Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g. – Directive – Including a satellite
Patent
1999-03-18
2000-09-05
Tarcza, Thomas H.
Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g.,
Directive
Including a satellite
34235706, 34235708, 701213, H04B 7185
Patent
active
06114990&
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for real-time simulation of the position of a possibly fictitious object in a three-dimensional coordinate system. The device includes at least a first unit and a second unit, each one provided with a GPS-receiver for receiving position and time signals respectively from at least four satellites. The device also includes a transmitter/receiver for communication between the first and second unit, preferably within the VHF- or UHF-radio frequencies. Additionally, the device includes a communication computer having memory capacity which connects the GPS-receiver and the transmitter/receiver.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For a long time, various devices for military simulation of battle simulations have been used. For example such devices can be concerned with laser methods for simulating realistic paths of projectiles. Then, usually, the considered projectiles have been fired from a vehicle located on the ground to a target, also located on the ground. However, there has been a lack of devices which at a reasonable cost simulate battle situations in which at least one part is located in space. This is even more true in those cases when the two parts are located there.
In recent years, the appearance of GPS-systems, i.e. Global Positioning Systems, which include satellites, the position of which in relation to the earth is accurately determined, has resulted in the possibility of a very accurate determination of the position of objects on the ground and also of objects in space.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,302 discloses a device for simulating in real time the position of an object in a three dimensional co-ordinate system, including a first and a second unit, using a GPS-system. U.S. Pat. No. 5,825,302 discloses a standard radio protocol for simulation, where the protocol utilizes a high link bandwidth and a high frequency.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is thus to provide a device of the kind which is mentioned in the introduction and which is suited to many applications and has a relatively low cost when used.
According to the present invention, such a device is primarily characterized in that at least the first unit contains a simulation computer communicating with a communication computer and simulating the position in the coordinate system and in time of an object and communicating this information to the second unit.
Such a device works well in the case where the number of objects is limited, i.e. if not more than some 3-4 objects are considered. However, a method developed in recent years, the so called STDMA, i.e. "Self-organizing Time Division Multiple Access", allows, as applied in the actual context, that a very large number of objects can participate in the simulation. This method is described in International Patent Application PCT/SE92/00485 having publication number WO 93/01576, published Jan. 21, 1993, and in other documents. In a preferred embodiment of the invention thus, the communication computer in the first and second units is provided with a time base which is exactly controlled by timing signals from the satellites. The said time base defines time blocks, which are standardized, are capable of being numbered and form a common, exact and predetermined repeated maximum frame. The device also includes means for using a free time block in each maximum frame, and for automatically therein transmitting a position signal between a transmitter and receiver using the selected radio frequency. The details of the STDMA-method are exhaustively described in International Patent Application PCT/SE92/00485 but are described in a summarizing way in the present context.
The STDMA method provides a position indicating system comprising a population of simultaneously active movable stations, which each sense their geographical positions through the reception of signals from geometrically distributed transmitters having known positions, and wherein each participating station has a transmitter for sending out in a
REFERENCES:
patent: 5325302 (1994-06-01), Izidon et al.
patent: 5506587 (1996-04-01), Lans
patent: 5867804 (1999-02-01), Pilley et al.
Bergljung Peter
Bergstrom Tommy
Phan Dao L.
Saab Dynamics AB
Tarcza Thomas H.
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