From Autopilot to Strapdown: Electrotechnology in Inertial Guidance and Control

Electrotechnology has been a significant factor in the evolution of guidance and control (G & C) over the last half century. Ship stabilizers that used rotating wheels for brute force control were electrically driven. However, the first pilotless aircraft, developed in World War I, was controlled primarily with pneumatic servos. Inertial guidance and electronic control systems surfaced at Peenemunde around World War II. Advances in fire control servos led to development of the floated gyro and ushered in precision inertial navigators. Digital electronics replaced analog designs, so that the level of G & C sophistication increased dramatically. As digital computers became smaller and more powerful their use proliferated. The manned space program in the 60's saw substantial improvements in electronics reliability and performance. The successful first launch of the Space Shuttle, with all its complexity, is a tribute to electronics progress. It is difficult to predict what G & C advances electrotechnology will bring in the next 50 years.