape can be performed in two ways: photogrammetry and laser tracker. Photogrammetry is a rapid method, but its accuracy is not enough good. Laser tracker can achieve high precision, but it is very inconvenient to move the reflector (target mirror) on the surface of the antenna by hand during the measurement. So, a smart car is designed to carry the reflector in this paper. The car, controlled by wireless, has a small weight and a strong ability for climbing, and there is a holding bracket gripping the reflector and controlling reflector rise up and drop down on the car. During the measurement of laser tracker, the laser beam between laser tracker and the reflector must not be interrupted, so two high-precision three-dimensional miniature electronic compasses, which can real-time monitor the relative angle between the holding bracket and the laser tracker’s head, are both equipped on the car and the head of laser tracker to achieve automatic alignment between reflector and laser beam. With the aid of the smart car, the measurement of laser tracker has the advantages of high precision and rapidity.

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Yonggang Gu, Jing Hu, Yi Jin, and Chao Zhai "A smart car for the surface shape measurement of large antenna based on laser tracker", Proc. SPIE 8450, Modern Technologies in Space- and Ground-based Telescopes and Instrumentation II, 84505P (13 September 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926200

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