SYSTEMS AND METHOD FOR DYNAMIC STABILIZATION OF TARGET DATA DETECTED FROM A MOVING PLATFORM

• US 20090212994A1
• Filed: 01/26/2009
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Martinez, Steven, Hamza, Rida
• Granted Patent: US 8,330,810 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/107
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/723 by using numerical data
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/277 involving stochastic approaches, e.g. using Kalman filters

Abstract

Systems and methods for detecting a present location of a target from a moving platform are provided. One system includes a movement module for estimating the present location of the target, a prediction module for estimating future locations of the target, and a first processor. The first processor is configured to receive present location estimates, receive future location estimates, store the future location estimates to create a first future location estimate, and determine the present location of the target based on the present location estimate and/or the first future location estimate. One method includes receiving an estimate of the present location of the moving platform, receiving an estimate of a future location of the moving platform, and determining the present location of the target based on the estimate of the present location and/or the estimate of the future location.

Claims

1. A system for detecting a present location of a target from a moving platform, comprising:

a movement module configured to estimate the present location of the target with respect to the moving platform;

a prediction module coupled to the movement module and configured to estimate future locations of the target based on estimates received from the movement module and movement characteristics of the moving platform; and

a first processor coupled to the movement module and the prediction module, the first processor configured to;

receive present location estimates from the movement module,

receive future location estimates from the prediction module,

store the future location estimates to create a first future location estimate, and

determine the present location of the target based on the present location estimate from the movement module, the first future location estimate from the prediction module, or both.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the movement module comprises:

a camera configured to generate first data representing an object having one or more sides resembling one or more major sides of the target;

a memory storing second data representing a template of the target and including sides corresponding to each major side; and

a second processor coupled to the camera and the memory, the second processor configured to;

receive the first data and the second data,

determine that the object is the target if the one or more sides of the object match a set of sides of the template, and

calculate the present location based on the first data.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the prediction module comprises:

a navigation system configured to detect the speed and direction of the platform and generate the movement characteristics from such;

a third processor coupled to the navigation system and configured to;

receive the present location estimates,

receive the movement characteristics, and

predict a location of the platform with respect to the target based on the present location estimate and the movement characteristics.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first processor comprises a Kalman filter architecture.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first processor comprises a weighted-average filter architecture.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the prediction module is configured to estimate future locations of the target using a vector velocity of the platform.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the platform is an aircraft and the target is a runway.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the platform is a motor vehicle.

9. A filter configured to determine a present location of a target from a moving platform, comprising:

means for receiving an estimate of a present location of the moving platform;

means for receiving an estimate of a future location of the moving platform;

memory configured to store the estimate of the future location of the moving platform; and

means for determining the present location of the target based on the estimate of the present location of the moving platform, the estimate of the future location of the moving platform, or both.

10. The filter of claim 9, wherein the filter comprises a Kalman filter architecture.

11. The filter of claim 9, wherein the filter comprises a weighted-average filter architecture.

12. The filter of claim 9, wherein the means for determining the present location of the target comprises means for determining which of the estimate of the present location of the moving platform or the estimate of the future location of the moving platform is more accurate.

13. The filter of claim 12, wherein the means for determining which of the estimate of the present location of the moving platform or the estimate of the future location of the moving platform is more accurate comprises means for applying a weighted factor to the more accurate one of the estimate of the present location of the moving platform or the estimate of the future location of the moving platform.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of determining which of the estimate of the present location of the moving platform or the estimate of the future location of the moving platform is more accurate comprises the step of applying a weighted factor to the more accurate one of the estimate of the present location of the moving platform or the estimate of the future location of the moving platform.

14. A method for determining a present location of a target from a moving platform, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an estimate of a present location of the moving platform;

receiving an estimate of a future location of the moving platform; and

determining the present location of the target based on the estimate of the present location of the moving platform, the estimate of the future location of the moving platform, or both.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of determining the present location of the target comprises the step of determining which of the estimate of the present location of the moving platform or the estimate of the future location of the moving platform is more accurate.