Television – Special applications – Navigation
Patent
1993-07-15
1994-12-13
Britton, Howard W.
Television
Special applications
Navigation
340971, 348140, 348169, H04N 718
Patent
active
053733185
ABSTRACT:
A method and apparatus provides instantaneous passive range measurement oard an aircraft for determining the range between the aircraft and a target. The target may either be stationary or a slower moving vehicle. Calculation of the desired range is achieved using the formula: Range=(S/S')V(Cos a)(Cos b) where "S"=apparent target size; "S'"=rate of change of apparent size; "V"=ground velocity; "a"=azimuth angle from aircraft heading to target; and "b"=elevation angle from the aircraft heading to the target. The apparatus consists of an automatic video tracker, a video camera, and a servo controlled aiming platform. The video tracker provides target size data. Resolvers on the aiming platform are utilized to determine the azimuth and elevation angles from the aircraft axis to the target. The azimuth angle is added to the aircraft drift angle to determine the total azimuth angle from the aircraft heading to the target. The drift angle and ground velocity are obtained from the aircraft inertial system.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3162103 (1964-12-01), Perkins
patent: 3699310 (1972-10-01), Cole
patent: 4983033 (1991-01-01), Suzuki
patent: 5001508 (1991-03-01), Ogawa
patent: 5060004 (1991-10-01), Ikuta
patent: 5177462 (1993-01-01), Kajiwara
patent: 5216480 (1993-06-01), Kaneko
Bechtel James B.
Britton Howard W.
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
Tura James V.
Verona Susan E.
LandOfFree
Apparent size passive range method does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparent size passive range method, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparent size passive range method will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1196301