Apparatus and method for autonavigation with one or more orbiting satellites and an anchor station
US5490076A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 12, 1994 |
| Grant date | Feb 6, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 12, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B10/118
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system of making satellite-to-ground range measurements, carrying out communications between a ground station and a constellation of autonavigating satellites, and using these range measurements to improve navigation accuracy is disclosed. The system comprises an anchor that is in a fixed position relative to the earth. The anchor implements a filtering algorithm to arrive at solutions for the satellites' positions based on measured satellite positions and predicted satellite positions. Each time a new measurement is received by the anchor an update is generated. In this manner the system is capable of updating satellite positions at a greater rate than similar prior art systems, thereby, decreasing the transient response associated with satellite delta-v maneuvers and decreasing the quantity of data that must be exchanged by the anchor and the satellites.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.