Method for navigating in GPS denied environments

• US 8,412,450 B1
• Filed: 03/17/2010
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• 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: Ghaleb, Sam, Huebner, Jonathan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender, Ryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mahone, Kristie A
• Application Number:
  US12/726,025
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 701/300, 701/302, 701/408, 701/410, 701/412, 701/426, 701/429, 701/431, 701/438, 701/474
• US Class Current: 701/302
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/008 Combinations of different guidance systems
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2206 using a remote control station
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2253 Passive homing systems, i.e. comprising a receiver and do not requiring an active illumination of the target
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/226 Semi-active homing systems, i.e. comprising a receiver and involving auxiliary illuminating means, e.g. using auxiliary guiding missiles
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2286 using radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2293 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/00 Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/12 Target-seeking control

Abstract

A method for allowing accurate navigation to a target regardless of GPS jamming levels. A method to update the navigation solution of an object being navigated toward a target based upon seeker measurements in at least one of three electromagnetic frequency domains: infrared, visible, and radio frequency (RF).

Claims

1. A method of navigating to a target comprising:

providing a location of a target to an object being navigated;

creating at least three marks by deploying a plurality of markers from at least one aerial vehicle, wherein each of said plurality of markers comprises;

a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, a bright day-glow color detectable by an electro-optic seeker, and an exothermic material detectable in the infrared (IR) electromagnetic frequency;

providing a priori a location of said at least three marks to said object being navigated;

causing each said RFID tag of each of said plurality of markers to activate and start sending data by emitting an activation signal from transceiver and antenna associated with said object being navigated to said target;

receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal at said object being navigated from each of said RFID tag of each of said plurality of markers;

receiving an IR signal at said object being navigated from each of said exothermic material of each of said plurality of markers;

calculating an angle to said markers using information from said RF signal and information from said IR signal;

and determining a location of said object in relation to said target using said angle, said location of said at least three marks, and said location of said target.