Patent ID: 8179078

Claim:
A hand-held stabilization system comprising: a base; a stabilized platform including a first frame rotatably coupled to the base on a first pivot axis, including a first actuator disposed to torque the first frame about the first pivot axis responsive to a first motor signal, and a first rotational sensor having a rotation-sensitive sensor axis and producing a first sensor signal representing the rotation of the first frame with respect to the base; and a second frame rotatably coupled to the first frame on a second pivot axis, including a second actuator disposed to torque the second frame about the second pivot axis responsive to a first motor signal, and a second rotational sensor having a rotation-sensitive sensor axis and producing a second sensor signal representing the rotation of the second frame with respect to the first frame; at least one handle adapted for grasping by a human operator to facilitate moving the hand-held stabilization system about during operation; and a controller for producing each of the motor signal plurality responsive to a respective one of the sensor signal plurality, whereby the stabilized platform is disposed in a predetermined position independent of the position of the base.