| Position Sensors Help Cassini Mission Provide Clues to Planetary Formation |
|
|
| Nov 30 2006 | |
|
advertisement: The probe also sent back video taken during its descent and on the surface of Titan. To control magnetospheric imaging during Huygens’ descent into the thick yellow-orange atmosphere of Titan, potentiometers from Novotechnik were used to position the turntable carrying the Low Energy Magnetospheric Measurement Systems (LEMMS). The LEMMS system was mounted on a 360° rotating platform to ensure intrinsic stability with the space probe rotating continuously around its longitudinal axis. The measurement system covered every point of the 360° with no “dead zone” — an area where no readings could be made.A stepper motor that was continuously monitored by a rotary potentiometer drove the turntable. The LEMMS, in turn, provided a series of three-dimensional measurements that defined the direction of incidence, energy, and intensity of ions and electrons entering the moon’s atmosphere to be measured. The potentiometers met the seven-year mission length requirement and provided linearity values of ±0.025% and repeatability of 0.01° with accuracy to 0.01°. For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/10958-117 |
Potentiometers