Apparatus and method for providing true geodetic coordinates

• US 6,988,049 B1
• Filed: 03/25/2004
• Issued: 01/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Havlin, Michael Robert, Ditzler, William Rodney, Tilley, Diane Sue, McKnight, James Edward, Thomas, Michael David, Wirtz, Michael Mathew, Miller, Louis Christopher, Modlinski, Frank Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Nghiem, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): KHUU, HIEN DIEU THI
• Application Number:
  US10/816,581
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 702/150
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 17/00 Compasses; Devices for ascertaining true or magnetic north for navigation or surveying purposes using gyroscopic effect G01C19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention utilizes the Reference Point Method (RPM). RPM generates a local magnetic declination variance that is exact for the location of the OP, utilizing an optical stereo imagery database. RPM functions to determine true geodetic coordinates of a target position not available to be displayed in an image database, such as, for example, movable equipment.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing true geodetic coordinates of a target position (TGT) using an

image database comprising:

a portable personal computing device having means to accept input, and output data and commands; and

,

a processor configured to execute a process corresponding to said input, output data and commands, said process comprising,

accepting input of true geodetic coordinates of an own position (OP);

accepting input of raw coordinates of a reference point (RP);

accepting input of true coordinates of RP from user, said true coordinates of RP being obtained from said image database;

computing exact local magnetic declination variance between said raw coordinates of RP and said true geodetic coordinates of RP;

accepting input of raw coordinates, inclination and range of said target position (TGT);

computing the true geodetic coordinates of TGT utilizing the exact local magnetic declination variance; and

outputting the true geodetic coordinates, inclination and range of the TGT.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said portable personal computing device comprises a Compaq (Hewlett-Packard) IPAQ™

model 3650.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said image database comprises the Digital Point Positioning Database (DPPDB).

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said true geodetic coordinates of said own position (OP) are obtained from said image database, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, an Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Radar (ATFLIR) image, a Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) pod, or the FalconView mapping system.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said geodetic coordinates are in the World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS-84), the Military Grid Reference System (MGRS), or like reference system.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said raw coordinates of a reference point (RP) and said raw coordinates of target (TGT) are obtained utilizing a Laser Range Finder (LRF).

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said true coordinates of OP and RP are obtained from said image database.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said true coordinates of OP and RP are obtained from said image database by utilizing the Precision Strike Suite (PSS).

9. A method for providing true geodetic coordinates of a target position (TGT) using an

image database comprising:

providing a portable personal computing device having means to accept input, and output data and commands;

providing a processor configured to process said input and said commands, said process comprising,

accepting input of true geodetic coordinates of an own position (OP);

accepting input of raw coordinates of a reference point (RP);

accepting true geodetic coordinates of the RP, said true coordinates of RP being obtained from said image database;

computing exact local magnetic declination variance between said raw coordinates of RP and said true geodetic coordinates of RP;

accepting input of raw coordinates, inclination and range of said target position (TGT);

computing the true geodetic coordinates of TGT utilizing the exact local magnetic declination variance; and

outputting the true geodetic coordinates, inclination and range of TGT.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said portable personal computing device comprises a Compaq (Hewlett-Packard) IPAQ™

model 3650.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said image database comprises the Digital Point Positioning Database (DPPDB).

12. The method of claim 9 wherein said true geodetic coordinates of said own position (OP) are obtained from said image database, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, an ATFLIR image, a Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) pod, or the FalconView mapping system.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein said geodetic coordinates are in the World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS-84), the Miltary Grid Reference System (MGRS), or like reference system.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein said raw coordinates of a Reference Point (RP) and said raw coordinates of target (TGT) are obtained utilizing a Laser Range Finder (LRF).

15. The method of claim 9 wherein said true coordinates of OP and RP are obtained from said image database.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein said true coordinates of OP and RP are obtained from said image database by utilizing the Precision Strike Suite (PSS).

17. A computer program product, embodied on a computer readable medium, for providing true geodetic coordinates of a target position (TGT) using an image database comprising:

computer code embedded in a portable personal computer (PC) having a computer program code causing said PC to interface with a user and with other electronic medium;

computer code for accepting input and commands and for outputting data;

computer code to execute a process corresponding to said input and commands, said process comprising,

accepting input of true geodetic coordinates of an own position (OP);

accepting input of raw coordinates of a reference point (RP);

accepting input of true coordinates of RP from user, said true coordinates of RP being obtained from said image database;

computing exact local magnetic declination variance between said raw coordinates of RP and said true geodetic coordinates of RP;

accepting input of raw coordinates, inclination and range of said target position (TGT);

computing the true geodetic coordinates of TGT utilizing the exact local magnetic declination variance; and

outputting the true geodetic coordinates, inclination and range of TGT.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein said portable personal computer (PC) comprises a Compaq (Hewlett-Packard) IPAQ™

model 3650.

19. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein said image database comprises the Digital Point Positioning Database (DPPDB).

20. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein said true geodetic coordinates of said own position (OP) are obtained from said image database, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, an Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Radar (ATFLIR) image, a Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) pod, or the FalconView mapping system.

21. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein said geodetic coordinates are in the World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS-84), the Miltary Grid Reference System (MGRS), or like reference system.

22. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein said raw coordinates of a reference point (RP) and said raw coordinates of target (TGT) are obtained utilizing a Laser Range Finder (LRF).

23. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein said true coordinates of OP and RP are obtained from said image database.

24. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein said true coordinates of OP and RP are obtained from said image database by utilizing the Precision Strike Suite (PSS).