Precision targeting

• US 20080001022A1
• Filed: 10/05/2005
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Sa, Erwin, Marvin, Ebbert, Krebs, Rodney
• Granted Patent: US 7,728,264 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/02 using an independent line of sight
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/06 with rangefinder rangefinders per se G01C
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/1654 with electromagnetic compass
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/1656 with passive imaging devices, e.g. cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/588 deriving the velocity value from the range measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S17/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/66 Tracking systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/86 Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations

Abstract

The disclosed system, device and method for targeting and measurement of stationary target locations in addition to prediction of moving target positions for given weapon intercept times generally includes: a target location system (TLS) configured with a computing device, a GPS receiver, mapping software, calibration software and digital filtering software. Disclosed features and specifications may be variously controlled, adapted or otherwise optionally modified to improve target acquisition and engagement. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention generally provide for improved accuracy of range finders, magnetometers and inclinometers as well as for improved prediction of moving target positions.

Claims

1. A substantially real-time targeting system, said system comprising:

a computing device, said computing device configured with at least one of a user interface and a display;

a GPS receiver; and

a data link;

said computing device suitably configured to execute at least one of target location system calibration software, target filtering software, target position prediction software, target position computation software, mapping software, and data link modem software.

2. The targeting system of claim 1, wherein said display is at least one of a real display and a virtual display.

3. The targeting system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said user interface and said display comprises a touch-screen.

4. The targeting system of claim 1, wherein said GPS receiver comprises at least one of a differential GPS receiver, a substantially integrated receiver, and a substantially external receiver.

5. The targeting system of claim 1, wherein said computing device is suitably configured to receive digital target location measurement data via at least one of a cable and said data link.

6. The targeting system of claim 1, wherein said data link comprises a wireless data transmission.

7. The targeting system of claim 1, wherein said computing device is suitably configured to host said software and to display at least one of a map and a pop-up window for interactive use by the operator.

8. The targeting system of claim 1, wherein said data link is suitably configured to utilize a radio frequency data link having sufficient bandwidth to at least one of transmit targeting data and receive missile data.

9. The targeting system of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a magnetometer, an inclinometer, and an inertial measurement instrument for measuring at least one of azimuth and inclination.

10. The targeting system of claim 1, further comprising at least one optical element for at least one of focusing and aiming for at least one of night operations and daytime operations of said targeting system.

11. The targeting system of claim 1, wherein said target location system calibration software is suitably configured to substantially reduce target location system angular measurement error.

12. The targeting system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said moving target filtering and target position prediction software is suitably configured to utilize target location system data to at least one of estimate moving target velocity and predict target position at a predetermined future time.

13. The targeting system of claim 1, wherein said target position computation software is suitably configured to utilize at least one of target location system range, azimuth and inclination data and RTTS GPS position data to compute target position coordinates.

14. The targeting system of claim 1, wherein said mapping software is suitably configured to utilize control image base map data for at least one of display and extracting coordinates of selected points on an RTTS display.

15. The targeting system of claim 1, wherein said data link modem software is suitably configured to at least one of send and receive messages via an RTTS data link to at least one of a weapon and another targeting system.

16. A method for real-time targeting, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a computing device having at least one of a user interface and a display;

providing a GPS receiver;

providing a data link; and

configuring said computing device to execute at least one of target location system calibration software, target filtering software, target position prediction software, target position computation software, mapping software, and data link modem software.

17. The targeting method of claim 16, further comprising the step of configuring said computing device to receive digital target location measurement data via at least one of a cable and said data link.

18. The targeting method of claim 16, further comprising the step of configuring said data link to utilize a radio frequency data link having sufficient bandwidth to at least one of transmit targeting data and receive missile data.

19. The targeting method of claim 16, further comprising the step of providing at least one of a magnetometer, an inclinometer, an inertial measurement instrument for measuring at least one of azimuth and inclination, and at least one optical element for at least one of focusing and aiming.

20. The targeting method of claim 16, further comprising the step of configuring said target location system calibration software to substantially reduce target location system angular measurement error.

21. The targeting method of claim 16, further comprising the step of configuring at least one of said moving target filtering and target position prediction software to utilize target location system data to at least one of estimate moving target velocity and predict target position at a predetermined future time.

22. The targeting method of claim 16, further comprising the step of configuring said target position computation software to utilize at least one of target location system range, azimuth and inclination data and RTTS GPS position data to compute target position coordinates.

23. The targeting method of claim 16, further comprising the step of configuring said mapping software to utilize control image base map data for at least one of display and extracting coordinates of selected points on an RTTS display.

24. The targeting method of claim 16, further comprising the step of configuring said data link modem software to at least one of send and receive messages via an RTTS data link to at least one of a weapon and another targeting system.

25. A computing device for substantially real-time targeting, said device comprising:

at least one of a user interface, a touch-screen and a display;

at least one of a GPS receiver and a differential GPS receiver; and

at least one of a data link, a cable and a wireless data link;

said computing device suitably configured to execute at least one of target location system calibration software, target filtering software, target position prediction software, target position computation software, mapping software, and data link modem software;

said computing device suitably configured to display at least one of a map and a pop-up window for interactive use by an operator;

said data link suitably configured to utilize a radio frequency data link having sufficient bandwidth to at least one of transmit targeting data and receive missile data;

computing device optionally configured to at least one of receive and process at least one of azimuth and inclination data from at least one of a magnetometer, an inclinometer, and an inertial measurement instrument.