Method and apparatus for determining a deviation between an actual direction of a launched projectile and a predetermined direction

• US 8,085,188 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2005
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trackman A/S
• Original Assignee: Trackman A/S
• Inventors: Tuxen, Fredrik
• Primary Examiner(s): GREGORY, BERNARR E
• Application Number:
  US11/630,904
• Publication Number:
  US 20090295624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,370 Days
• Field of Search: 244 31- 319, 89/11.1, 342/59, 342/118, 342134-147, 342/165, 342/173, 342/175, 342/195, 342 52- 56, 342 61- 68, 342/176, 342/179, 473/131, 473/150, 473/151, 473/152, 473/155, 473/156, 473198-200
• US Class Current: 342/173
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/58 Velocity or trajectory determination systems; Sense-of-movement determination systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/66 Radar-tracking systems; Analogous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/72 for two-dimensional tracking, e.g. combination of angle and range tracking, track-while-scan radar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52 of systems according to group G01S15/00

Abstract

A method of determining a deviation of a path of a projectile from a predetermined path. The method uses an image of a target area in which the desired path or direction is pointed out. Subsequently, the real direction or path is determined and the deviation determined.

Claims

1. A method of determining a deviation between an actual direction of a launched projectile and a first direction, the method comprising:

1) providing an image representing a target area,

2) indicating a position in the image, the indicated position corresponding to a corresponding position in the target area,

3) receiving, using a Radar, radiation transmitted by or reflected by the projectile while the projectile is in flight and

4) determining, from the received radiation, the actual direction of the projectile,

5) determining a launch position of the projectile,

6) determining, from the launch position and the corresponding position, the first direction, and

7) determining the deviation between the actual direction of the projectile and the first direction.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein step 1) further comprises:

providing, with a camera, the image of the target area.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein step 1) further comprises providing an image comprising a plurality of predetermined positions, and wherein step 2) further comprises indicating one of the predetermined positions.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the target area comprises a plurality of predetermined elements, wherein step 1) further comprises providing an image illustrating or identifying the plurality of predetermined elements at positions corresponding to corresponding positions of the elements in the target area, and wherein step 2) further comprises indicating a position of one of the predetermined elements.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the element at the position corresponding to the indicated position has a visible part having a predetermined size, and wherein step 2) further comprises:

a) determining, from the image, an angle to the indicated element and

b) determining, from the image, a distance from a predetermined position to the indicated element by correlating an extent of the visible part in the image with the predetermined size thereof, the corresponding position being determined on the basis of the angle and the distance.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein step 1) further comprises providing the image on a display or monitor connected to a processing unit, and wherein step 2) further comprises using a pointing device also connected to the processing unit.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein step 3) further comprises determining a landing point of the projectile and determining, from the launch position and the landing point, the actual direction of the projectile.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein step 4) further comprises determining the launch position from the radiation received.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein step 4) further comprises assuming that the launch is performed at a predetermined position.

10. An apparatus for determining a deviation between an actual direction of a launched projectile and a first direction, the apparatus comprising:

an image provider for providing an image representing a target area,

receiving means for receiving an indication of a position in the image, the receiving means being adapted to correlate the indicated position to a corresponding position in the target area,

a radar receiving radiation transmitted by or reflected by the projectile while it is in flight,

direction determining means for, from the received radiation, determining the actual direction of the projectile,

launch position determining means for determining a launch position of the projectile,

direction determining means for determining, from the launch position and the corresponding position, the first direction, and

deviation determining means for determining the deviation between the actual direction of the projectile and the first direction.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the image provider comprises:

a camera for providing the image of the target area.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the camera and the radar are fixed in relation to each other so that the radar are adapted to receive radiation from the target area viewed by the camera.

13. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the image provider is adapted to provide the image comprising a plurality of predetermined positions, and wherein the receiving means are adapted to receive an indication of one of the predetermined positions.

14. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the target area comprises:

a plurality of predetermined elements, wherein the image provider is adapted to provide an image illustrating or identifying the plurality of predetermined elements at positions corresponding to positions of the elements in the target area, and wherein receiving means are adapted to receive an indication of a position of one of the predetermined elements.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the element at the position correlated to the indicated position has a visible part having a predetermined size, and wherein the receiving means comprises:

a) means for determining, from the indicated position in the image, an angle to the indicated element and

b) means for determining, from the image, a distance from a predetermined position to the indicated element by correlating an extent of the visible part in the image with the predetermined size thereof, the receiving means being adapted to determine the corresponding position on the basis of the angle and the distance.

16. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the image provider includes a display or monitor and a processing unit, the display or monitor being operatively connected to the processing unit and being adapted to provide the image, and the receiving means include a pointing device also connected to the processing unit.

17. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the direction determining means comprise means for determining a landing point of the projectile are adapted to determine the actual direction of the projectile from the launch position and the landing point.

18. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the launch position determining means are adapted to determine the launch position from the radiation received.

19. An apparatus according to claim 10, the launch position determining means are adapted to assume that the launch is performed at a predetermined position.