IP 67 test

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SOMAG AG Jena has successfully tested the IP rating of its Gyro Stabilization Mounts for marine and land applications at the independent and accredited laboratory for environmental and materials testing at the Technologie-Zentrum für Oberflächentechnik und Umweltschutz Leipzig GmbH. The test of the protection class is part of a series of comprehensive environmental tests that the company performs at regular intervals, in addition to EMC and performance tests to ensure consistently high-quality standards for its devices.

Sebastian Schreiber, CTO at SOMAG, comments: “The mission of our marine and land gimbals is to flawlessly stabilize sensor systems in both marine environments with high humidity and salinity as well as in dusty, unpaved terrain. Therefore, they have been designed in such a way that neither dust nor water can enter into the units according to IP class 67.”

This classification has been successfully confirmed by recent tests according to DIN EN 60529: 2104 -09. The tests were carried out with an NSM 400, which was first placed in a dust chamber to test the protection against the ingress of solid foreign bodies (dust-tight). The NSM 400 was sprayed with talcum powder in the chamber from all directions. The talcum powder is very fine (<75 μm) and has rather lubricating properties. Due to the homogeneous structure of the dust, it infiltrates into the smallest joints, especially if negative pressure is applied, which was the case with the NSM 400. The gimbal was removed from the chamber and its functionality verified. Furthermore, the cover was removed and the device was opened. In accordance with the requirements for passing the test, there was no dust visible inside the unit.  

The second step was the test to determine the protection against temporary submersion. For this purpose, the NSM 400 was lowered into a dipping basin. The water level above the enclosure is defined with 1 meter. The gyro stabilizer remained submerged for 30 minutes. After this period, the Mount was lifted out of the basin, opened, and subjected to a visual inspection. No water was detected in the sealed area and the correct functioning of the device was confirmed.

 

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SOMAG AG Jena will be exhibiting at DSEI 2023, a global scale defense exhibition and conference held at Excel, London, from 12-15 September 2023. We are looking forward to welcoming you at our booth no. H1-427, located in the Future Tech Hub. On display will be our portfolio of airborne, marine and land Gyro Stabilization Mounts.

SOMAG is a leading provider of stabilization technology and offers solutions for air, land and water applications in civil and demanding military missions. Their success depends among others on the quality of the information obtained in operational environments. To improve the quality of information collected with EO/IR and other imaging systems in mobile applications, SOMAG develops and manufactures high-precision Gyro Stabilization Mounts designed to compensate for vehicle motion and to provide comprehensive situational awareness.

Meet our experts at DSEI 2023

In case of questions about the capabilities of our gimbals or if you wish to discuss the feasibility of applications, our team will be available to talk to you at the show. Contact us to schedule an appointment in advance. We look forward to demonstrating our Gyro Mounts to you in a personal meeting at DSEI.

Sören Lieske
Sales Manager

Sales Airborne, Marine, Land
Phone: +49 3641 633 68 18
E-Mail: s.lieske@somag-ag.de
Let’s connect on LinkedIn

Sebastian Schreiber
CTO

Key Account Management
Phone: +49 3641 633 68 0
E-Mail: s.schreiber@somag-ag.de
Let’s connect on LinkedIn

    Contact us

    Book an appointment with our team at the event.
    We’re looking forward to seeing you!





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    SOMAG AG Jena launches

    Offshore/Offroad Gyro Stabilization Mount OSM 5000

    SOMAG AG Jena announces the launch of the new OSM 5000, the most powerful gyro-based stabilization platform ever developed by SOMAG. With the launch of the OSM 5000 and the launch of the RSM 50, SOMAG introduces two gimbals of the new series 5 for industry-leading stabilization in offshore and offroad settings.

    High-class gyro stabilization for offroad and offshore environments

    The gyro stabilizer is equipped with high-precision built-in sensors to detect in real-time movements of land vehicles caused by rough terrain, as well as angular movements of boats, ships, Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs), autonomous platforms and buoys caused by sea swell. The Gyro Stabilization Mount automatically compensates the movements to keep the sensor payload in a leveled position even when the ground is moving to provide razor-sharp imagery and comprehensive situational awareness. The IP class 67 weatherproof design allows the gimbal to do its job perfectly in humid, salty as well as dry, dusty environments.

    Two stabilization range configurations available

    “We offer the OSM 5000 in two different configurations, depending on the customer’s application, in order to do justice to the variety of possible use cases of our device and the resulting requirements,” says Sebastian Schreiber CTO, SOMAG AG Jena.

    With its symmetrical stabilization range, the Gyro Stabilization Mount compensates movements in roll and pitch up to ≤± 14.1°. This configuration is particularly interesting for customers who want to install their sensor on a land vehicle or floating support, since the general motion stimulation is rather symmetrical. However, if the OSM is to be installed on ships, the asymmetric configuration with ≤± 12.2° pitch and ≤±17.4° roll axis stabilization is recommended. As shown by studies on ship motions, motions in the roll axis pose greater challenges than in the pitch axis. Because ships are longer than they are wide, motions in the pitch axis are quite limited. In contrast, movements in the roll axis in sea state 6 can reach between 13° to 19°, depending on the width of the vessel1.

    1 Data is based on US Navy ship motion studies

    Most powerful gimbal ever developed by SOMAG

    The hydraulic gimbal system was designed to ensure precise leveling of heavy sensor payloads up to 300 kg (660 lbs) at only 55 kg own weight. Schreiber says: “When you consider the dimensions, it is quite amazing what we have created. With the OSM, we offer our customers a unit that can theoretically balance 4 grown men with an accuracy of ≤0.3°. The Gyro Mount is extremely powerful, but not monstrous. We clearly stand out from other devices on the market in terms of form factor, which has been kept as small as possible in relation to the performance of the Mount, being able to generate a peak dynamic torque of 550 Nm.”

    The OSM 5000 features advanced control algorithms, enhanced diagnosis possibilities and an Ethernet communication interface that allows integration into existing networks as well as control and monitoring of multiple Gyro Mounts within a network.

    Contact us for further information

    The new OSM 5000 is commercially available as of now. For further questions and prices please contact SOMAG sales team.

    In order to give you the best possible assistance, please include the following information in your request:

    • Where should the Mount be installed (floating platform, buoy, ship etc.)?
    • Dimensions (length/width/weight) of the platform or vessel
    • How many meters above the waterline should the Mount and the payload be installed?
    • Center of gravity and weight of the payload
    •  Further information you consider important

    Find out more

    OSM 5000 – Marine

    OSM 5000 – Marine

    OSM 5000 – Land

    OSM 5000 – Land

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    Subscribe today!

    Keep yourself informed about SOMAG and the latest Gyro Mount technology.
    We will send you regular information about:

    • exhibitions and event invitations
    • new products, services and videos
    • latest application examples, projects and partnerships

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    SOMAG AG Jena launches

    Offshore/Offroad Gyro Stabilization Mount OSM 5000

    SOMAG AG Jena announces the launch of the new OSM 5000, the most powerful gyro-based stabilization platform ever developed by SOMAG. With the launch of the OSM 5000 and the launch of the RSM 50, SOMAG introduces two gimbals of the new series 5 for industry-leading stabilization in offshore and offroad settings.

    High-class gyro stabilization for offroad and offshore environments

    The gyro stabilizer is equipped with high-precision built-in sensors to detect in real-time movements of land vehicles caused by rough terrain, as well as angular movements of boats, ships, Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs), autonomous platforms and buoys caused by sea swell. The Gyro Stabilization Mount automatically compensates the movements to keep the sensor payload in a leveled position even when the ground is moving to provide razor-sharp imagery and comprehensive situational awareness. The IP class 67 weatherproof design allows the gimbal to do its job perfectly in humid, salty as well as dry, dusty environments.

    Two stabilization range configurations available

    “We offer the OSM 5000 in two different configurations, depending on the customer’s application, in order to do justice to the variety of possible use cases of our device and the resulting requirements,” says Sebastian Schreiber CTO, SOMAG AG Jena.

    With its symmetrical stabilization range, the Gyro Stabilization Mount compensates movements in roll and pitch up to ≤± 14.1°. This configuration is particularly interesting for customers who want to install their sensor on a land vehicle or floating support, since the general motion stimulation is rather symmetrical. However, if the OSM is to be installed on ships, the asymmetric configuration with ≤± 12.2° pitch and ≤±17.4° roll axis stabilization is recommended. As shown by studies on ship motions, motions in the roll axis pose greater challenges than in the pitch axis. Because ships are longer than they are wide, motions in the pitch axis are quite limited. In contrast, movements in the roll axis in sea state 6 can reach between 13° to 19°, depending on the width of the vessel1.

    1 Data is based on US Navy ship motion studies

    Most powerful gimbal ever developed by SOMAG

    The hydraulic gimbal system was designed to ensure precise leveling of heavy sensor payloads up to 300 kg (660 lbs) at only 55 kg own weight. Schreiber says: “When you consider the dimensions, it is quite amazing what we have created. With the OSM, we offer our customers a unit that can theoretically balance 4 grown men with an accuracy of ≤0.3°. The Gyro Mount is extremely powerful, but not monstrous. We clearly stand out from other devices on the market in terms of form factor, which has been kept as small as possible in relation to the performance of the Mount, being able to generate a peak dynamic torque of 550 Nm.”

    The OSM 5000 features advanced control algorithms, enhanced diagnosis possibilities and an Ethernet communication interface that allows integration into existing networks as well as control and monitoring of multiple Gyro Mounts within a network.

    Contact us for further information

    The new OSM 5000 is commercially available as of now. For further questions and prices please contact SOMAG sales team.

    In order to give you the best possible assistance, please include the following information in your request:

    • Where should the Mount be installed (floating platform, buoy, ship etc.)?
    • Dimensions (length/width/weight) of the platform or vessel
    • How many meters above the waterline should the Mount and the payload be installed?
    • Center of gravity and weight of the payload
    •  Further information you consider important

    Find out more

    RSM 50 – Marine

    RSM 50 – Marine

    RSM 50 – Land

    RSM 50 – Land

    Newsletter

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    Keep yourself informed about SOMAG and the latest Gyro Mount technology.
    We will send you regular information about:

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    • new products, services and videos
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    Subscribe to the SOMAG newsletter

    Next month (October 2022), the new SOMAG Mount Control App version 5.1.0 launches. The SOMAG Mount Control App was developed by SOMAG AG Jena and is a software tool for Microsoft Windows users that simplifies the operation and configuration of SOMAG Gyro Stabilization Mounts. The app is available free of charge on a USB stick that is part of the standard scope of delivery of every Mount. If you do not have the USB stick available, please contact our support team for a download link.

    What’s new in version 5.1.0

    1. The look

    The new look of the app is the most striking change in the new version. The appearance has been adapted to the new corporate design introduced in February this year.

    For those who have difficulties with readability using the dark design, we have added the option to switch modes. This way, the app can also be displayed in a light variant. The selected mode is automatically saved and is also preselected the next time the app is opened. The mode switch can be found in the menu on the right side, accessible via the triple bar icon.


    2. Profiles for End Stop Limits

    Without the End Stop Limits feature, the Mount stabilizes during operation in all axes within its maximum angular range. By activating the Software Feature “End Stop Limits” the physical movement range of the Mount can be limited in all axes the Mount provides stabilization for. If the End Stop Limits have been applied, the Mount will only move within the specified angle ranges.

    The new app version now allows users to save their End Stop Limits settings as a profile with self-selected names. A maximum of 10 profiles can be created. This makes it easy to switch back and forth between the preferred settings and profiles without having to re-enter the values into the app each time. This can be useful for users who either use different sensors in the same Mount and want to apply different movement ranges for the respective sensor, or for users who operate the Mount in different vehicles.

    How to create a new End Stop Limits Profile

    • Make your End Stop Limits settings: in the example on the left the roll axis was limited to -7° and +7° and the pitch axis was blocked at +3°, a setting in the Yaw axis was not made
    • Press + 
    • A window opens in which the new profile name can be assigned
    • Press “OK” to confirm
    • In the drop-down menu, all created profiles are displayed, including the newly created “TestProfil”
    • To use a profile, select it from the drop-down list and press “Apply”
    • After pressing Apply, a notification window opens in which the entered values to be sent to the Mount are summarized and must be confirmed with “OK”.
    • To reset all settings, the “Default” button must be pressed

    3. Mount Control Diagram

    At the former position of the Interface Protocol Change in the Home View the Mount Control Diagram has been created. The diagram offers the possibility to enter Gyro Mount angles manually and interactively. The blue shape in the diagram (shape depends on the connected Mount) represents the maximum movement range of the respective Mount. If the movement range has been restricted by End Stop Limits, this is reflected by a change in the shape.

    In addition, the diagram visualizes the angular range in which the Mount is located. The settings from the Mount Control Diagram are automatically displayed in the Manual Mount Control panel. The desired angle values can also be entered there. Manual control of the Mount is thus possible in both panels (MCD and MMC).


    4. Reorganization Settings

    The Settings tab has been divided into 3 views. The first one contains the General Settings, where you can now also find the Interface Protocol Change. The Feature 1 view covers all settings related to the Collision Avoidance Feature, such as the setting of the End Stop Limits. The Feature 2 view comprises all other settings that are related to the optional Software Features.

    All views of the app, including the Feature 1 and Feature 2 screen, can be found here.


    5. General rearrangements

    In the main menu, the Emergency Stop has now been placed centrally next to the five main tabs, so that it can be found and activated quickly in an emergency. The e-stop is available for all marine and land Mounts. When the Emergency Stop is active, the button flashes alternately white and red. E-Stop turns off the motors and locks the hydraulic circuits preventing further movement of the Mount.

    Other functions formerly located in the main menu can now be accessed in the drop-down menu on the right, such as:

    • Connection Overview
    • Mount Select
    • Open Folder
    • Mode Switch (dark/light)
    • Document Viewer (Manuals)
    • General Information

    The triple bar icon color acts as a connection indicator between the Mount and the computer. Green means Connection, yellow means Warning and red means Error. If there is no connection, the icon remains white.

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    We will send you regular information about:

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    Environmental testing

    Gyro Mounts to successfully pass temperature tests

    SOMAG AG Jena has successfully completed temperature tests on its airborne, marine and land Gyro Stabilization Mounts at the independent and accredited test laboratory MeßTechnikNord GmbH in Jena, Germany, which specializes in conducting climatic product tests, such as cold, heat, thermal shock, and humidity tests. The temperature tests are part of a series of comprehensive environmental tests that the company performs at regular intervals, in addition to EMC and performance tests to ensure consistently high-quality standards for its devices.

    Sebastian Schreiber, Chief Technology Officer at SOMAG, comments: “By means of environmental simulations, we can replicate environmental influences that occur in the course of a product life cycle to prove that our Gyro Mounts are able to face them. The analyses also help us to understand the different effects of extreme temperatures on the Mounts in operation, such as achieving the specified angles and angular velocities, as well as stabilization performance. In addition, it is important that we explore the limits of our devices.”

    Temperature Tests Airborne Gyro Mounts

    Tests were carried out on the GSM 4000 and DSM 400 Aerial Camera Stabilizers with their respective maximum payloads. The tests verified the acceptable temperature ranges for operation and storage given in the Gyro Mount specifications overview, which conforms to the RTCA DO-160 Equipment Section 4 / Temperature and Altitude / Category A1 standard:

    Category A1
    Operating Low Temp. [°C]-15
    Operating High Temp. [°C]+55
    Ground Survival Low Temperature (Storage) [°C]-55
    Ground Survival High Temperature (Storage) [°C]+85

    Both airborne gyro gimbals successfully passed the tests in the high and low temperature ranges. Beyond the limits of SOMAG specifications, the GSM 4000 kept performing well even at a minimum operating temperature of -32 °C.

    Temperature Tests Marine/Land Gyro Mounts


    While airborne Gyro Stabilization Mounts are installed inside airplanes, the gimbals of the marine and land sector have to meet higher requirements. Installed up high on a mast of a frigate or on the back of an unmanned ground vehicle maneuvering through rough and dusty terrain, the Mounts in these application scenarios are directly exposed to harsh environmental influences such as blazing hot sun or freezing rain, which increases the stress on the material. However, even in these climatic conditions the Mount must prove that it can deliver its full power and achieve its specified performance and continuous torque. In the case of the NSM 400, this is 125 Nm and in the case of the OSM 4000, 225 Nm. This was tested by placing the payload off-center on the Mounts to setup a specific lever arm length to generate the continuous torque.

    In the first phase, tests were carried out in accordance with the marine standards IACS E10 Rev. 7 and DNV-CG-0339. Both marine gyro platforms stabilized properly in the specified high temperature range up to 55 °C and in the low temperature range down to -25 °C with residual angles of 0.07° and less.

    SOMAG Marine Mount Specifications
    Operating Low Temp. [°C]-30
    Operating High Temp. [°C]+55
    Ground Survival Low Temperature (Storage) [°C]-55
    Ground Survival High Temperature (Storage) [°C]+85

    “However, the requirements of our military customers go beyond this, just like our own specifications,” explains Arne Wollboldt, Application Engineer at SOMAG and responsible for environmental testing. NSM 400 and OSM 4000 demonstrated in the second stage that they performed perfectly even at -32°.

    Wollboldt: “Up to this point, we had expected these results. But we wanted to see what would happen if we increase the difficulty and push the Mounts further, so we also tested an operating temperature down to -40 °C. An extraordinary cold, as it occurs for example in tundra regions and the arctic ocean. To create more natural conditions, we sprayed the NSM 400 with water and covered it with a layer of ice.”

    A challenge that the surveillance sensor gimbal masters with flying colors. Thanks to its unique material, the protective bellow remains flexible and breaks the ice with the first movement, proving that the gimbal is capable of delivering best-in-class gyro stabilization for EO/IR systems even in extreme weather conditions.

    Video Marine Gyro Stabilizer Temperature Test

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    We will send you regular information about:

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    • new products, services and videos
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