Design and functional test of a novel optical testing target

A novel optical testing target (OTT) with three degrees of freedom (DOFs) is proposed for measuring the tracking performance of a photoelectric theodolite. The main components, such as the azimuth axis system, the pitching axis system, the linear motion system, and the simulated target generator, are designed. Furthermore, the linear module with the form of a large-span and low-stiffness cantilever beam is strengthened using an integrated optimization method. After the structure is strengthened, the 1st-order natural frequency increases from 14 Hz to 32 Hz. Finally, a functional test is performed and the results show that compared with a traditional optical test target, the simulated target generated by the novel target is advantageous in practice.