Apparatus and method for providing flight operations integrated planning and analysis tools

• US 20070055417A1
• Filed: 09/08/2005
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TASC Incorporated
• Original Assignee: TASC Incorporated
• Inventors: Foy, David, Farr, J., Chatfield, Thomas, Garneau, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,558,654 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/13
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/005 Flight directors indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32

Abstract

An apparatus and method provide flight operations integrated planning and analysis tools (FOIPAT) to perform integrated planning and analysis tasks for autonomous (unmanned) systems operations. The FOIPAT may be used for space launch and satellite early orbit analysis. The FOIPAT improves the efficiency and accuracy of space launch and satellite operations pre- and post-launch tasks performed by, for example, the US Air Force, the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and their support contractors. The FOIPAT provides greater functionality than existing software tools, reduces risk of errors, enhances quality control and data reliability, and reduces launch and flight operations planning cycle time. The FOIPAT may provide methodology for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) as well as terrestrial and seagoing systems.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing a flight operations integrated planning and analysis tool (FOIPAT) to determine and display results of the feasibility of collecting flight vehicle telemetry with predetermined assets, comprising:

a collection feasibility analysis (CFA) tool that analyzes telemetry links for sources that move relative to collectors to determine which collectors to be used during vehicle launches;

a vector transformation (VTX) tool that transforms orbital state vectors from one earth-centered astronomical reference frame to others;

a trajectory propagation (TrajProp) tool that generates ephemeris and trajectory input files for the CFA tool;

an interface that integrates the CFA tool, the VTX tool, and the TrajProp tool, the interface including a main interface screen, wherein the apparatus accepts a user selection and a user input on the main interface screen, loads data based on the user selection and the user input, executes individual programs to generate an output based on the user selection and the user input, and plots and displays the output with an appearance based on the user selection.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the CFA tool comprises one or more modules selected from a group consisting of:

a check alternate telemetry module, an alternate file handler module, a check feasibility module, a data subroutines module, a get names module, a transforms for alternate telemetry module (ALTTM) module, and a target vehicle specification information module.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the VTX tool comprises one or more modules selected from a group consisting of:

a VTX module and a vector transformation input/output (VTXIO) module.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the VTX module generates Keplerian and oblate earth orbit characteristics.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the TrajProp tool comprises one or more modules selected from a group consisting of:

a trajectory propagation module, a trajectory propagation input/output (I/O) module, an Aries module, a geodetic nadir module, a geodetic zenith module, a nadir module, a negative Aries module, a negative sun north module, a negative sun orbit module, a negative velocity module, a right ascension declination nadir module, a right ascension declination sun module, a sun nadir module, a right ascension declination module, a sun north ecliptic module, a sun north module, a sun orbit module, a sun south ecliptic module, a sun zenith module, a velocity module, a zenith module, a unit vector module, a transformations module, a sun subroutines module, a text mapper module, a cross product module, a dot product module, a date subroutines module, a fill vector module, a matrix vector module, and a NORAD module.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the FOIPAT comprises one or more modules selected from a group consisting of:

a flight operation integrated planning and analysis tool main module, a major events module, a Delta IV major event set module, a Delta II major event set module, an Atlas V major event set module, a Titan IV major event set module, a trajectory propagation input module, an input Cartesian representation module, an input Keplarian representation module, an input NORAD 2-line representation module, an input NORAD 10-line representation module, an input ADGARV representation module, an input Ephemeris module, an input trajectory module, a vector transformation main input module, a vector transformation main two input module, a CFA main input module, and a space-ground input module.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises one or more buttons selected from a group consisting of:

an edit file button, plotting buttons, a range button, a plot output button, a delete data button, a major events button, a CFA control input file button, a program report button, a CFA summary report button, a definitions button, a collector information button, a launch times button, an 80-12 trajectory file button, a save plot and draw saved button, a build CFA control file button, a run CFA button, a load CFA data button, a #grid lines button, an axes start button, a run TrajProp button, a build TrajProp control file button, a run VTX button, a build VTX control file button, and an exit button.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the plotting buttons include a gain button, a phi angle button, a theta angle button, an all button, an azimuth button, an elevation button, and an elevation versus azimuth button for plotting.

9. A method for providing a flight operations integrated planning and analysis tool (FOIPAT) to determine and display results of the feasibility of collecting flight vehicle telemetry with predetermined assets, the method comprising the steps of:

executing a collection feasibility analysis (CFA) tool, the CFA tool analyzes telemetry links for sources that move relative to collectors to determine which collectors to be used during vehicle launches;

executing a vector transformation (VTX) tool, the VTX tool transforms orbital state vectors from one earth-centered astronomical reference frame to others;

executing a trajectory propagation (TrajProp) tool, the TrajProp tool generating ephemeris and trajectory input files for the CFA tool;

providing an interface that integrates the CFA tool, the VTX tool, and the TrajProp tool, the interface including a main interface screen,

wherein the method accepts a user selection and a user input on the main interface screen, loads data based on the user selection and the user input, executes individual programs to generate an output based on the user selection and the user input, and plots and displays the output.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the CFA tool comprises one or more modules selected from a group consisting of:

a check alternate telemetry module, an alternate file handler module, a check feasibility module, a data subroutines module, a get names module, a transforms for alternate telemetry module (ALTTM) module, and a target vehicle specification information module.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the VTX tool comprises one or more modules selected from a group consisting of:

a VTX module and a vector transformation input/output-(VTXIO) module.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the VTX module generates Keplerian and oblate earth orbit characteristics.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the TrajProp tool comprises one or more modules selected from a group consisting of:

a trajectory propagation module, a trajectory propagation input/output (I/O) module, an Aries module, a negative Aries module, a negative sun north module, a negative sun orbit module, a negative velocity module, a right ascension declination nadir module, a right ascension declination sun module, a sun nadir module, a right ascension declination module, a sun north ecliptic module, a sun north module, a sun orbit module, a sun south ecliptic module, a sun zenith module, a velocity module, a zenith module, a unit vector module, a transformations module, a sun subroutines module, a text mapper module, a cross product module, a dot product module, a date subroutines module, a fill vector module, a matrix vector module, and a NORAD module.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the FOIPAT comprises one or more modules selected from a group consisting of:

a flight operation integrated planning and analysis tool main module, a major events module, a Delta IV major event set module, a Delta II major event set module, an Atlas V major event set module, a Titan IV major event set module, a trajectory propagation input module, an input Cartesian representation module, an input Keplarian representation module, an input NORAD 2-line representation module, an input NORAD 10-line representation module, an input ADGARV representation module, an input Ephemeris module, an input trajectory module, a vector transformation main input module, a vector transformation main two input module, a CFA main input module, and a space-ground input module.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising building a CFA control file based on data provided by the FOIPAT.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising building a VTX control file based on data provided by the FOIPAT.

17. The method of claim 9, further comprising building a TrajProp control file based on data provided by the FOIPAT.

18. The method of claim 9, further comprising generating a program report based on data provided by the CFA tool, the VTX tool, and the TrajProp tool.

19. The method of claim 9, further comprising generating a summary report based on data provided by the CFA tool.

20. The method of claim 9, further comprising plotting outputs on the interface based on data provided by the CFA tool, the VTX tool, and the TrajProp tool.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising plotting major events based on data provided by the CFA tool, the VTX tool, and the TrajProp tool.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising plotting a gain based on data provided by the CFA tool, the VTX tool, and the TrajProp tool.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising plotting a phi angle based on data provided by the CFA tool, the VTX tool, and the TrajProp tool.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising plotting a theta angle based on data provided by the CFA tool, the VTX tool, and the TrajProp tool.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising plotting an azimuth based on data provided by the CFA tool, the VTX tool, and the TrajProp tool.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising plotting an elevation based on data provided by the CFA tool, the VTX tool, and the TrajProp tool.

27. The method of claim 20, further comprising plotting an elevation versus azimuth based on data provided by the CFA tool, the VTX tool, and the TrajProp tool.

28. A method for providing a flight operations integrated planning and analysis tool (FOIPAT) to determine and display results of the feasibility of collecting flight vehicle telemetry with predetermined assets, the method comprising the steps of:

initializing a main interface screen in an interface;

accepting a user selection related to flight vehicle telemetry data and a user input on the main interface screen;

loading data based on the user selection and the user input;

executing one or more individual programs selected from a group consisting of;

a collection feasibility analysis (CFA) tool, a vector transformation (VTX) tool, and a trajectory propagation (TrajProp) tool, to generate an output based on the user selection and the user input, wherein the interface integrates the CFA tool, the VTX tool, and the TrajProp tool; and

plotting and displaying the output.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising building a CFA control file based on data provided by the FOIPAT.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising building a VTX control file based on data provided by the FOIPAT.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising building a TrajProp control file based on data provided by the FOIPAT.

32. The method of claim 28, further comprising generating a program report based on data provided by the CFA tool, the VTX tool, and the TrajProp tool.

33. The method of claim 28, further comprising generating a summary report based on data provided by the CFA tool.

34. The method of claim 28, further comprising editing files selected by the user.

35. The method of claim 28, further comprising plotting outputs on the interface based on data provided by the CFA tool, the VTX tool, and the TrajProp tool.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising plotting major events based on data provided by the CFA tool, the VTX tool, and the TrajProp tool.

37. A computer readable medium providing instructions for providing a flight operations integrated planning and analysis tool (FOIPAT) to determine and display results of the feasibility of collecting flight vehicle telemetry with predetermined assets, the instructions comprising:

initializing a main interface screen in an interface;

accepting a user selection related to flight vehicle telemetry data and a user input on the main interface screen;

loading data based on the user selection and the user input;

executing one or more individual programs selected from a group consisting of;

a collection feasibility analysis (CFA) tool, a vector transformation (VTX) tool, and a trajectory propagation (TrajProp) tool, to generate an output based on the user selection and the user input, wherein the interface integrates the CFA tool, the VTX tool, and the TrajProp tool; and

plotting and displaying the output.

38. The computer readable medium of claim 37, further comprising building a CFA control file based on data provided by the FOIPAT.

39. The computer readable medium of claim 37, further comprising building a VTX control file based on data provided by the FOIPAT.

40. The computer readable medium of claim 37, further comprising building a TrajProp control file based on data provided by the FOIPAT.

41. The computer readable medium of claim 37, further comprising generating a program report based on data provided by the CFA tool, the VTX tool, and the TrajProp tool.

42. The computer readable medium of claim 37, further comprising generating a summary report based on data provided by the CFA tool.

43. The computer readable medium of claim 37, further comprising editing files selected by the user.

44. The computer readable medium of claim 37, further comprising plotting outputs on the interface based on data provided by the CFA tool, the VTX tool, and the TrajProp tool.

45. The computer readable medium of claim 44, further comprising plotting major events based on data provided by the CFA tool, the VTX tool, and the Traj Prop tool.