Aircraft collision sense and avoidance system and method
First Claim
1. An image interrogator identifying and avoiding potential collision threats, said image interrogator comprising:
- a clutter suppression and target detection unit detecting moving targets from local images;
a Line Of Sight (LOS), multi-target tracking unit tracking detected said targets from each target'"'"'s focal plane track and from attitude;
a threat assessment unit correlating a LOS track for said targets to construct a three-dimensional (3D) relative trajectory for each of said targets and determining from said 3D relative trajectories whether any tracked target poses a collision threat; and
an avoidance maneuver unit determining a maneuver to avoid any identified said collision threat, wherein said image interrogator is vehicle mountable, and when mounted on an unmanned vehicle guiding said unmanned vehicle in unchaperoned travel in 3D space.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A collision sense and avoidance system and method and an aircraft, such as an Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) and/or Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV), including the collision sense and avoidance system. The collision sense and avoidance system includes an image interrogator identifies potential collision threats to the aircraft and provides maneuvers to avoid any identified threat. Motion sensors (e.g., imaging and/or infrared sensors) provide image frames of the surroundings to a clutter suppression and target detection unit that detects local targets moving in the frames. A Line Of Sight (LOS), multi-target tracking unit, tracks detected local targets and maintains a track history in LOS coordinates for each detected local target. A threat assessment unit determines whether any tracked local target poses a collision threat. An avoidance maneuver unit provides flight control and guidance with a maneuver to avoid any identified said collision threat.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. An image interrogator identifying and avoiding potential collision threats, said image interrogator comprising:
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a clutter suppression and target detection unit detecting moving targets from local images; a Line Of Sight (LOS), multi-target tracking unit tracking detected said targets from each target'"'"'s focal plane track and from attitude; a threat assessment unit correlating a LOS track for said targets to construct a three-dimensional (3D) relative trajectory for each of said targets and determining from said 3D relative trajectories whether any tracked target poses a collision threat; and an avoidance maneuver unit determining a maneuver to avoid any identified said collision threat, wherein said image interrogator is vehicle mountable, and when mounted on an unmanned vehicle guiding said unmanned vehicle in unchaperoned travel in 3D space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An aircraft comprising:
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a plurality of motion sensors sensing local images; an image interrogator guiding said aircraft in unchaperoned pilotless flight, said image interrogator comprising; a clutter suppression and target detection unit detecting moving targets from said local images, a Line Of Sight (LOS), multi-target tracking unit, tracking detected said targets from each target'"'"'s focal plane track and from the aircraft attitude, a target track history, said LOS, multi-target tracking unit maintaining a track history in LOS coordinates for each detected target in said target track history; a threat assessment unit correlating a LOS track for said targets to construct a three-dimensional (3D) relative trajectory for each of said targets and determining from said 3D relative trajectories whether any tracked target poses a collision threat, and an avoidance maneuver unit determining a maneuver to avoid any identified said collision threat; and a flight control and guidance unit receiving avoidance maneuvers from said avoidance maneuver unit and selectively executing said received avoidance maneuvers. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of detecting and tracking targets by an airborne vehicle, the vehicle having a plurality of imaging sensors, said method comprising:
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providing a module for angles only imaging, said module receiving inputs from the plurality of imaging sensors on the vehicle, the module having logic for processing a plurality of images from the plurality of imaging sensors; processing the plurality of images to detect targets against cluttered backgrounds; and creating time histories in the module from each target'"'"'s focal plane track and from the vehicle attitude, the time histories being of the relative motion of the targets in Line Of Sight (LOS) coordinates; wherein the module comprises a field programmable gate array processor and guides said vehicle in, unchaperoned, unmanned flight. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of detecting and avoiding target collision by an airborne vehicle, the vehicle having a plurality of imaging sensors, said method comprising:
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providing a module for angles only imaging, said module receiving inputs from the plurality of imaging sensors on the vehicle, the module having logic for processing a plurality of images from the plurality of imaging sensors, the module comprising a field programmable gate array processor; processing the plurality of images to detect targets against cluttered backgrounds; creating from each target'"'"'s focal plane track and from the aircraft attitude time histories of the relative motion of the targets in Line Of Sight (LOS) coordinates; assessing a level of collision threat with one or more of the targets by correlating a LOS track for said targets to construct a three-dimensional (3D) relative trajectory for each of said targets and determining from said 3D relative trajectories whether any tracked target poses a collision threat; and commanding the vehicle to avoid collision with the one or more targets, the vehicle flying unchaperoned in air space. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification