Patent · US Active

Horizon detection to support an aircraft on a mission in an environment

US12122511B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
2References
28Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 18, 2021
Grant dateOct 22, 2024
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 22, 2042

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06T2207/20021
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method is provided for horizon detection. The method includes acquiring an image that depicts a view of an environment, and defining a line pattern of lines that divide the image into respective pairs of image segments. The line pattern is formed of lines that are parallel, or intersecting at a common point of intersection. The method includes searching the lines of the line pattern to identify one of the lines as an estimated true horizon in the image that divides the image into a respective pair of image segments at a boundary of greatest difference in average brightness between the image segments from among the respective pairs of image segments. The method includes determining true horizon in the image from the estimated true horizon. The method may also include an evaluation of the estimated true horizon or the true horizon as to verify one or more expected characteristics.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.