Precision Approach Control
First Claim
1. An aircraft command and control system, comprising:
- a camera, including a rangefinder, disposed aboard the aircraft for measuring an azimuth angle, an elevation angle and a slant range from a fixed point on the aircraft relative to a selected target point on a surface located below the aircraft;
a navigation system disposed aboard the aircraft for measuring a latitude and a longitude of a point on the surface that is disposed perpendicularly below the fixed point on the aircraft;
a computer for computing the position of the fixed point on the aircraft relative to the target point on the surface from the respective measurements of the camera and the navigation system; and
,a controller for controlling the movement of the aircraft such that the fixed point on the aircraft is positioned at a selected azimuth angle, elevation angle and slant range above the selected target point on the surface.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An aircraft control system for operations close to the ground includes a camera having a rangefinder for measuring the azimuth, elevation and slant range from a fixed point on the aircraft relative to a selected target point on a surface below the aircraft, a navigation system for measuring the latitude and longitude of the aircraft on the surface, a computer for computing the position of the fixed point on the aircraft relative to the target point from the respective measurements of the camera and the navigation system, and a controller for controlling the movement of the aircraft such that the fixed point is positioned at a selected position above the selected target point on the surface. The controller may also include an automatic tracking mechanism for maintaining the position of the fixed point on the aircraft at the selected position above a moving object.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An aircraft command and control system, comprising:
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a camera, including a rangefinder, disposed aboard the aircraft for measuring an azimuth angle, an elevation angle and a slant range from a fixed point on the aircraft relative to a selected target point on a surface located below the aircraft; a navigation system disposed aboard the aircraft for measuring a latitude and a longitude of a point on the surface that is disposed perpendicularly below the fixed point on the aircraft; a computer for computing the position of the fixed point on the aircraft relative to the target point on the surface from the respective measurements of the camera and the navigation system; and
,a controller for controlling the movement of the aircraft such that the fixed point on the aircraft is positioned at a selected azimuth angle, elevation angle and slant range above the selected target point on the surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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3. The system of clam 1, wherein the camera is supported on gimbals, and wherein the gimbals are used to measure the azimuth and elevation angles to the target point.
- 9. The system of clam 6, wherein the surface comprises a surface of a marine vessel.
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17. A method for controlling the position of a fixed point on an aircraft at a selected azimuth angle, elevation angle and slant range above a selected target point on a surface located below the aircraft, the method comprising:
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measuring an azimuth angle, an elevation angle and a slant range from the fixed point on the aircraft relative to a selected target point on a surface located below the aircraft with a camera having a rangefinder; measuring a latitude and a longitude of a point on the surface that is disposed perpendicularly below the fixed point on the aircraft with a navigation system; computing the position of the fixed point on the aircraft relative to the target point on the surface from the respective measurements of the camera and the navigation system with a computer; and
,controlling the movement of the aircraft such that the fixed point on the aircraft is positioned at the selected azimuth angle, elevation angle and slant range above the selected target point on the surface with a controller. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An improved precision approach control system for an aircraft of a type incorporating a navigation system comprising at least one of a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system and an Inertial Navigation System (INS), wherein the improvement comprises:
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a camera, including a rangefinder, disposed aboard the aircraft for measuring an azimuth angle, an elevation angle and a slant range from a fixed point on the aircraft relative to a selected target point on a surface located below the aircraft; and
,a computer for computing the position of the fixed point on the aircraft relative to the target point on the surface from the respective measurements of the camera and the navigation system. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification