Method, Apparatus and Computer Program Product for Providing Stabilization During a Tracking Operation

• US 20090096664A1
• Filed: 10/10/2007
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Dempsey, Daniel Morgan, Carroll, Carlton William
• Application Number:
  US11/870,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20090096664A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/147
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/66 Radar-tracking systems; Analogous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4026 Antenna boresight
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/403 in azimuth, i.e. in the horizontal plane
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4034 in elevation, i.e. in the vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4091 during normal radar operation

Abstract

An apparatus for providing stabilization during a tracking operation may include a processing element configured to define an inertial pointing vector relative to a point of interest, receive tracking information related to the point of interest, and determine compensation of the inertial pointing vector based on the received tracking information and motion of a platform conducting the tracking operation.

Claims

1. A method for providing stabilization during a tracking operation, the method comprising:

defining an inertial pointing vector relative to a point of interest;

receiving tracking information related to the point of interest; and

determining compensation of the inertial pointing vector based on the received tracking information and motion of a platform conducting the tracking operation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the compensation of the inertial pointing vector comprises translating motion of the platform, as measured relative to a center of rotation of the platform, to motion of a sensor associated with receiving the tracking information to compensate the inertial pointing vector for the motion of the sensor based on the motion of the platform.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling an orientation of the sensor based on the determined compensation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the compensation of the inertial pointing vector comprises receiving information defining motion of the platform with respect to rotation about at least one of a first axis, a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis substantially perpendicular to both the first axis and the second axis.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving tracking information comprises receiving video information and wherein determining the compensation of the inertial pointing vector comprises determining a camera adjustment amount for keeping an object corresponding to the point of interest in an image within a particular portion of a frame of the video information based on a position of the object in a prior frame.

6. A computer program product for providing stabilization during a tracking operation, the computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

a first executable portion for defining an inertial pointing vector relative to a point of interest;

a second executable portion for receiving tracking information related to the point of interest; and

a third executable portion for determining compensation of the inertial pointing vector based on the received tracking information and motion of a platform conducting the tracking operation.

7. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the third executable portion includes instructions for translating motion of the platform, as measured relative to a center of rotation of the platform, to motion of a sensor associated with receiving the tracking information to compensate the inertial pointing vector for the motion of the sensor based on the motion of the platform.

8. The computer program product of claim 6, further comprising a fourth executable portion for controlling an orientation of the sensor based on the determined compensation.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the fourth executable portion includes instructions for controlling a pan/tilt assembly that positions the sensor.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the fourth executable portion includes instructions for converting a three axis compensation value to a two axis guidance value for driving the orientation of the sensor.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the fourth executable portion includes instructions for controlling a rate of application of the guidance value based on a difference between the compensated inertial pointing vector and a current orientation of the sensor.

12. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the third executable portion includes instructions for receiving information defining motion of the platform with respect to rotation about at least one of a first axis, a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis substantially perpendicular to both the first axis and the second axis.

13. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the second executable portion includes instructions for receiving video information.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the third executable portion includes instructions for determining a camera adjustment amount for keeping an object corresponding to the point of interest in an image within a particular portion of a frame of the video information based on a position of the object in a prior frame.

15. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the second executable portion includes instructions for receiving radio frequency information and wherein the third executable portion includes instructions for determining an adjustment of a device tracking an object corresponding to the point of interest based on the received radio frequency information.

16. An apparatus for providing stabilization during a tracking operation, the apparatus including a processing element configured to:

define an inertial pointing vector relative to a point of interest;

receive tracking information related to the point of interest; and

determine compensation of the inertial pointing vector based on the received tracking information and motion of a platform conducting the tracking operation.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processing element is further configured to translate motion of the platform, as measured relative to a center of rotation of the platform, to motion of a sensor associated with receiving the tracking information to compensate the inertial pointing vector for the motion of the sensor based on the motion of the platform.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processing element is further configured to control an orientation of the sensor based on the determined compensation.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processing element is further configured to control a pan/tilt assembly that positions the sensor.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processing element is further configured to convert three axis compensation values to two axis guidance values for driving the orientation of the sensor.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processing element is further configured to control a rate of application of the guidance values based on a difference between the compensated inertial pointing vector and a current orientation of the sensor.

22. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processing element is further configured to receive information defining motion of the platform with respect to rotation about at least one of a first axis, a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis substantially perpendicular to both the first axis and the second axis.

23. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processing element is further configured to receive video information.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the processing element is further configured to determine a camera adjustment amount for keeping an object corresponding to the point of interest in an image within a particular portion of a frame of the video information based on a position of the object in a prior frame.

25. An apparatus for providing stabilization during a tracking operation, the apparatus including a processing element configured to:

define an inertial pointing vector relative to a point of interest;

receive tracking information from a camera related to the point of interest; and

determine compensation of the inertial pointing vector based on the received tracking information and motion of a waterborne vessel conducting the tracking operation.