Systems that operate in airborne environments and rely on the resolution provided by optical sensors require a stabilization system to isolate the line-of-sight (LOS) from the operating environment. For systems employing television sensors, stabilization accuracy is of prime importance in maintaining sufficient picture resolution to allow target identification and recognition at maximum ranges. The development of system models that accurately predict stabilization performance is important both in design trade-offs and in the system design and testing [l]. Two basic concepts are available for achieving LOS stabilization; momentum stabilization which employs a spinning mass and rate stabilization which utilizes inertial rate sensors. Previously rate stabilized platforms have been employed for high performance laser designator systems mounted in aircraft while momentum stabilized platforms have been used on tactical missiles. Rate stabilized platforms have not been used often in tactical missiles due to their higher cost and the lack of high performance stabilization requirements over large field-of-regards on the missile seekers. This paper develops the system models necessary to evaluate the LOS stabilization performance for either concept. To demonstrate the validity of the models derived, a case study is presented covering both momentum and rate stabilized systems which is verified with simulation results
