Sensor-based guidance for rotorcraft
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- acquiring one or more images of a plurality of markers of an off-board target using a camera onboard a rotorcraft, the plurality of markers arranged in a predefined pattern, wherein at least one marker of the plurality of markers comprises a pattern indicator marker that is part of the predefined pattern of the plurality of markers and indicates a starting point for identifying the predefined pattern of the plurality of markers, the pattern indicator marker having different characteristics than the other markers;
processing, using an image processor, the one or more images of the plurality of markers to identify the predefined pattern of the plurality of markers based on the pattern indicator marker;
determining guidance information for the rotorcraft relative to the off-board target based on the identified predefined pattern of the plurality of markers, an orientation of the plurality of markers and a relative spacing of the plurality of markers; and
providing the determined guidance information to a display device within a field of view of an operator of the rotorcraft.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a method that comprises acquiring one or more images of a plurality of markers of an off-board target using a camera onboard a rotorcraft, the plurality of markers arranged in a predefined pattern. The method also comprises processing, using an image processor, the one or more images of the plurality of markers to identify the predefined pattern of the plurality of markers. The method further comprises determining guidance information for the rotorcraft relative to the off-board target based on the identified predefined pattern of the plurality of markers, an orientation of the plurality of markers and a relative spacing of the plurality of markers. The method additionally comprises providing the determined guidance information to a display device within a field of view of an operator of the rotorcraft.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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acquiring one or more images of a plurality of markers of an off-board target using a camera onboard a rotorcraft, the plurality of markers arranged in a predefined pattern, wherein at least one marker of the plurality of markers comprises a pattern indicator marker that is part of the predefined pattern of the plurality of markers and indicates a starting point for identifying the predefined pattern of the plurality of markers, the pattern indicator marker having different characteristics than the other markers; processing, using an image processor, the one or more images of the plurality of markers to identify the predefined pattern of the plurality of markers based on the pattern indicator marker; determining guidance information for the rotorcraft relative to the off-board target based on the identified predefined pattern of the plurality of markers, an orientation of the plurality of markers and a relative spacing of the plurality of markers; and providing the determined guidance information to a display device within a field of view of an operator of the rotorcraft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 20)
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12. A system, comprising:
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a rotorcraft; a camera onboard the rotorcraft; an image processor for processing images that the camera acquires; a plurality of markers of an off-board target, the plurality of markers arranged in a predefined pattern; and a controller, the controller configured to; acquire one or more images of a plurality of markers of an off-board target using a camera onboard a rotorcraft, the plurality of markers arranged in a predefined pattern, wherein at least one marker of the plurality of markers comprises a pattern indicator marker that is part of the predefined pattern of the plurality of markers and indicates a starting point for identifying the predefined pattern of the plurality of markers, the pattern indicator marker having different characteristics than the other markers; process, using the image processor, the one or more images of the plurality of markers to identify the predefined pattern of the plurality of markers based on the pattern indicator marker; determine guidance information for the rotorcraft relative to the off-board target based on the identified predefined pattern of the plurality of markers, an orientation of the plurality of markers and a relative spacing of the plurality of markers; and provide the determined guidance information to a display device within a field of view of an operator of the rotorcraft. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21)
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19. An apparatus, comprising:
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an image capturing module configured to acquire one or more images of a plurality of markers of an off-board target using a camera onboard a rotorcraft, the plurality of markers arranged in a predefined pattern, wherein at least one marker of the plurality of markers comprises a pattern indicator marker that is part of the predefined pattern of the plurality of markers and indicates a starting point for identifying the predefined pattern of the plurality of markers, the pattern indicator marker having different characteristics than the other markers; an image processing module configured to process, using an image processor, the one or more images of the plurality of markers to identify the predefined pattern of the plurality of markers based on the pattern indicator marker; a guidance module configured to determine guidance information for the rotorcraft relative to the off-board target based on the identified predefined pattern of the plurality of markers, an orientation of the plurality of markers and a relative spacing of the plurality of markers; and a presentation module configured to provide the determined guidance information to a display device in the field of view of an operator of the rotorcraft. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification