MEASURING OF A LANDING PLATFORM OF A SHIP

• US 20110307126A1
• Filed: 12/15/2008
• Published: 12/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ums Skeldar Sweden Ab
• Original Assignee: Saab AB
• Inventors: Högström, Tomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,457,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/16
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/933 of aircraft or spacecraft
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0684 on a moving platform, e.g. aircraft carrier

Abstract

A system for predicting the movement of a surface for autonomous landing of unmanned aerial vehicles thereon. At least two beam emitters are each movable to measure along at least one line on the surface. The lines measured by the two beam emitters are crossed so that they have at least one point of intersection in common. A control module. A detector is configured to detect reflected beams. A processor is configured to process measurements including estimating continuously a plane to the surface by measurements during a time interval. A storage module is configured to store the processed measurements.

Claims

1. A system for predicting the movement of a surface for autonomous landing of unmanned aerial vehicles thereon, comprising:

at least two beam emitters each being movable to measure along at least one line on the surface, wherein the lines measured by the two beam emitters are crossed so that they have at least one point of intersection in common;

a control module;

a detector configured to detect reflected beams,

a processor configured to process measurements including estimating continuously a plane to the surface by measurements during a time interval; and

a storage module configured to store the processed measurements.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least two beam emitters are arranged such that the movements are perpendicular to each other.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least two beam emitters is movable to measure along at least one line parallel to the at least one line on the surface.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the measuring along any line is performed in successive steps.

5. A method for predicting the movement of a surface for autonomous landing of unmanned aerial vehicles thereon, the method comprising:

emitting beams;

directing the beams towards the surface;

detecting reflected beams;

and processing measurements including estimating continuously a plane to the surface by measurements during a time interval,

emitting at least two beams;

moving each of the at least two beams to measure along at least one line on the surface;

storing the measurements; and

estimating continuously during a time interval a plane to the surface in order to predict a favorable occasion to land thereon,

wherein the lines measured are crossed to that they have at least one point of intersection in common.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the emitted at least two beams are moved perpendicular to each other.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein each of the at least two beams is moved along at least one line parallel to the at least one line on the surface.

8. The method according to claim 5-7, wherein the measuring along any line is performed in successive steps.