Steering systems and methods
Disclosed are devices configurable with, for example, the location and motion of satellites can be configured to drive actuators connected to the motion of a steerable device. A steerable device may be augmented, for example, with gears or drivers to drive orientation, sensors to report current position and a mechanism to lock the device in place for the duration of the steering process such that power gears from the device mesh and can drive gears in the steerable device. Signals from the device intelligently guide the actuators to steer the orientation of the steerable device towards a satellite selected by a person or algorithm. Upon completion of the steering of steerable device by the device, the device can be detached, leaving the steerable device locked in place and fully functional as a steerable device, while also leaving the device capable if engaging with another similarly steerable device.
1. A steering system comprising:
a steerable device having steerable device actuators;
a removable steering system housing configurable to removably engage the steerable device;
one or more drive actuators in communication with the steerable device actuators; and
a controller configurable to administer a positional instruction to the one or more drive actuators.
2. The steering system of 1 wherein the steering system includes one or more drivers which drive a position of the steerable device.
3. The steering system in 1 wherein the steering system includes a user interface.
4. The steering system in 1 wherein the steering system is configurable to communicate with an external computing device having a user interface.
5. A method for steering a steerable device comprising:
attaching a removable steering system housing to the steerable device;
obtaining position information;
generating a positional instruction;
delivering the positional instruction to the steerable device;
locking a position of the steerable device based on the generated positional instruction; and
removing the steering system.
6. The method for steering a steerable device of claim 5 comprising: instructing one or more drivers to drive a position of the steerable device from a first position to a second position.
7. The method for steering a steerable device of claim 5 comprising: selecting the target orbiting satellite from a list of available orbiting satellites.
8. The method for steering a steerable device of claim 5 comprising communicating with an external computing device.
9. A steerable device steering means comprising:
a steerable device having a steering means;
a removable steering system housing configurable to removably engage the steering means;
one or more drive actuators means in communication with the steering means; and
a controller configurable to administer a positional instruction to the one or more drive actuators.
10. The steering system means of 9 wherein the housing includes one or more actuators and one or more drivers.
11. The steering system means of 9 wherein the steering system includes a user interface.
12. The steering system means in 9 wherein the steering system is configurable to communicate with an external computing device.