System and method for aircraft and watercraft control and collision prevention

• US 6,654,687 B1
• Filed: 12/29/2002
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William Gutierrez
• Original Assignee: William Gutierrez
• Inventors: Gutierrez, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US10/334,309
• Time in Patent Office: 331 Days
• Field of Search: 701/301, 701/213, 701/715, 701/214, 701/216, 701/300, 701/302, 342/357.01, 342/357.06, 342/357.08, 342/357.09, 342/357.1, 342/357.12, 342/450
• US Class Current: 701/300
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0078 for monitoring traffic from the aircraft radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91

Abstract

A ship, ground and aircraft position control system that can also act as a missile control system where a missile communicates with a plurality of satellites in communication with each other and in communication with at least one ground station. The missile can be controlled from a missile control display that can display position, heading and speed of the missile and an operator can control the missile. The missile can determine at least its position by GPS as well as possibly its heading, speed and altitude. The missile control display can be a personal computer.

Claims

1. A guidance system comprising an unmanned craft in flight, said unmanned craft determining its position by GPS and reporting said position along with speed and heading to at least one of a plurality of satellites, said satellites in communication with each other;

an operator in communication with at least one of said satellites;

said operator controlling said unmanned craft through communication with said satellites.

2. The guidance system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said satellites communicates position, heading, and speed of said unmanned craft to said operator.

3. The guidance system of claim 2 further comprising a situation display centered on an instantaneous position of said unmanned craft, said display device also displaying map coordinate and terrain data to said operator.

4. The guidance system of claim 3 wherein said display device is a personal computer.

5. The guidance system of claim 1 wherein communications with said satellites is by radio communication.

6. The guidance system of claim 5 wherein said radio communication is by satellite telephone.

7. A satellite based missile control system comprising, in combination:

a plurality of satellites in communication with each other and in communication with at least one ground station;

a missile operator located at a ground station in communication with at least one of said satellites;

a missile in communication with at least one of said satellites, said missile deterining its at least its position by GPS;

said missile operator at least partially controlling operation and flight of said missile.

8. The satellite based missile control system of claim 7 further comprising a missile control display located at said ground station.

9. The satellite based missile control system of claim 8 wherein said missile control display is a personal computer.

10. The satellite based missile control system of claim 7 wherein said communication is radio communication.

11. The satellite based missile control system of claim 10 wherein said radio communication is by VHF or UHF.

12. A guidance system comprising:

A flying craft, said flying craft determining its instantaneous position by GPS and transmitting said instantaneous position to at least one of a plurality of satellites, said plurality of satellites in communication with each other, at least one of said plurality of satellites communicating said instantaneous position to an operator using a computer;

said computer communicating commands to said flying craft by wireless telephone, said operator able to control said flying craft from said computer.

13. The guidance system of claim 12 wherein said wireless telephone is satellite telephone.

14. The guidance system of claim 12 wherein said wireless telephone is cellular telephone.

15. The guidance system of claim 12 wherein said computer contains a joystick.

16. The guidance system of claim 15 where said operator uses said joystick to control said missile.

17. The guidance system of claim 12 wherein said computer contains a display, said display displaying said instantaneous position of said flying craft to said operator.

18. The guidance system of claim 17 further comprising said display displaying relative positions of said flying craft.

19. A guidance system comprising an unmanned craft in flight, said unmanned craft determining its position by GPS and reporting said position to an operator in communication with said unmanned craft by satellite telephone using at least one satellite, said operator controlling said unmanned craft through satellite telephone communication through said satellite.

20. The guidance system of claim 19 wherein said operator controls said unmanned craft through a craft control panel.