Method of navigation

US5087916A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Dornier GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Walter Metzdorff · Friedrichshafen, DE
• Peter Lux · Hamburg, DE
• Max Eibert · Friedrichshafen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 14, 1990
• Grant date: Feb 11, 1992
• Expiry date: May 14, 2010

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01C21/005
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method for navigation and updating of navigation for aircraft uses range image processing and a reference store, segmentizing the range image data are segmentized in order to obtain a particular pattern of type features for purposes of classifying particular types of objects across which the craft flies; extracting particular signature features including localized elevational jumps and determining the position of the craft by correlating a plurality of features and their spatial orientation to each other as extracted with corresponding stored reference information in order to provide a maximum fit that is indicative of deviation of the flight from a flight path as identified by the reference information.