Temporally consistent position estimation refinement for aerial refueling
US12148184B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 5, 2022 |
| Grant date | Nov 19, 2024 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 6, 2043 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T19/006
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Aspects of the disclosure provide fuel receptacle position estimation for aerial refueling (derived from aircraft position estimation). A video stream comprising a plurality of video frames each showing an aircraft to be refueled, is received from a single camera. An initial position estimate is determined for the aircraft for the plurality of video frames, generating an estimated flight history for the aircraft. The estimated flight history for the aircraft is used to determine a temporally consistent refined position estimate, based on known aircraft flight path trajectories in an aerial refueling setting. The position of a fuel receptacle on the aircraft is determined, based on the refined position estimate for the aircraft, and an aerial refueling boom may be controlled to engage the fuel receptacle. Examples may use a deep learning neural network (NN) or optimization (e.g., bundle adjustment) to determine the refined position estimate from the estimated flight history.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.