Aerial surveying method to determine ground contours
First Claim
1. A method for aerial surveying to determine ground contours, said method comprising, in combination, the steps of:
- (a) locating a rotating-beam laser generator at a known point on the ground and rotating said laser beam to define a reference plane;
(b) measuring the relative height of an aircraft with respect to said reference plane by sensing the location of said rotating laser beam with a stacked-array optical sensor carried by said aircraft and responsive to said beam;
(c) establishing a survey track for said aircraft along the ground and measuring the position of said aircraft along said track;
(d) continuously moving said aircraft along said track while simultaneously continuously measuring the altitude of said aircraft above the ground by altimeter means carried by said aircraft which are operatively independent of ground-located elements; and
(e) correlating the relative height (b), position (c) and altitude (d) of said aircraft to determine said ground contours.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An aerial surveying method to determine ground contour utilizes a rotating laser beam to establish a horizontal reference plane to which all contour measurements are referred. A stacked-array optical sensor, suspended below the aircraft, is utilized to measure the relative height of the aircraft with respect to the reference plane. A survey track along the ground for the aircraft is determined and the position of the aircraft along the track is continuously measured. The aircraft is flown continuously along the track and repeated altitude measurements of the aircraft are continuously made. The relative height of the aircraft with respect to the laser beam, the altitude of the aircraft above the ground and the position of the aircraft along the survey track are correlated to determine the ground contours.
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Citations
1 Claim
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1. A method for aerial surveying to determine ground contours, said method comprising, in combination, the steps of:
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(a) locating a rotating-beam laser generator at a known point on the ground and rotating said laser beam to define a reference plane; (b) measuring the relative height of an aircraft with respect to said reference plane by sensing the location of said rotating laser beam with a stacked-array optical sensor carried by said aircraft and responsive to said beam; (c) establishing a survey track for said aircraft along the ground and measuring the position of said aircraft along said track; (d) continuously moving said aircraft along said track while simultaneously continuously measuring the altitude of said aircraft above the ground by altimeter means carried by said aircraft which are operatively independent of ground-located elements; and (e) correlating the relative height (b), position (c) and altitude (d) of said aircraft to determine said ground contours.
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Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeLaser Systems, Inc. (Nova Eye Medical Ltd.)
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Original AssigneeLaser Systems, Inc. (Nova Eye Medical Ltd.)
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InventorsBoulais, Richard A.
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Primary Examiner(s)Buczinski, S. C.
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Application NumberUS06/003,704Time in Patent Office491 DaysField of Search356/1, 356/4, 356/152, 356/400, 343/5 CMUS Class Current356/4.08CPC Class CodesG01C 15/004 Reference lines, planes or ...
