About Us
Atlantic Positioning Systems is a world leader with over 35 years experience in the design and manufacture of modular precision positioner products for stabilized multi-sensor electro-optical surveillance, laser ranging and tracking, laser beam director, weapons platforms, and communication systems. Our products are used extensively by US Department of Defense agencies and their prime contractors.
Atlantic Positioning Systems was acquired by Atlantic Microwave Corporation in February 2003. Our core competencies in supplying high precision, modular, direct drive positioners and servo controls for military electro-optical applications, strengthens Atlantic Microwave's position as a key supplier of millimeter wave RF subsystems for MILSATCOM, surveillance, radar, and reconnaissance markets.
Atlantic Positioning Systems operates out of a modern 25,000 square foot facility that supports engineering, assembly, test, and integration of our products. We are located in Largo, Florida, about 20 minutes West of Tampa International Airport.
Division Profile
Atlantic Positioning Systems operation focuses on the design and manufacture of adaptable, highly-reliable, very accurate positioning systems, suitable for pointing optical sensors, lasers, radars, and communication antennas installed on land, sea and airborne platforms. We employ a modular design that allows inexpensive customization to accommodate payloads weighing from 5 lbs. to 1,200 lbs. Rapid positioning to microradian accuracies can be achieved. The servo-drive sub-system employs the latest digital control and communication technology to provide remote or local computer control of the positioner and the equipment that it supports. Our systems can provide LOS Stabilization utilizing fiber optic gyro (FOG) ring laser gyro (RLG), and dynamically tuned gyro (DTG) technology, to compensate for platform motion and wind loading.
Turnkey systems incorporating industry-leading optics, lasers, video cameras, IR sensors and software can also be provided. Custom design services for hardware, software, training and installation are available to support customers with special requirements.
The SPS-250, SPS-350, SPS-500, SPS-1000, SPS-2000 and SPS-4000 Series Positioners are based upon the same adaptable design that is the result of more than 30 years experience of gimbal design, development, manufacture and support. The same basic design is scaled to provide a standard range of positioners that can be adapted to the needs of payloads weighing from 5 lbs to 1,200 lbs. The precision of the positioners are in the microradian realm.
Atlantic's Positioners employ a modular design that allows the gimbal to be reconfigured to provide T-Bar, Yoke, and 3-axis gimbal configurations. Each of these configurations is also available as a rotator or with an offset elevation-axis. This flexibility allows the same mount to be adapted to customer payloads without expensive redesign. Atlantic's positioners employ state-of-the-art firmware and adaptive digital control to allow positioner performance to be optimized to a variety of payloads.
Quality Assurance
Atlantic Positioning Systems' Quality Assurance Program is compliant to ISO 9001: 2000. The Quality Assurance Manual is supported by thirty-seven Quality Assurance Procedures (QAP) and numerous Quality Assurance Guidelines (QAG) to assure responsibility to customer requirements, documentation control, calibrated inspection tools, standardized inspection, final product testing and record storage. Atlantic Positioning Systems' Quality Assurance Program promotes new hire and periodic staff training, internal audits and methods to monitor and continuously improve the effectiveness of the Quality Assurance Porgram.
The QA Program is administrated by a Quality Management Team consisting of the Director of Operations, the Director of Engineering and the Director of Quality Assurance. The QMT oversees the management of the quality of the products and services, assure personnel are properly trained, maintain quality in documentation control, oversight for purchasing, review of engineering quality, and the conduct of quality activities in production, test and in-process control. Key components of Atlantic's Quality Assurance Plan:
- Quality Assurance Program
- Design, Manufacturing & Test
- IS 9001 Compatible
- Documentation, Training, Audits, Registration
- Development Phase
- PM and QA review
- Design Reviews
- Configuration Control
- Component Performance Specifications
- Program, Subcontracts Phase
- Assessment of subcontractor quality program
- Major subcontract SOW and test plans
- In-Process and source inspection
- Testing
- Design verification testing
- Factory acceptance tests
Facilities
- 25,000 Square feet of Manufacturing/office space
- Production rates of 7 - 8 per month
- Motion simulators for stabilization testing
- Electric/electronic manufacturing in-house
- Advanced engineering and manufacturing tooling
- Isolated test pads
- Bonded storage area
