Analysis of the Influence of Elastomeric Isolator Stiffness on the Vibration Isolation Performance of Multi-axis Stabilized Gimbal Systems Mounted on Tracked Vehicles

As modern warfare shifts towards electronic warfare and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), there is an increasing demand for stabilized gimbal systems mounted on tracked vehicles to operate reliably in harsh combat environments. However, high-frequency disturbances generated by the vehicle can degrade the quality of the imagery produced by these systems. To mitigate image blur caused by vibration, elastomeric isolators are used; yet, their nonlinear behavior under shock and vibration makes performance prediction challenging. This study aims to model the nonlinear dynamics of these isolators and identify the optimal configuration. Numerical simulations were conducted to pinpoint leading candidate isolators, which were then tested through operational vibration and shock assessments on four isolators with varying stiffness. The selected isolator achieved vibration attenuation of 83% on the X-axis and 72% on the Y-axis. It also met a safety margin of 1.54 for the image sensor and demonstrated durability through endurance testing.