Path following using bounded beacon-aided inertial navigation
US6580978B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 15, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jun 17, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 15, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05D1/0295
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A high-resolution path marking system utilized with inertial navigation systems for land vehicles. The system uses radio frequency tags or “beacons” to mark a route to be traversed by manned or unmanned follower vehicles. The RF tags serve as references to correct time and distance traveled dependent errors that accumulate in the follower vehicle's inertial navigation system. The position of each tag is accurately encoded into its memory using a manned path marking vehicle that “proofs” the route in advance of the follower vehicles. Since the inertial navigation system for the path marking vehicle and for the follower vehicles are synchronized at the start of the route, any errors accumulated in the followers' INS with respect to the path marking vehicle are eliminated at the prescribed intervals where the RF tags are placed. The path marking vehicle can lay the route days, weeks, or even months in advance of use by the follower vehicles. Once the path is marked, it can be reused many times by the follower vehicles without further human intervention. Further, the short-range, ground based RF tags used in this method are less susceptible to jamming, and the t…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.