Magnetic anomaly sensing-based system for tracking a moving magnetic target
First Claim
1. A system for tracking a moving target that has a magnetic signature, comprising:
- a non-magnetic positioner capable of being adjusted in elevation and azimuth;
a magnetic anomaly sensing system coupled to said positioner for movement therewith, said magnetic anomaly sensing system determining magnetic gradient tensors associated with the target and converting said magnetic gradient tensors to gradient contraction scalars; and
a processor coupled to said magnetic anomaly sensing system and said positioner, said processor using said magnetic gradient tensors and said gradient contraction scalars to determine at least bearing and range to the target wherein a velocity of the target is determined using said bearing and range so-determined at two points in time as the target is moving, said processor (i) determining adjustments in elevation and azimuth of said positioner using said magnetic gradient tensors and said gradient contraction scalars along with said bearing and range and said velocity, and (ii) providing said adjustments to said positioner, wherein said magnetic anomaly sensing system continually determines said magnetic gradient tensors associated with the target as the target is moving.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for tracking a moving magnetic target uses a magnetic anomaly sensing system to continually determine magnetic gradient tensors associated with the target and converts the magnetic gradient tensors to gradient contraction scalars. A processor uses the magnetic gradient tensors and gradient contraction scalars to determine a minimum of bearing and range to the target. A velocity of the target is determined using the determined bearing and range at two points in time as the target is moving. To continually track with the moving target, the processor determines adjustments in elevation and azimuth using the magnetic gradient tensors and gradient contraction scalars along with bearing, range and determined velocities of the target. The processor can include a routine that determines range while accounting for asphericity errors introduced by the aspherical nature of constant magnetic gradient contours associated with the target.
53 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A system for tracking a moving target that has a magnetic signature, comprising:
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a non-magnetic positioner capable of being adjusted in elevation and azimuth; a magnetic anomaly sensing system coupled to said positioner for movement therewith, said magnetic anomaly sensing system determining magnetic gradient tensors associated with the target and converting said magnetic gradient tensors to gradient contraction scalars; and a processor coupled to said magnetic anomaly sensing system and said positioner, said processor using said magnetic gradient tensors and said gradient contraction scalars to determine at least bearing and range to the target wherein a velocity of the target is determined using said bearing and range so-determined at two points in time as the target is moving, said processor (i) determining adjustments in elevation and azimuth of said positioner using said magnetic gradient tensors and said gradient contraction scalars along with said bearing and range and said velocity, and (ii) providing said adjustments to said positioner, wherein said magnetic anomaly sensing system continually determines said magnetic gradient tensors associated with the target as the target is moving. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for tracking a moving target that has a magnetic signature, comprising:
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a non-magnetic positioner capable of being adjusted in elevation and azimuth; a magnetic anomaly sensing system coupled to said positioner for movement therewith, said magnetic anomaly sensing system determining magnetic gradient tensors associated with the target and converting said magnetic gradient tensors to gradient contraction scalars; and a processor coupled to said magnetic anomaly sensing system and said positioner, said processor using said magnetic gradient tensors and said gradient contraction scalars to determine at least bearing and range to the target with determination of said range accounting for asphericity errors introduced by the aspherical nature of constant magnetic gradient contours associated with the target, wherein a velocity of the target is determined using said bearing and range so-determined at two points in time as the target is moving, said processor (i) determining adjustments in elevation and azimuth of said positioner using said magnetic gradient tensors and said gradient contraction scalars along with said bearing and range and said velocity, and (ii) providing said adjustments to said positioner, wherein said magnetic anomaly sensing system continually determines said magnetic gradient tensors associated with the target as the target is moving. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system for tracking a moving target that has a magnetic signature, comprising:
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a non-magnetic positioner capable of being adjusted in elevation and azimuth; a magnetic anomaly sensing system coupled to said positioner for movement therewith, said magnetic anomaly sensing system including a sensor array comprising a plurality of triaxial magnetometer (TM) sensors with each of said TM sensors having X,Y,Z magnetic sensing axes, said plurality of said TM sensors arranged in a three-dimensional array with respective ones of said X,Y,Z magnetic sensing axes being mutually parallel to one another in said three-dimensional array, said magnetic anomaly sensing system determining magnetic gradient tensors associated with the target and converting said magnetic gradient tensors to gradient contraction scalars; and a processor coupled to said magnetic anomaly sensing system and said positioner, said processor using said magnetic gradient tensors and said gradient contraction scalars to determine at least bearing and range to the target with determination of said range accounting for asphericity errors introduced by the aspherical nature of constant magnetic gradient contours associated with the target, wherein a velocity of the target is determined using said bearing and range so-determined at two points in time as the target is moving, said processor determining (i) adjustments in elevation and azimuth of said positioner using said magnetic gradient tensors and said gradient contraction scalars along with said bearing and range and said velocity, and (ii) providing said adjustments to said positioner, wherein said magnetic anomaly sensing system continually determines said magnetic gradient tensors associated with the target as the target is moving. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification