Relative navigation for precision rendezvous and station keeping using datalink signals
US7418343B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 19, 2004 |
| Grant date | Aug 26, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 20, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S19/51
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A follower aircraft is guided to a lead aircraft using a datalink that determines range between the two. The lead aircraft has an antenna array and processing system for determining azimuth/elevation of the follower aircraft. The lead aircraft transmits a ranging message to the follower aircraft and stores a lead aircraft time of transmit (TOT) time. The ranging message is received at the follower aircraft and a follower aircraft time of reception (TOR) time is stored. A second ranging message is transmitted from the follower aircraft to the lead aircraft and a follower aircraft TOT time is stored. The second ranging message is received at the lead aircraft and a lead aircraft TOR is stored. A message is sent from the follower aircraft when follower aircraft TOT and TOR. The range and time offset is determined by the lead aircraft using follower aircraft TOT/TOR and stored lead aircraft TOT/TOR.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.