Method and system for generating a route
First Claim
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1. A method for generating a reconnaissance route comprising at least one path for guiding a vehicle, having at least one sensor configured to obtain sensor data of a search area of interest, the method comprising:
- defining a non-rectangular search area through which the at least one path will pass, wherein the search area is defined by a number of area points and legs connecting the points, wherein the legs define the perimeter of the search area;
generating a quadrilateral encompassing the search area, wherein the generated quadrilateral is a smallest quadrilateral that entirely encompasses the search area, wherein each side of the quadrilateral intersects at least one of the area points;
generating a first route direction, based on an orientation of a longer side of the generated quadrilateral;
generating the at least one path along the first route direction, wherein the at least one path has a width that corresponds to a separate sub area which covers at least a portion of the search area, wherein said width is related to a width that the at least one sensor is capable of covering on the ground given a particular flying altitude, wherein a number of paths are generated such that the widths of the paths cumulatively cover the search area;
generating the route along the at least one path for maneuvering the vehicle through the search area so as to enable obtaining sensor imagery of the defined search area using the at least one sensor; and
maneuvering the vehicle through the search area according to the generated route and obtaining sensor imagery of the defined search area using the at least one sensor.
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Abstract
A method for generating a route including at least one path. The method is suitable for aircraft reconnaissance of an area. The method includes encompassing the area with a geometrical figure, generating a first direction depending upon a configuration of the figure, generating the at least one path depending upon the first direction wherein the path corresponds to a sub area covering at least a part of the area.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for generating a reconnaissance route comprising at least one path for guiding a vehicle, having at least one sensor configured to obtain sensor data of a search area of interest, the method comprising:
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defining a non-rectangular search area through which the at least one path will pass, wherein the search area is defined by a number of area points and legs connecting the points, wherein the legs define the perimeter of the search area; generating a quadrilateral encompassing the search area, wherein the generated quadrilateral is a smallest quadrilateral that entirely encompasses the search area, wherein each side of the quadrilateral intersects at least one of the area points; generating a first route direction, based on an orientation of a longer side of the generated quadrilateral; generating the at least one path along the first route direction, wherein the at least one path has a width that corresponds to a separate sub area which covers at least a portion of the search area, wherein said width is related to a width that the at least one sensor is capable of covering on the ground given a particular flying altitude, wherein a number of paths are generated such that the widths of the paths cumulatively cover the search area; generating the route along the at least one path for maneuvering the vehicle through the search area so as to enable obtaining sensor imagery of the defined search area using the at least one sensor; and maneuvering the vehicle through the search area according to the generated route and obtaining sensor imagery of the defined search area using the at least one sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A control unit, suitable for generating a reconnaissance route comprising at least one path, the control unit comprising:
a processor configured to define a non-rectangular search area through which the at least one path will pass, wherein the search area is defined by a number of area points and legs connecting the points, wherein the legs define the perimeter of the search area, generate a quadrilateral encompassing the search area, wherein the generated quadrilateral is the smallest quadrilateral that entirely encompasses the search area, wherein each side of the quadrilateral intersects at least one of the area points, generate a first route direction based on an orientation of a longer side of the generated quadrilateral, and generate the at least one path along the first route direction, wherein the at least one path has a width that corresponds to a sub area which covers at least a portion of the search area, wherein said width is related to a width that at least one sensor is capable of covering on the ground given a particular flying altitude, and wherein a number of paths are generated such that the widths of the paths cumulatively cover the search area, generate the route along the at least one path for maneuvering a vehicle through the search area, so as to enable obtaining sensor imagery of the defined search area using the at least one sensor, maneuver the vehicle through the search area according to the generated route and obtain sensor imagery of the defined search area using the at least one sensor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A platform, comprising:
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a control unit comprising a processor configured to define a non-rectangular search area through which the at least one path will pass, wherein the search area is defined by a number of area points and legs connecting the points, wherein the legs define the perimeter of the search area, generate a quadrilateral encompassing the search area, wherein the generated quadrilateral is the smallest quadrilateral that entirely encompasses the search area, wherein each side of the quadrilateral intersects at least one of the area points, generate a first route direction based on an orientation of a longer side of the generated quadrilateral, and generate the at least one path along the first route direction, wherein the at least one path has a width that corresponds to a sub area which covers at least a portion of the search area, wherein said width is related to a width that at least one sensor is capable of covering on the ground given a particular flying altitude, and wherein a number of paths are generated such that the widths of the paths cumulatively cover the search area, generate the route along the at least one path for maneuvering a vehicle through the search area, so as to enable obtaining sensor imagery of the defined search area using the at least one sensor, maneuver the vehicle through the search area according to the generated route and obtain sensor imagery of the defined search area using the at least one sensor; and an airplane, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, a helicopter, a robot, or a missile, wherein the control unit is arranged with the airplane, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, helicopter, robot, or missile.
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19. A communication system, comprising:
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at least one platform comprising a control unit comprising a processor configured to define a non-rectangular search area through which the at least one path will pass, wherein the search area is defined by a number of area points and legs connecting the points, wherein the legs define the perimeter of the search area, generate a quadrilateral encompassing the search area, wherein the generated quadrilateral is the smallest quadrilateral that entirely encompasses the search area, wherein each side of the quadrilateral intersects at least one of the area points, generate a first route direction based on an orientation of a longer side of the generated quadrilateral, and generate the at least one path along the first route direction, wherein the at least one path has a width that corresponds to a sub area which covers at least a portion of the search area, wherein said width is related to a width that at least one sensor is capable of covering on the ground given a particular flying altitude, and wherein a number of paths are generated such that the widths of the paths cumulatively cover the search area, generate the route along the at least one path for maneuvering a vehicle through the search area, so as to enable obtaining sensor imagery of the defined search area using the at least one sensor, maneuver the vehicle through the search area according to the generated route and obtain sensor imagery of the defined search area using the at least one sensor, and an airplane, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, a helicopter, a robot, or a missile, wherein the control unit is arranged with the airplane, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, helicopter, robot, or missile; and a control arrangement arranged to communicate with the at least one platform.
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20. A computer program product, comprising:
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a non-transitory computer readable medium; and a programme code recorded on the computer readable medium and executable by a processor for performing a method for generating a reconnaissance route comprising at least one path along which at least one sensor configured to obtain sensor data of a search area of interest travels, the method comprising defining a non-rectangular search area through which the at least one path will pass, wherein the search area is defined by a number of area points and legs connecting the points, wherein the legs define the perimeter of the search area; generating a quadrilateral encompassing the search area, wherein the generated quadrilateral is a smallest quadrilateral that entirely encompasses the search area, wherein each side of the quadrilateral intersects at least one of the area points; generating a first route direction, based on an orientation of a longer side of the generated quadrilateral; generating the at least one path along the first route direction, wherein the at least one path has a width that corresponds to a separate sub area which covers at least a portion of the search area, wherein said width is related to a width that the at least one sensor is capable of covering on the ground given a particular flying altitude, wherein a number of paths are generated such that the widths of the paths cumulatively cover the search area; generating the route along the at least one path for maneuvering the vehicle through the search area so as to enable obtaining sensor imagery of the defined search area using the at least one sensor; and maneuvering the vehicle through the search area according to the generated route and obtaining sensor imagery of the defined search area using the at least one sensor.
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Specification