Patent · US Expired

Method for determining the positions of a plurality of anonymous fixed reference objects for mobile surface transportation and a device for determining said positions

US6012003A · kind A · utility

17Cited by
4References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 15, 1998
Grant dateJan 4, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 15, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG05D1/0236
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for determining the positions of fixed reference objects for use in controlling the movement of mobile surface transportation units over a surface. The method includes detecting bearings from a measuring point on a mobile apparatus to the reference objects at predetermined times associated with movement of the mobile apparatus over the surface, storing the bearings along with the predetermined time associated therewith, and continuously computing the position of the reference objects and the degree of uncertainty associated with those positions from the bearings whereby the degree of uncertainty is reduced as the mobile apparatus moves over the surface.

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