US 12,322,581 B1
Three-dimensional sweep probe system
Chhavi Chhavi, Atlanta, GA (US); and Mitchell L. R. Walker, Atlanta, GA (US)
Assigned to GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by Georgia Tech Research Corporation, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on Dec. 3, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/967,224.
Int. Cl. H01J 37/32 (2006.01); B64G 1/40 (2006.01)
CPC H01J 37/32926 (2013.01) [B64G 1/413 (2023.08); H01J 2237/24507 (2013.01)] 26 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a first controller comprising:
at least one first processor configured to execute one or more first computer executable instructions to control a radial arm;
a second controller comprising:
at least one second processor configured to execute one or more second computer executable instructions to control a probe apparatus motor;
a memory storing the:
one or more first computer executable instructions, and
one or more second computer executable instructions;
the radial arm configured to move a probe apparatus in a horizontal direction across a horizontal cross-section of a plasma plume generated by a thruster, in response to receiving a first control signal from the first controller;
the probe apparatus motor configured to move a probe, coupled to the probe apparatus, in a vertical direction across a vertical cross-section of the plasm plume, in response to receiving a second control signal from the second controller; and
the probe configured to detect an ion beam current density corresponding to the thruster, and based at least in part on a movement of the probe apparatus in the horizontal direction and a movement of the probe in the vertical direction.