Star tracker-aided airborne or spacecraft terrestrial landmark navigation system
US10935381B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 27, 2018 |
| Grant date | Mar 2, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 12, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S19/485
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Methods and apparatus automatically determine a location, such as of an aircraft or spacecraft, by matching images of terrain below the craft, as captured by a camera, radar, etc. in the craft, with known or predicted terrain landmark data stored in an electronic data store. A star tracker measures attitude of the camera. An additional navigation aiding sensor provides additional navigational data. Optionally, a rangefinder measures altitude of the camera above the terrain. A navigation filter uses the attitude, the additional navigational data, and optionally the altitude, to resolve attitude, and optionally altitude, ambiguities and thereby avoid location solution errors common in prior art terrain matching navigation systems.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.