Aircraft precision approach control
US7693617B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 19, 2006 |
| Grant date | Apr 6, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 20, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05D1/0684
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An aircraft control system for operations close to the ground includes a camera having a rangefinder for measuring the azimuth, elevation and slant range from a fixed point on the aircraft relative to a selected target point on a surface below the aircraft, a navigation system for measuring the latitude and longitude of the aircraft on the surface, a computer for computing the position of the fixed point on the aircraft relative to the target point from the respective measurements of the camera and the navigation system, and a controller for controlling the movement of the aircraft such that the fixed point is positioned at a selected position above the selected target point on the surface. The controller may also include an automatic tracking mechanism for maintaining the position of the fixed point on the aircraft at the selected position above a moving object.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.