Creating a Computer-Controlled Active Tracking Heliostat

Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center Engineering, 2004-05

Liaison(s): Kenneth Lorell ’65, Mons Morrison ’85/87
Advisor(s): Erik Spjut
Students(s): Gabriel Takacs (TL), Lindsay Allen, Sheldon Logan (S), Peter Paras (F), Ruka Sakurai (S), Steven Santana (F), Josh Slater (S)

The Lockheed Martin Solar Astrophysics Lab develops space-borne instruments that must be tested prior to use. The testing is performed in the lab using a stationary image of the sun. The team has designed, built, and tested a computer-controlled, active-tracking heliostat that can stabilize an image of the sun to within one arc-second and allow controlled slewing and offset. Additionally, the team has designed an enclosure to protect the heliostat once it is installed.