Interactive position guidance apparatus and method for guiding a user to reach a predetermined target position

• US 5,798,733 A
• Filed: 01/21/1997
• Issued: 08/25/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Inventors: Ethridge, Jeffrey Noel
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US08/784,639
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 364/449.1, 364/449.3, 364/449.5, 364/449.7, 364/449.8, 342/357
• US Class Current: 342/357.34
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/18 Military applications
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/105 specially adapted for unpowered flight, e.g. glider, parachuting, forced landing parachutes per se B64D17/00

Abstract

A position guidance apparatus is a microprocessor based tool used to aid a parachute jumper in reaching a predetermined target position in an interactive manner. The device is particularly valuable in aiding those who have to do parachute jumps under hazardous conditions such as at night, into terrain with no visible orientation features, or into terrain wherein a precisely located landing is desired. The position guidance apparatus provides locational/directional guidance in a visual and potentially audible manner to guide the user in steering himself into an appropriate targeted landing zone. The apparatus is one that is preferably strapped onto the forearm of a user and provides a small graphical display of current position, target position, and predicted destination position. Alternatively, the display can be implemented as a heads-up display for the user. The display further relays instruction information to the user to vary the predicted destination position and thereby minimize deviation from a predetermined target position.

Claims

1. A position guidance apparatus comprising:

first means for prestoring position information;

second means for receiving input position information;

third means for determining a target position based upon the prestored position information, for determining current position based upon the received input position information, and for determining a predicted destination position based upon the received input position information and prestored position information; and

display means for displaying the target position, the current position and the predicted destination position to a user to thereby enable the user to thereafter minimize any target and predicted destination position difference.

2. The position guidance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is relatively small so as to be mountable on as appendage of the user.

3. The position guidance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display means displays the target position as a first geometric shape and displays the predicted destination position as a second geometric shape, different from the first geometric shape.

4. The position guidance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the current position is displayed as an arrow.

5. The position guidance apparatus of claim 4, wherein a direction of the arrow indicates directional information.

6. The position guidance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second means receives longitude, latitude, and altitude input position information.

7. The position guidance apparatus of claim 6, wherein the third means determines the predicted destination position based upon received input longitude, latitude and altitude position information.

8. The position guidance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third means determines a target position area surrounding the target position and determines a predicted destination area surrounding the predicted destination position and the display means displays the determined target position area and predicted destination area.

9. The position guidance apparatus of claim 8, wherein the display means displays the target position area as a first geometric shape and displays the predicted destination area as a second geometric shape, different from the first geometric shape.

10. The position guidance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first means further prestores image information of known terrain proximate to the target position and the display means displays the prestored image information.

11. The position guidance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first means prestores jump profile information, and the third means determines the predicted destination position based on the received input position information and the prestored jump profile information.

19. The position guidance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third means further determines a difference between the determined target position and predicted destination position and calculates correction information for correcting the determined difference, and wherein the display means further displays instruction information for instructing the user on how to minimize the determined difference based upon the calculated correction information.

20. The position guidance apparatus of claim 19, wherein the displayed instruction information includes an instruction for varying directional information.

21. The position guidance apparatus of claim 19, wherein the displayed instruction information includes an instruction for varying velocity information.

22. The position guidance apparatus of claim 20, wherein the displayed instruction information includes an instruction to steer left or right.

23. The position guidance apparatus of claim 21, wherein the displayed instruction information includes an instruction increase or decrease velocity.

24. The position guidance apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

fourth means for determining a starting position for beginning descent to the target position, based upon prestored target information and prestored flight profile information, wherein the first means prestores the flight profile information and the display means displays a command to begin descent upon determining that the determined starting position has been reached.

44. The position guidance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input position information is updated every predetermined time interval.

45. The position guidance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input position information includes a global positioning signal.

50. The position guidance apparatus of claim 20, wherein the instruction information is further audibly output.

51. The position guidance apparatus of claim 21, wherein the instruction information is further audibly output.

54. The position guidance apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

fourth means for determining longitude and latitude position information and for inputting the determined longitude and latitude position information to the second means; and

fifth means for determining altitude position information and for inputting the determined altitude position information to the second means.

55. The position guidance apparatus of claim 54, wherein the fourth means includes a global positioning signal receiver and the fifth means includes an altimeter.

56. The position guidance apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

keypad means for inputting instruction information indicating a start operation and providing an instruction to the second means to begin receipt of input position information and for inputting instruction information indicating an end operation and providing an instruction to the second means to stop receipt of a portion of the input position information.

60. The position guidance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the current position and predicted destination position are redetermined and redisplayed each time the second means receives input position information.

12. A position guidance method, comprising the steps of:

prestoring target position information and destination prediction information;

receiving input position information;

determining a target position based upon the prestored target position information;

determining a current position based upon the received input position information;

determining a predicted destination position based upon the received input position information and the prestored destination prediction information; and

displaying the determined target position, current position, and predicted destination position to a user to thereby enable the user to thereafter minimize any target and predicted destination position difference.

13. The position guidance method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

determining a starting position for beginning descent to the target position, based upon the prestored target position information and prestored fight profile information; and

displaying a command to begin descent upon determining that the determined starting position has been reached.

14. The position guidance method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

determining a difference between the determined target position and predicted destination position;

calculating correction information for correcting the determined difference; and

displaying instruction information for instructing the user on how to minimize the determined difference based upon the calculated correction information.

15. The position guidance method of claim 14, wherein the displayed instruction information includes an instruction for varying directional information.

16. The position guidance method of claim 14, wherein the displayed instruction information includes an instruction for varying velocity information.

17. The position guidance method of claim 15, wherein the displayed instruction information includes an instruction to steer left or right.

18. The position guidance method of claim 16, wherein the displayed instruction information includes an instruction to increase or decrease velocity.

25. The position guidance method of claim 12, wherein the target position is displayed as a first geometric shape and the predicted destination position is displayed as a second geometric shape, different from the first geometric shape.

26. The position guidance method of claim 12, wherein the current position is displayed as an arrow.

27. The position guidance method of claim 12, wherein the received input information includes longitude, latitude and altitude information.

28. The position guidance method of claim 27, wherein the predicted destination position is determined based upon the received input longitude, latitude and altitude information.

29. The position guidance method of claim 12, wherein the step of determining a target position includes determining a target position area surrounding the target position and the step of determining a predicted destination position includes determining a predicted destination area surrounding the predicted destination position and wherein the target position area and predicted destination area are displayed.

30. The position guidance method of claim 29, wherein the target position area is displayed as a first geometric shape and the predicted destination area is displayed as a second geometric shape, different from the first geometric shape.

46. The position guidance method of claim 12, wherein the input position information is updated every predetermined time interval.

48. The position guidance method of claim 15, wherein the instruction information is further audibly output.

49. The position guidance method of claim 16, wherein the instruction information is further audibly output.

61. The position guidance method of claim 12, wherein the current position and predicated destination position are redetermined and redisplayed each time input position information is received.

62. The position guidance method of claim 12, wherein the destination prediction information is jump profile information.

31. An interactive position guidance apparatus for aiding a parachute jumper in reaching a predetermined target position comprising:

first means for prestoring target position information of the predetermined target position and for prestoring jump profile information;

second means for receiving input position information at predetermined time intervals;

third means for determining, after each predetermined time interval, the current position of the parachute jumper based upon the received input position information and for determining, after each predetermined time interval, the predicted destination of the parachute jumper based upon the received input position information and the prestored jump profile information;

display means for displaying the predetermined target position, the current position, and the predicted destination of the parachute jumper, wherein display of the current position and predicted destination of the parachute jumper is updated after each predetermined time interval; and

calculation means for calculating, after each predetermined time interval, a difference between the predetermined target position and the predicted destination of the parachute jumper, wherein the display means further displays instruction information to minimize the calculated difference between the predetermined target position and the predicted destination of the parachute jumper.

32. The interactive position guidance apparatus of claim 31, wherein the displayed instruction information includes an instruction for varying directional information.

33. The interactive position guidance apparatus of claim 31, wherein the displayed instruction information includes an instruction for varying velocity information.

34. The interactive position guidance apparatus of claim 32, wherein the displayed instruction information includes an instruction to steer left or right.

35. The interactive position guidance apparatus of claim 33, wherein the displayed instruction information includes an instruction increase or decrease velocity.

36. The interactive position guidance apparatus of claim 31, wherein the apparatus is relatively small so as to be mountable on an appendage of parachute jumper.

37. The interactive position guidance apparatus of claim 31, wherein the display means displays the target position as a first geometric shape and displays the predicted destination of the parachute jumper as a second geometric shape, different from the first geometric shape.

38. The interactive position guidance apparatus of claim 31, wherein the second means receives longitude, latitude, and altitude input position information.

39. The interactive position guidance apparatus of claim 38, wherein the third means determines the predicted destination of the parachute jumper based upon received input longitude, latitude and altitude position information.

40. The interactive position guidance apparatus of claim 31, wherein the third means determines a target position area surrounding the target position and determines a predicted destination area surrounding the predicted destination of the parachute jumper and the display means displays the determined target position area and predicted destination area.

41. The interactive position guidance apparatus of claim 40, wherein the display means displays the target position area as a first geometric shape and the predicted destination area as a second geometric shape, different from the first geometric shape.

42. The interactive position guidance apparatus of claim 31, wherein the first means further prestores image information of known terrain proximate to the target position and the display means displays the prestored image information.

43. The interactive position guidance apparatus of claim 31, further comprising:

fourth means for determining a jumping position for beginning descent to the predetermined target position based upon the prestored target information and flight profile information,

wherein the display means displays a jump command to begin descent upon determining that the determined starting position has been reached.

47. The interactive position guidance apparatus of claim 31, wherein the input position information includes a global positioning signal.

52. The interactive position guidance apparatus of claim 32, wherein the instruction information is further audibly output.

53. The interactive position guidance apparatus of claim 33, wherein the instruction information is further audibly output.

57. The interactive position guidance apparatus of claim 39, further comprising:

fourth means for determining longitude and latitude position information and for inputting the determined longitude and latitude position information to the second means; and

fifth means for determining altitude position information and for inputting the determined altitude position information to the second means.

58. The interactive position guidance apparatus of claim 57, wherein the fourth means includes a global positioning signal receiver and the fifth means includes an altimeter.

59. The interactive position guidance apparatus of claim 31, further comprising:

keypad means for inputting instruction information indicating a start operation and providing an instruction to the second means to begin receipt of input position information and for inputting instruction information indicating an end operation and providing an instruction to the second means to stop receipt of a portion of the input position information.