Patent · US Expired

Hierarchical tracker and method

US5341143A · kind A · utility

20Cited by
15References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 19, 1988
Grant dateAug 23, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 19, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01S3/7864
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Method and apparatus for guiding a projectile to a target in a scene using a scene imaging sensor in which the projectile has a guidance and control system for aiming the projectile. A first tracker analyzes the scene and selects a first track point representative of a target and a first confidence value serving as a reliability measure of the first selected track point. A second tracker analyzes the scene and selects a second track point representing the target and a second confidence value which serves as a reliability measure of the second selected track point. Each of said trackers are constructed and arranged to operate independently in a manner that is substantially statistically uncorrelated with respect to each other. A joint confidence value based on track point proximity, convergence and divergence is generated from the tracker data and a composite confidence index is calculated from the first and second confidence values and the joint confidence value. The first and second track points are linearly combined pursuant to one of a set of rules selected by the confidence index to provide a new track point which is outputted to the projectile guidance and control system and n…

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