Pan-Tilt Unit

Control Station application for tablet, laptop or desktop PCs

The PTU control station application consists of a 3D geographic background that supports several different kinds of imagery layers i.e. satellite imagery, aerial pictures, topographic images etc. An accurate NASA’s 3D model of the earth is included.

The imagery can be downloaded from the internet (for free) or imported by the user’s collections (georeferenced imagery). The imagery is saved in the application cache memory and the user does not need to be connected to the internet to run the application unlike other commercial products i.e. Google Earth.

When a new PTU is connected to the NEMESiS GCS, its location (and name) appears on the map with a new icon. The PTUs bearing and tilt angles can also be displayed numerically or graphically (3D vector lines).

The NEMESiS PTU application is compatible with the following motorized tracking units

FLIR (Directed Perception) PTUs, all models

Dynamixel high precision step motors, all models

Standard servo motors, all models

Depending on the payload type and weight (antenna, camera, radar, etc) the user can select any combination of the above Pan Tilt Units for a true plug-n-Play operation.

Regardless of the motorized unit used, NEMESiS software error correction algorithms will self-calibrate the motors so they always keep the payload dead-center to the desired target.

Slew to mouse click

The user clicks on the digital 3D map and the PTU slews (both pan and tilt) to point to the selected geographic point

Slew to coordinates

The user enters the desired coordinates manually (all coordinate formats are supported). Click and drag the red (TGT) icon on the 3D map to move the PTU to the desired location. If a camera is mounted on the PTU, the video window will display the camera feed.

Slew to waypoint transmitted by beacon radios

NEMESiS supports the use of commercial, long range handheld beacon radios that transmit their location. A user equipped with a handheld beacon transmits a location message and the PTU slews to this location. These tiny handheld radios have an effective range in excess of 100+Km (verified). An example application is that the user activates the beacon radio at the location where the remote PTU shall be pointed at. The user can be stationary or mobile. This feature is very useful for precise antenna pointing applications where we don’t have a line of sight with the desired location. The beacon updates the new location message on a user selected period i.e. every second. If the user carrying the beacon is moving, the PTU will track the user.

Slew to laser rangefinders targets

NEMESiS accepts coordinates from commercial and military Laser Range Finders. Major brands are supported i.e. Vectronix, Carl Zeiss or the low cost commercial TruPulse series. The user aims with the laser finder’s sight to a geographic point and when the trigger is pressed the PTU will slew to the same point.

Slew to hardware joystick commands

NEMESiS supports the rugged 3DConnexion SpaceNavigator joystick that controls the PTU in all axes. This is a rugged but very stylish and precise 3D joystick ideal for PTU control applications. It can additionally control the payload functions (i.e. camera zoom-in/out). Other 3D joysticks are also supported.

Slew to software joystick commands

The user controls the PTU using the on-screen graphical instruments or by entering the desired absolute Pan & Tilt values

Slew to Sensor commands

The PTU is locked and tracking a sensor that outputs a continuous stream geographic coordinates. Such sensors are UAVs, UGVs, etc.

Fixed PTUs

For fixed PTU applications the user can simply import the fixed (permanent) PTU coordinates and orientation angles (initial bearing and tilt angle) into NEMESiS. If these information are available, they are entered directly into NEMESiS If they aren’t available, there are two options to set the PTU location and orientation angles:
Use the optional AHRS orientation unit. This AHRS orientation unit provides position and orientation data to the PTU and can be used for fixed or mobile operations.

Calibrate manually the PTU. This method will set the PTU location and orientation angles by clicking on the map to define the PTU location and using the (optional) scope accessory to set its orientation angle. The use of the optional scope is very simple. Just slew manually the PTU to point to a physical object i.e. tree, hill top or building and then identify this object on the NEMESiS map and click on it. NEMESiS will automatically calculate the orientation angles required for its operation

Mobile PTUs

For mobile PTU application where the PTU is installed on a moving platform that constantly changes location and orientation the use of the optional AHRS orientation becomes necessary.

The user enters the coordinates of a waypoint into NEMESiS and the PTU on the move always points to the direction of the waypoint regardless of the bearing/tilt angle of the host platform that moves.

This works with beacon coordinates or any other other sensor that is linked to NEMESiS. The PTU on the move always points towards the locked sensor used as the PTU target. This is useful when we want the i.e. antennas of two ships (or any two moving platforms) to point to each other regardless of the ships headings.

Multiple PTU support and network operation

NEMESiS supports up to 100 PTUs on the same network, these PTUs can be co-located or dispersed over hundreds of miles and connected through the network. NEMESiS can assign multiple PTUs to point to the same i.e. moving target or different targets so it can be used to create nationwide PTU networks for EW or other relevant operations.