GPS airborne target geolocating method
First Claim
1. A method for determining a target location of a target, the method comprising the steps of,sensor determining a first GPS position of a sensor platform, the first GPS position having GPS positioning errors, beacon determining a second GPS position of a beacon platform, the second GPS position having GPS positioning errors, the first and second GPS positions having relative errors less than the GPS positioning errors, beacon measuring a beacon offset angle, target measuring a target offset angle, and computing the target location of the target from the first and second GPS positions and the beacon offset angle and the target offset angle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A geolocation method is applied for accurate targeting of a target using an airborne beacon as a pseudo star generated by a high altitude vehicle, and using optical sensors by a low altitude vehicle for imaging the beacon and target for generating accurate relative GPS positioning of the target for improved the geolocation of the target preferably for precise delivery of a payload to the target. The method is applicable to military and civilian needs for accurate delivery of a payload to a target, such as for precise delivery of humanitarian aid or weapon munitions.
37 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for determining a target location of a target, the method comprising the steps of,
sensor determining a first GPS position of a sensor platform, the first GPS position having GPS positioning errors, beacon determining a second GPS position of a beacon platform, the second GPS position having GPS positioning errors, the first and second GPS positions having relative errors less than the GPS positioning errors, beacon measuring a beacon offset angle, target measuring a target offset angle, and computing the target location of the target from the first and second GPS positions and the beacon offset angle and the target offset angle.
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9. A method for delivering a payload to a target location of a target, the method comprising the steps of,
determining a first GPS position of a sensor platform, determining a second GPS position of a beacon platform, the first and second GPS positions having relative errors, measuring a beacon offset angle, measuring a target offset angle, computing the target location of the target from the first and second GPS position and beacon offset angle and target offset angle, determining a third GPS position of a maneuvering payload, communicating the target location to the maneuvering payload, and maneuvering payload toward to the target location for delivering the payload to the target location.
Specification