Navigational system and method utilizing sources of pulsed celestial radiation
US7197381B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 8, 2003 |
| Grant date | Mar 27, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 21, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64G1/36
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for navigation utilizing sources of pulsed celestial radiation are provided. A spacecraft, satellite, or other vehicle (12) has a pulse sensor (22) mounted thereto for detecting signal pulses (14) generated by a plurality of pulsars or other celestial objects (16). The detected signal pulses (14) are synchronously averaged at the known period of the pulsar or other celestial object (16) with respect to a timer (24). Timer (24) measures the pulse time of arrival at the pulse sensor (22) by comparing the pulse signal (14) with a pulse shape template (52), and a processing means (30) calculates the offset time between the measured pulse time of arrival at sensor (22) with a calculated pulse time of arrival at the solar system barycenter (SSBC). The positions and pulse profile characteristics of the pulsars (16) are stored in a digital memory (34) and combining the calculated time offset with the known positions of pulsars (16), the navigational position, velocity, attitude and time of spacecraft (12) with respect to the SSBC can be calculated.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.