Method and apparatus for utilizing a movable GPS antenna for surveying purposes
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for mounting on a rotary wing aircraft for supporting a Global Positioning Systems (GPS) receiving antenna, said apparatus comprising:
- a boom structure for being fixed to and extending laterally to a side of said aircraft;
mounting means on said boom for cooperating with corresponding mounting means on said antenna for removably mounting said antenna on said boom; and
cable receiving means extending between said aircraft and said antenna and associated with said boom structure for receiving a communications cable attached to said antenna, wherein said cable receiving means permits the extension or retraction of said communications cable for allowing said antenna to be removed from said boom while maintaining operative communication of said antenna with said aircraft.
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Abstract
A method for obtaining Global Positioning System (GPS) information for a required point on the earth'"'"'s surface, the method comprising: positioning a GPS receiving antenna on a known point, beginning to record received GPS signals and thereafter continuously recording the signals, removably mounting the antenna on a rotary wing aircraft, moving the aircraft to a position proximate the required point, removing the antenna from the aircraft and positioning the antenna on the required point.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. Apparatus for mounting on a rotary wing aircraft for supporting a Global Positioning Systems (GPS) receiving antenna, said apparatus comprising:
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a boom structure for being fixed to and extending laterally to a side of said aircraft; mounting means on said boom for cooperating with corresponding mounting means on said antenna for removably mounting said antenna on said boom; and cable receiving means extending between said aircraft and said antenna and associated with said boom structure for receiving a communications cable attached to said antenna, wherein said cable receiving means permits the extension or retraction of said communications cable for allowing said antenna to be removed from said boom while maintaining operative communication of said antenna with said aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. Apparatus for mounting a Global Positioning Systems (GPS) receiving antenna on a rotary wing aircraft having a series of rotor blades mounted on a rotary wing assembly, said apparatus comprising:
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a boom structure for being fixed to and extending laterally to a side of said aircraft and downwardly of said rotary wing assembly; and mounting means on said boom structure for cooperating with corresponding mounting means on said antenna for removably mounting said antenna on said boom; wherein said mounting means on said boom is positioned outwardly of said aircraft and below said rotor blades at a distance from said aircraft such that for a non-zero speed of rotation of said rotor the rotor blades will not interfere with the reception of signals from a GPS satellite by said antenna. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. Apparatus for mounting on a rotary wing aircraft for supporting a Global Positioning Systems (GPS) receiving antenna, said apparatus comprising:
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a boom structure for being fixed to and extending laterally to a side of said aircraft; mounting means on said boom for cooperating with corresponding mounting means on said antenna for removably mounting said antenna on said boom; cable receiving means extending between said aircraft and said antenna and associated with said boom structure for receiving a communications cable attached to said antenna, wherein said cable receiving means permits the extension or retraction of said communications cable for allowing said antenna to be removed from said boom while maintaining operative communication of said antenna with said aircraft; and wherein said mounting means on said boom is positioned outwardly of said aircraft and below said rotor blades at a distance from said aircraft such that for a non-zero speed of rotation of said rotor blades the rotor blades will not interfere with the reception of signals from a GPS satellite by said antenna.
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Specification