Articulating dome gimbal assembly

1. A structure for protecting an articulating gimbal mounted on a host, the articulating gimbal being configured to orient a first line-of-sight of a laser beam, the structure comprising:

a dome mounted on the host and enclosing the articulating gimbal, the dome having first and second shells, the first shell being rotatable about a first axis relative to the host, the second shell disposed on the first shell and being rotatable about a second axis relative to the first shell, the second shell having a first window;

a first actuator coupled to the first shell and being configured to rotate the first shell about the first axis relative to the host;

a second actuator coupled to the second shell and being configured to rotate the second shell about the second axis relative to the first shell; and

a controller coupled to the first and second actuators and being configured to actuate the first and second actuators to position the first window in the first line-of-sight of the laser beam,

the articulating gimbal having an ancillary optical element having a second line-of-sight adjacent the laser beam,

wherein the second shell defines an opening therein;

wherein the first window comprises:

a bezel mounted in the opening and having an outer edge and an inner edge, the bezel having an ancillary window;

a protective optic mounted in the inner edge of the bezel; and

a third actuator coupled to the bezel and being configured to articulate the bezel about a third axis relative to the second shell; and

wherein the controller is further coupled to the third actuator and is configured to actuate the third actuator to position the second window in the second line-of-sight of the ancillary optical element.

2. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the second shell defines an opening therein; and wherein the window comprises a protective optic mounted in the opening.

3. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the controller is coupled to at least one gimble actuator of the articulating gimbal and is configured to receive feedback of articulation of the articulating gimbal from the at least one gimble actuator, the controller being configured to coordinate the actuation of the first and second actuators to the feedback of the articulation of the articulating gimbal.

4. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the controller is coupled to at least one gimble actuator of the articulating gimbal and is configured to control articulation of the articulating gimbal by the at least one gimble actuator.

5. An apparatus for use on a host, the apparatus comprising:

an articulating gimbal configured to mount on the host, the articulating gimbal having at least two gimbal actuators and being configured to orient a line-of-sight of a laser beam; and

a structure according to claim 1 for protecting the articulating gimbal.

6. A structure for protecting an articulating gimbal mounted on a host, the articulating gimbal being configured to orient a first line-of-sight of a laser beam, the structure comprising:

a first dome shell mounted on the host and enclosing a first portion of the articulating gimbal, the first shell having a first edge disposed thereabout and defining a first opening therein;

a first seal disposed between the first edge of the first shell and the host;

a first actuator coupled to the first dome shell and being configured to rotate the first shell on the first edge about a first axis relative to the host;

a second dome shell mounted in the first opening of the first dome shell and enclosing a remaining portion of the articulating gimbal, the second dome shell having a second edge disposed thereabout and having a first window therein;

a second seal disposed between the second edge of the second dome shell and the first opening of the first dome shell;

a second actuator coupled to the second dome shell and being configured to rotate the second dome shell on the second edge about a second axis relative to the first dome shell; and

a controller coupled to the first and second actuators and being configured to actuate the first and second actuators to position the first window in the first line-of-sight of the laser beam,

the articulating gimbal having an ancillary optical element having a second line-of-sight adjacent the laser beam,

wherein the second dome shell defines a second opening therein;

wherein the first window comprises:

a bezel mounted in the second opening and having an outer edge and an inner edge, the bezel having an ancillary window;

a protective optic mounted in the inner edge of the bezel;

a third seal disposed between the outer edge of the bezel and the second opening of the second dome shell; and

a third actuator coupled to the bezel and being configured to articulate the bezel on the outer edge about a third axis relative to the second dome shell; and

wherein the controller is further coupled to the third actuator and is configured to actuate the third actuator to position the second window in the second line-of-sight of the ancillary optical element.

7. The structure of claim 6 , wherein the first and second dome shells are each composed of a material selected from the group consisting of a metal material, a plastic material, and a composite material.

8. The structure of claim 6 , wherein the second dome shell defines a second opening therein; and wherein the first window comprises a protective optic mounted in the second opening.

9. The structure of claim 6 , wherein the controller is coupled to at least one gimble actuator of the articulating gimbal and is configured to receive feedback of articulation of the articulating gimbal from the at least one gimble actuator, the controller being configured to coordinate the actuation of the first and second actuators to the feedback of the articulation of the articulating gimbal.

10. The structure of claim 6 , wherein the controller is coupled to at least one gimble actuator of the articulating gimbal and is configured to control articulation of the articulating gimbal by the at least one gimble actuator.

11. The structure of claim 6 , wherein the first edge circumscribes the first axis about which the first dome shell is rotatable, wherein the first opening is circular, wherein the second edge circumscribes the second axis about which the second dome shell is rotatable.

12. The structure of claim 6 , wherein the first opening is offset from the first axis about which the first dome shell is rotatable; and wherein the first window of the second dome shell is offset from the second axis about which the second dome shell is rotatable.

13. An apparatus for use on a host, the apparatus comprising:

an articulating gimbal configured to mount on the host, the articulating gimbal having at least two gimbal actuators and being configured to orient a line-of-sight of a laser beam; and

a structure according to claim 7 for protecting the articulating gimbal,

wherein the articulating gimbal comprises an ancillary optical element having a second line-of-sight adjacent the laser beam;

wherein the second dome shell defines a second opening;

wherein the first window comprises:

a bezel mounted in the second opening and having an outer edge and an inner edge, the bezel having an ancillary window;

a protective optic mounted in the inner edge of the bezel;

a third seal disposed between the outer edge of the bezel and the second opening of the second dome shell; and

a third actuator coupled to the bezel and being configured to rotate the bezel about a third axis relative to the second dome shell; and

wherein the controller is further coupled to the third actuator and is configured to actuate the third actuator to position the second window in the second line-of-sight of the ancillary optical element.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the articulating gimbal comprises an azimuth-over-elevation gimbal or an equatorial gimbal.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 ,

wherein the articulating gimbal is configured to orient the second line-of-sight of the ancillary optical element about a roll axis relative to the laser beam;

wherein the protective optic is aligned for the line-of-sight of the laser beam; and

wherein the ancillary window has another protective optic mounted therein for the ancillary optical element.