True azimuth and north finding method and system
First Claim
1. A method for obtaining a true azimuth heading for correcting a coarse azimuth heading measured from an observation position to a specific selected target by operating a data acquisition system disposed at the observation position, comprising:
- a computer module running computer programs including at least one dedicated computer program and at least one map, a computer display coupled to the computer module for;
displaying output data to the operator in superimposition onto the at least one map, and for responding to an operator input designating a selected location thereon by operation of the computer module for;
retrieval of location data of the selected location, and replacement of location data for a previously calculated location with location data of the selected location, a sighting device aimed at the specific selected target and coupled to the computer module for input therein of data including location data and target data, the sighting device including;
access to a source of location data, devices for measuring target data, including elevation angle, relative horizontal yaw angle, coarse azimuth heading, and means for deriving range data, the method comprising the steps of;
feeding input data into the computer module including location data, target data and associated errors limits, and operating the computer module for;
displaying the at least one map selected according to observation position location data, running the at least one dedicated computer program to provide calculated target location data for the specific selected target according to input data, and to calculate an error area delimited by data error limits and displayed as a search zone, the calculated target location being disposed within the search zone containing the specific selected target, and superimposing the search zone on the at least one displayed map, prompting the operator to search within the search zone limits shown on the display module for the true location of the specific selected target, which when found and indicated, operates the computer module for;
retrieval of location data of the specific selected target, and replacement of location data of the previously calculated target location with the true location data of the specific selected target, and operating the at least one dedicated computer program to calculate and accept the sighting device'"'"'s heading aimed at the specific selected target as the true azimuth, to feedback the true azimuth to the sighting device, and to display calculation result data, whereby the data acquisition system provides true azimuth from which a true North direction may be derived and used as input for further operation.
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Abstract
A method and a system are recited for obtaining a true azimuth heading for correcting a coarse azimuth heading measured from an observation position to a specific selected target by operating a data acquisition system disposed at the observation position. In principle, data is acquired and measurements are taken to allow calculation of a calculated target, including error area limits. The calculated target surrounded by error area limits is presented as a search zone to an operator for searching, finding and indicating on a display, on which is superimposed at least one map, of the specific selected target. Once found, calculations of the true azimuth are performed, allowing the derivation of the true North. The method and a system are operative with a variety of maps, including digital terrain models and stellar maps.
50 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A method for obtaining a true azimuth heading for correcting a coarse azimuth heading measured from an observation position to a specific selected target by operating a data acquisition system disposed at the observation position, comprising:
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a computer module running computer programs including at least one dedicated computer program and at least one map, a computer display coupled to the computer module for;
displaying output data to the operator in superimposition onto the at least one map, and for responding to an operator input designating a selected location thereon by operation of the computer module for;
retrieval of location data of the selected location, and replacement of location data for a previously calculated location with location data of the selected location, a sighting device aimed at the specific selected target and coupled to the computer module for input therein of data including location data and target data, the sighting device including;
access to a source of location data, devices for measuring target data, including elevation angle, relative horizontal yaw angle, coarse azimuth heading, and means for deriving range data, the method comprising the steps of;
feeding input data into the computer module including location data, target data and associated errors limits, and operating the computer module for;
displaying the at least one map selected according to observation position location data, running the at least one dedicated computer program to provide calculated target location data for the specific selected target according to input data, and to calculate an error area delimited by data error limits and displayed as a search zone, the calculated target location being disposed within the search zone containing the specific selected target, and superimposing the search zone on the at least one displayed map, prompting the operator to search within the search zone limits shown on the display module for the true location of the specific selected target, which when found and indicated, operates the computer module for;
retrieval of location data of the specific selected target, and replacement of location data of the previously calculated target location with the true location data of the specific selected target, and operating the at least one dedicated computer program to calculate and accept the sighting device'"'"'s heading aimed at the specific selected target as the true azimuth, to feedback the true azimuth to the sighting device, and to display calculation result data, whereby the data acquisition system provides true azimuth from which a true North direction may be derived and used as input for further operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A system for correcting a coarse azimuth heading with a true azimuth heading, the coarse azimuth heading being measured from an observation point to a specific selected target by operating a data acquisition system disposed at the observation point, comprising:
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a computer module running computer programs including at least one dedicated computer program and at least one map, a computer display coupled to the computer module, which commands;
display of output data to the operator in superimposition onto at least one map, and response to an operator input designating a selected location thereon by operation of the computer module for;
retrieval of location data of the selected location, and replacement of location data for a previously calculated location with location data of the selected location, a sighting device aimed at the specific selected target and coupled to the computer module for input therein of measured data including location data and target data, the sighting device including;
access to a source of location data, devices for measuring target data, measurement of elevation angle, relative horizontal yaw angle, coarse azimuth heading, and means for deriving range data, the system comprising;
input data including location data, target data and associated errors limits, being fed as input into the computer module which is operated to command;
display of the at least one map selected according to observation point location data, operation of at least one dedicated computer program to provide calculated target location data for the specific selected target according to input data, and to calculate an error area delimited by data error limits and displayed as a search zone, the calculated target location being disposed within the search zone containing the specific selected target, and superimposition of the search zone on the at least one displayed map, the operator being prompted to search within the search zone limits shown on the display module for the true location of the specific selected target, which when found and indicated, operates the computer module for;
retrieval of location data of the specific selected target, and replacement of location data of the previously calculated target location with the true location data of the specific selected target, and the dedicated computer program being operated to calculate and accept the sighting device'"'"'s heading aimed at the specific selected target as the true azimuth, to feedback the true azimuth to the sighting device, and to display calculation result data, whereby the data acquisition system provides true azimuth from which a true North direction may be derived and used as input for further operation. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification