MAPPING AND SURVEY SYSTEM GEODETIC AN/USQ-28
Mr. Carmen DiCarlo
Geodetic Systems Engineer
Reconnaissance ,& Technology Division, USAF
Mr. Grady J. Eakin
Directorate of System Programming
Kollsman Instrument Corporation
The AN/USQ-28 mapping and survey system consists of a group
of equipments integrated specifically to provide the fastest and most
accurate means ever available for obtaining geodetic raw data. The
USQ-28 system is being installed in jet type transport aircraft. It
will be operational by late 1965. This aircraft will replace the work
of multitudesof surveyors walking on the surface of the earth, furnish
ing more accurate basic material in much less time. In fact, it can
provide photo coverage of an area the size of Portugal in one day.
Some of the new equipments utilized by the AN/USQ-28 system
are:
- A new advanced design mapping camera with a recorded
thirty arc second verticality.
- an extremely precise inertial navigation system.
- distance measuring equipment with increased range and
accuracy.
- a terrain profile measuring sensor with increased range.
- advanced design navigation and photographic optical
viewfinders.
- a light source with variable intensity light for long line
azimuth measurements.
With exception of the aerial photography, all supporting data is
recorded on magnetic tape for direct input into a ground digital com
puter for accurate and rapid data editing and reduction.
In order to gain a better understanding of the mission for the
mapping and survey system USQ-28, a brief description of the air
borne functions of the equipment is in order. Routine missions have
been divided into six categories: