System and method for target tracking and navigation to a target

• US 6,889,123 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2003
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Wittenberg, Peter S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US10/638,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20050033488A1
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/11, 701/200, 701/218, 701/225, 244/135.A, 244/161, 244/162, 342/23, 342/29, 342/31, 342 46- 49
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0284 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/412 based on a comparison between measured values and known or stored values
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/12 Target-seeking control

Abstract

A system, method and computer program product for performing automatic navigation of a first aircraft to a second aircraft is provided. The system includes a radar system, a processor, memory, and a flight control system. The radar system generates a one-dimensional radar profile of the second aircraft. The processor determines flight information of the second aircraft based on the generated one-dimensional radar profile and one-dimensional radar profiles stored in the memory. The flight control system automatically directs the first aircraft based on the determined flight information of the second aircraft. In one embodiment, the first aircraft is an unmanned airborne vehicle and the second aircraft is a tanker aircraft. In another embodiment, the radar system may include a high-range resolution radar.

Claims

1. A system for performing automatic navigation of a first aircraft to a second aircraft, the system comprising:

a radar system configured to generate a one-dimensional radar profile of the second aircraft;

a processor configured to determine flight information of the second aircraft based on the generated one-dimensional radar profile; and

a flight control system configured to automatically direct the first aircraft based on the determined flight information of the second aircraft.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first aircraft is an unmanned airborne vehicle.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the second aircraft is a tanker aircraft.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication component configured to communicate with a remote mission control station.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising an antenna coupled to the communication component and the radar system.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the antenna is a multi-application data link antenna.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the radar system includes a high-range resolution radar.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a memory configured to store a plurality of one-dimensional radar profiles with associated azimuth and elevation information, wherein the processor determines flight information of the second aircraft by matching the generated one-dimensional radar profile to one of the plurality of one-dimensional radar profiles and retrieving the azimuth and elevation information associated with the matched radar profile.

9. A method for performing automatic navigation of a first aircraft to a second aircraft, the method comprising:

generating a one-dimensional radar profile of the second aircraft;

determining flight information of the second aircraft based on the generated one-dimensional radar profile; and

automatically directing the first aircraft based on the determined flight information of the second aircraft.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first aircraft is an unmanned airborne vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second aircraft is a tanker aircraft.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising communicating with a remote mission control station.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein communicating and generating a one-dimensional radar profile are performed on a dual-use antenna.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the dual-use antenna is a multi-application data link antenna.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein generating a one-dimensional radar profile is a performed by a high-range resolution radar.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

storing a plurality of one-dimensional radar profiles with associated azimuth and elevation information,

wherein determining flight information of the second aircraft includes;

matching the generated one-dimensional radar profile to one of the stored plurality of one-dimensional radar profiles; and

retrieving the azimuth and elevation information associated with the matched one-dimensional radar profile.

17. A computer program product residing on a computer-readable medium for performing automatic navigation of a first aircraft to a second aircraft, the computer program product comprising:

means configured to generate a one-dimensional radar profile of the second aircraft;

means configured to determine flight information of the second aircraft based on the generated one-dimensional radar profile; and

means configured to automatically direct the first aircraft based on the determined flight information of the second aircraft.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the first aircraft is an unmanned airborne vehicle.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the second aircraft is a tanker aircraft.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, further comprising means configured to communicate with a remote mission control station.

21. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein means configured to generate the one-dimensional radar profile generates the one-dimensional radar profile with a high-range resolution radar.

22. The computer program product of claim 17, further comprising:

means configured to store a plurality of one-dimensional radar profiles with associated aspect azimuth and elevation information,

wherein the means configured to determine flight information of the second aircraft includes;

means configured to match the generated one-dimensional radar profile to one of the stored plurality of one-dimensional radar profiles; and

means configured to retrieve the aspect azimuth and elevation information associated with the matched one-dimensional radar profile.