Precise stabilization & tracking for versatile applications

Highly customizable, it delivers exceptional stability for use in helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, maritime, and ground applications. Ideal for aerial photography, thermal imaging, lighting, or target acquisition, the Odysseus gimbal was showcased at EUROSATORY 2022 in Paris, featuring a CRYTUR beam light searchlight.

Application Overview

• What was needed: A lightweight and cost-effective device for 360-degree movement.
• Requirements: Smooth movement, durability over the entire required temperature range and vibration resistance. The bearing must be suitable for use in any configuration, e.g. sea, ground or aerospace.
• Industry: Camera and film technology

The challenge for Hikade was the precise integration of a slewing ring bearing into the Odysseus gimbal, as this forms the core element of stability. It was also challenging to adapt the gimbal to different customer requirements and ensure reliable performance in variable weather conditions. The complexity of the two-axis motion control and the precise alignment required for earth observation and data connection also presented a technical hurdle.

The solution for Hikade was to utilize the iglide® PRT slewing ring bearing for the Odysseus gimbal. The PRT slewing ring bearing offers a dry-running, maintenance-free design that ensures long-term operation and robustness in a wide range of weather conditions. The lightweight design of the bearing is a perfect match for the gimbal application, while the silent operation allows for precise alignment. These unique specifications of the iglide® PRT provide the ideal solution to meet the stabilization, adaptability and precision challenges of the Odysseus gimbal.