Adjustment of altitude measurements
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of determining an elevation of a tracked object for creating a simulation, the method comprising:
- (a) identifying, using a first computer system, a set of latitude and longitude coordinates of the tracked object at a fixed reference point at a certain point in time, wherein the first computer system includes a computer-readable storage device and a processor;
(b) identifying, using the first computer system, a reference elevation value corresponding to the set of latitude and longitude coordinates at the certain point in time wherein the tracked object is known to be at the reference elevation at the certain point in time;
(c) measuring a first apparent altitude of the tracked object at the fixed reference point at the certain point in time;
(d) comparing, using the first computer system, the first apparent altitude with the reference elevation value;
(e) based at least in part upon a comparison of the first apparent altitude with the reference elevation value, determining, using the first computer system, a correction factor that can be applied to the first. measured apparent altitude to adjust the first measured apparent altitude to be consistent with the reference elevation value;
(f) measuring one or more additional apparent altitudes of the tracked object over a duration of time to obtain a set of measured altitude values;
(g) storing, on the computer-readable storage medium, the set of measured altitude values;
(h) adjusting, using the first computer system, one or more of the measured altitude values, based at least in part on the correction factor, to obtain a set of adjusted altitude values; and
(i) storing, on the computer-readable storage medium, the set of adjusted altitude values; and
(j) generating, at a second computer system, the simulation of a flight of the tracked object, based at least in part on the stored set of adjusted altitude values.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This disclosure describes novel systems, methods and software for determining a position of a tracked object, which might be a fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft, some other flying object, a vehicle (e.g., an automobile, a tactical military vehicle, etc.), a person, and/or the like. More particularly, in an aspect of this disclosure, a measured altitude for an aircraft is adjusted based on a correction factor, which is determined by comparing a measured altitude at reference point with a known reference elevation for the same reference point. This can provide enhanced accuracy and/or precision in recorded altitude measurements, which allows for more faithful presentation of altitude data, for example in post-mission debriefings, simulations and the like.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of determining an elevation of a tracked object for creating a simulation, the method comprising:
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(a) identifying, using a first computer system, a set of latitude and longitude coordinates of the tracked object at a fixed reference point at a certain point in time, wherein the first computer system includes a computer-readable storage device and a processor; (b) identifying, using the first computer system, a reference elevation value corresponding to the set of latitude and longitude coordinates at the certain point in time wherein the tracked object is known to be at the reference elevation at the certain point in time; (c) measuring a first apparent altitude of the tracked object at the fixed reference point at the certain point in time; (d) comparing, using the first computer system, the first apparent altitude with the reference elevation value; (e) based at least in part upon a comparison of the first apparent altitude with the reference elevation value, determining, using the first computer system, a correction factor that can be applied to the first. measured apparent altitude to adjust the first measured apparent altitude to be consistent with the reference elevation value; (f) measuring one or more additional apparent altitudes of the tracked object over a duration of time to obtain a set of measured altitude values; (g) storing, on the computer-readable storage medium, the set of measured altitude values; (h) adjusting, using the first computer system, one or more of the measured altitude values, based at least in part on the correction factor, to obtain a set of adjusted altitude values; and (i) storing, on the computer-readable storage medium, the set of adjusted altitude values; and (j) generating, at a second computer system, the simulation of a flight of the tracked object, based at least in part on the stored set of adjusted altitude values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 24, 25)
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19. A computer software program product comprising one or more non-transitory computer readable media, the computer software program product comprising:
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instructions to collect a set of measured altitude values at a set of intervals of discreet units of time; instructions to store the set of altitude measurements on a computer readable medium; instructions to collect a set of latitude and longitude coordinates at the set of intervals of discreet units of time; instructions to store the set of coordinates on the computer readable medium; based upon the latitude and longitude coordinates, instructions to reference the set of elevation data; instructions to store the elevation data on the computer readable medium; and instructions to compare the measured altitude values to the referenced elevations, wherein a tracked object is known to have been at a reference elevation of the referenced elevations at a certain point in time; based on the comparison, instructions to determine a correction factor; instructions to adjust one or more of the measured altitude values, based at least in part on the correction factor, to obtain a set of adjusted altitude values, wherein the one or more measured altitude values are measured prior to the determination of the correction factor; and instructions to store the set of adjusted altitude values. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A system comprising a processor and a set of instructions executable by the processor, the set of instructions comprising:
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instructions to collect a set of measured altitude values at a set of intervals of discreet units of time; instructions to store the set of altitude measurements on a computer readable medium; instructions to collect a set of latitude and longitude coordinates at the set of intervals of discreet units of time; instructions to store the set of coordinates on the computer readable medium; based upon the latitude and longitude coordinates, instructions to reference the set of elevation data; instructions to store the elevation data on the computer readable medium; instruction to compare the measured altitude values to the reference elevations, wherein a tracked object is known to have been at a reference elevation of the reference elevations at a certain point in time; based on the comparison, instructions to determine a correction factor; instructions to adjust one or more of the measured altitude values, based at least in part on the correction factor, to obtain a set of adjusted altitude values, wherein adjustment of the one or more measured altitude values is performed on one or more measured altitude values measured prior to the determination of the correction factor; instructions to store the set of adjusted altitude values; and instructions to transmit the set of adjusted altitude values to a ground component. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A system, comprising:
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means for collecting a set of measured altitude values; storage means for storing the altitude values; means for determining latitude and longitude coordinates; means for referencing elevation data, based on the latitude and longitude coordinates; means for comparing the measured altitude values and the referenced elevation values, wherein a tracked object is known to have been at a referenced elevation of the referenced elevation values at a certain point in time; means for producing a correction factor, based on the comparison; and means for regressively adjusting one or more of the measured altitude values, based at least in part on the correction factor, to obtain a set of adjusted altitude values, wherein the one or more of the measured altitude values are stored prior to the production of the correction factor.
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Specification