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Precision Mount Control System™ (PMCS) is a universal gimbal control system for altitude/azimuth (elevation/azimuth) optical tracking mounts. PMCS has been used to track objects ranging from mortars and hypervelocity projectiles to LEO and MEO satellites.

Feature-rich and versatile, the Precision Mount Control System provides state-of-the-art pointing and tracking capabilities, including:

• A highly configurable control interface with GUI, control panel, joystick, or gamepad
• Mission-adaptable external inputs such as radar, telemetry, or external computer control
• Multiple drive modes - geodetic, star (sidereal), planet, trajectory, satellite, video, and remote via ethernet
• Built-in star calibration for internal mount and sensor calibration
• Has been integrated with TENA and nTSPI

Vision Engineering Solutions has integrated PMCS with Kineto Tracking Mounts (KTMs), a Nike/Hercules mount, and mounts manufactured by PlaneWave, Contraves, General Defense Corp., Atlantic Positioning, and Zybion/Multitech.

The Vision Engineering Solutions Hardware Control Panel (HWCP)  controls the PMCS software. The HWCP provides a convenient and flexible human interface into the Precision Mount Control System (PMCS) to create a more efficient mission workflow. The HWCP contains analog in/analog out and digital I/O functions that can interface with the outside world. These functions are largely undefined but can be configured as needed, for example, to control a Dome Control Drive System. The HWCP consists of four programmable knobs, two programmable foot switches, a joystick, and/or a gamepad.

As an example of PMCS’ capabilities, for a recent customer, VES integrated PMCS with a PlaneWave L600 gimbal, a 20” telescope, and a fast-steering mirror (no adaptive optics).  This system consistently tracked LEO satellites and maintained the centroid of the satellite image within 3 microradians of the center of the camera array.