LPWS Basic Knowledge Practice Exam

Balancing a sensor payload requires counterweight placement to keep the center of gravity within what the gimbal and platform can handle. The ballast acts as a counterweight beneath the FLIR to offset the weight of the camera and any asymmetry in the system. This helps maintain stable operation, reduces stress on the gimbal, and improves image stability by keeping the FLIR near its neutral position.

The other items have different roles: the mount is what attaches the FLIR to the platform, the davit is a lifting/cradle mechanism for deploying or recovering the equipment, and the stabilizer servo is part of the active control that keeps the image steady rather than providing counterbalance.