Method and Device for Tracking a Moving Target Object

• US 20140061478A1
• Filed: 11/20/2012
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: HIEBL, Manfred
• Granted Patent: US 8,975,585 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/342
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/32 Night sights, e.g. luminescent optical aspects of sighting devices G02B23/00, G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/02 using an independent line of sight
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/145 using a target illuminator
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/00 Means of attack or defence not otherwise provided for details of radar or sonar systems G01S7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/40 of target-marking, i.e. impact-indicating type F42B12/48, F42B12/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/04 Permanent marks; Boundary markers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/50 Systems of measurement based on relative movement of target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/66 Tracking systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/74 Systems using reradiation of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. IFF, i.e. identification of friend or foe

Abstract

A method for tracking a moving target object, in particular a vehicle. The method involves identification the target object, marking the target object with a marking invisible in the visible spectrum but retro-reflective in a selected wavelength range of the invisible spectrum of light, tracking the marked moving target object with an image capture device provided on a moving platform, which image capture device is sensitive in the selected wavelength range of the invisible spectrum.

Claims

1. A method for tracking a moving target object, comprising the steps:

a) identifying the target object;

b) marking the target object with a marking invisible in a visible spectrum but retro-reflective in a selected wavelength range of invisible spectrum of light;

c) tracking the marked moving target object with an image capture device provided on a moving platform, wherein the image capture device is sensitive in the selected wavelength range of the invisible spectrum.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selected wavelength range is in an infrared spectrum.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein

the marking is formed by an invisible marking paint that is retro-reflective in the selected invisible wavelength range, the marking paint has a paint and retro-reflective particles embodied therein, wherein the particles in the selected wavelength range of the invisible spectrum of light have a refractive index sufficient for a retro-reflection, and

the paint and the particles embedded therein are translucent in the visible spectrum of light.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the retro-reflective particles have a same refractive index as the paint in the visible spectrum of light, so that the marking paint is transparent in this spectrum.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the marking paint is applied to the target object from a distance, wherein the application of the marking paint is carried out by a paintball shooting device.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the moving platform for tracking the marked target object is an aircraft.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the aircraft is a helicopter or a wing aircraft.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein

the moving platform for tracking the marked target object is includes a position-determining device, and

a determination of a position data of the marked target object is performed based on a position determined using the position-determining device and an angle of view to the marked target object.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein data of a current position of the platform and of the viewing angle to the target object necessary for determining the position data of the marked target object or position data of the marked target already determined on board the platform object are transmitted via a wireless data transmission connection to a primary station or to a combat device for the marked target object.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the moving platform includes a combat device for the marked target object.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the platform with the image capture device is positioned between a natural source of illumination and the marked target object.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the natural source of illumination is a sun or moon.

13. A device for tracking a moving target object, comprising:

an image capture device configured to track a marked moving target object, wherein the image capture device is sensitive in the selected wavelength range of an invisible spectrum,

wherein the moving target object is marked with a marking invisible in a visible spectrum but retro-reflective in a selected wavelength range of the invisible spectrum of light.

14. A marking paint, comprising:

paint; and

retro-reflective particles embodied in the paint,

wherein the marking paint is invisible in visible light and retro-reflective in a wavelength range of the invisible spectrum,

wherein the particles in a selected wavelength range of the invisible spectrum of light have a refractive index sufficient for the retro-reflection, and

wherein the paint and the particles embedded in the paint are translucent in the visible spectrum of light.