METHOD OF GUIDANCE OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES

• US 20100332066A1
• Filed: 06/28/2010
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Luminati Aerospace, LLC
• Original Assignee: Atair Aerospace
• Inventors: Calise, Anthony J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,494,941 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/23
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0204 to counteract a sudden perturbation, e.g. cross-wind, gust

Abstract

A method of guiding aerial vehicles to a target site in adverse weather conditions wherein the method regulates the range indirectly by regulating heading error to an offset target that revolves around the true target site. The improved guidance architecture is effective in adverse weather conditions, such as high winds.

Claims

1. A method of guiding aerial vehicles to a target site comprising the acts of:

calculating a desired heading error, δ

ψ

_d, using a first equation;

δ

ψ

_d=V_h/R_dK_ψ

;

calculating an angle θ

using a second equation;

θ

=π

/2−

δ

ψ

_d;

calculating cos φ

using a third equation;

cos φ

=1−

2 cos²θ

;

calculating an angle ε

using a fourth equation;

2. A method of guiding an aerial vehicle to an intended target site and for maintaining a circular path above said intended target site by said aerial vehicle, for regulating range error to the target site by regulating heading error to an offset target site, said method comprising the acts of:

obtaining information relative to estimated horizontal distance between said aerial vehicle and said intended target site; and

calculating an instantaneous heading between a current position of said aerial vehicle and an offset target site, and utilizing said calculated instantaneous heading between a current position of said aerial vehicle and an offset target site for guiding said aerial vehicle to said intended target site.