Electromagnetic radiation source locating system

• US 9,874,625 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2012
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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: Miller, Gerald F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory, Bernarr E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mull, Fred H
• Application Number:
  US13/608,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20150301156A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,961 Days
• Field of Search: 342450, 34235734, 34235752, 34235755, 34235756, 342359
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/04 using angle measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/08 for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S17/46; active triangulation systems G01S17/48
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/10 using transmission of interrupted, pulse-modulated waves determination of distance by phase measurements G01S17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/86 Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/04 Position of source determined by a plurality of spaced direction-finders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/16 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves

Abstract

An electromagnetic radiation source locating system including an electromagnetic radiation sensor including an antenna configured to detect a radiant energy transmission. A position detector is in communication with the controller and is configured to detect the position of the antenna relative to a reference coordinate system, while an orientation sensor is in communication with the controller and is configured to detect the orientation of the antenna and provide an orientation signal to the controller. A range sensor is configured to detect the distance to an aligned object in the path of a directional vector and provide a distance signal indicative thereof to the controller. An aerial vehicle may be in communication with the controller and configured to drop a marker for guiding navigators to the source of the radiant energy transmission.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic radiation source locating system comprising:

a directional electromagnetic radiation sensor including an antenna configured to detect radiant energy transmissions from an electromagnetic radiation source;

a controller in communication with the electromagnetic radiation sensor;

a support operably coupled to the electromagnetic radiation sensor for supporting the antenna in a plurality of orientations relative to the radiant energy transmissions;

a position detector in communication with the controller, the position detector configured to detect a position of the antenna relative to a reference coordinate system and provide a position signal indicative of the position of the antenna to the controller;

an orientation detector in communication with the controller, the orientation detector configured to detect rotational orientation of the antenna and provide at least one orientation signal indicative of orientation of the antenna to the controller;

the controller being configured to control movement of the antenna to determine a first and second directional vector to the source of the radiant energy transmissions in part in response to at least one said orientation signal, wherein the controller determines a first distance from the antenna to the source based on movement of the antenna to determine maximum signal strength of the radiant energy transmissions, the controller further determines the first distance based on a signal triangulation determination with respect to the antenna and source derived from orientations of the antenna as it measures two separate emissions from the source, wherein the measurements are made at antenna positions a known distance apart;

an actuator controlled by the controller configured to move the antenna so as to orient the antenna in said plurality of orientations; and

a range sensor in communication with the controller, the range sensor configured to detect a second distance to an aligned object in a path of said first or second directional vector and providing a second distance signal indicative thereof to the controller;

wherein the controller determines if the range sensor is determining the second distance based on detection of the source or an obstruction to the source by comparing the first and second distance signals to determine if the first and second distances match.

2. The electromagnetic radiation source locating system of claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises a Yagi directional antenna operably coupled to a radio frequency signal processor.

3. The electromagnetic radiation source locating system of claim 1, wherein the range sensor comprises a laser range finder configured to transmit a laser pulse and determine the second distance to the aligned object based upon the pulse as reflected off of the aligned object.

4. The electromagnetic radiation source locating system of claim 1, wherein the position detector comprises a global positioning system receiver.

5. The electromagnetic radiation source locating system of claim 1, wherein the orientation sensor includes a digital compass.

6. The electromagnetic radiation source locating system of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a spatial processor configured to calculate location of the source of the radiant energy transmission source based upon at least two different said directional vectors.

7. The electromagnetic radiation source locating system of claim 1, further comprising:

a transmitter operably coupled to the controller;

an aerial vehicle in communication with the transmitter; and

a marker carried by the aerial vehicle and configured to be dropped proximate the radiant energy transmission source.

8. The electromagnetic radiation source locating system of claim 1, further comprising a visual line-of-sight device.

9. The electromagnetic radiation source locating system of claim 8, wherein the visual line-of-sight device comprises an infrared scope configured to detect light emitted by the range sensor.

10. The electromagnetic radiation source locating system of claim 1, further comprising a camera operably coupled to the controller.

11. A radio frequency source locating system comprising:

a directional antenna configured to receive radio frequency signals from a source;

a radio frequency signal processor operably coupled to the antenna;

a support configured to be mounted to a vehicle and operably coupled to the antenna;

an actuator configured to orient the directional antenna;

a controller in communication with the radio frequency signal processor and configured to cause the actuator to orient the antenna based upon detections of a maximum detected strength of a selected one of the radio frequency signals from said source;

a position detector in communication with the controller, the position detector configured to detect position of the locating system relative to a reference coordinate system and provide a first and a second position signal indicative of position of the directional antenna of the locating system thereof to the controller upon detections of a first and second maximum detected strength of the selected one of the radio frequency signals from said source at a respective spaced apart first and second detection location;

an orientation detector in communication with the controller, the orientation detector is configured to detect orientation of the antenna upon said detections of the first and second respective selected one of the radio frequency signals from said source each having maximum detected strength based on movement of the directional antenna and provide at least a first and a second orientation signal to the controller; and

a range sensor in communication with the controller, the range sensor is oriented in coordination with the antenna;

wherein the controller is configured to determine a first directional vector to said source of the selected one of the radio frequency signals in response to the first orientation signal at said first detection location;

wherein said position detector and orientation detector further includes control logic or instructions that selectively output or provide said second position signal and second orientation signal upon said second detection of maximum detected signal strength of the selected one of the radio frequency signals from said source after traversing or movement of the radio frequency source locating system to said second detection location;

wherein the controller determines if the range sensor is determining the second distance based on detection of the source or an obstruction to the source by comparing the first and second distances to determine if the first and second distances match.

12. The radio frequency source locating system of claim 11, wherein the position detector comprises a global positioning system receiver.

13. The radio frequency source locating system of claim 11, wherein the orientation sensor includes a digital compass.

14. The radio frequency source locating system of claim 11, wherein the controller includes a spatial processor configured to calculate the location of the source of the radiant energy transmissions based upon at least two different direction vectors to the same source in two different positions of the locating system.

15. The radio frequency source locating system of claim 11, further comprising:

a transmitter operably coupled to the controller;

an aerial vehicle in communication with the transmitter; and

a marker carried by the aerial vehicle and configured to be dropped proximate the radio frequency signal source.

16. The radio frequency source locating system of claim 11, further comprising a visual line-of-sight device configured to detect infrared light, wherein the range sensor comprises a laser range finder that outputs said infrared light.

17. An emitter location system comprising:

an antenna configured to detect and receive a plurality of radio frequency signals;

a radio frequency receiver system coupled with the antenna to process the plurality of radio frequency signals;

an orientation determination system that determines orientation of the antenna to outputs a plurality of orientation data;

a position determination system that determines location data for the emitter location system;

a controller coupled with the radio frequency receiver system, the orientation determination system, and the position determination system, the controller including a radio frequency signal triangulation system that receives two or more of the plurality of radio frequency signals originating from a selected source, said plurality of orientation data, and said location data and determines a directional vector to the selected source and a first distance from a reference location in the emitter location system to the selected source;

a range determination system coupled with the controller, wherein the range determination system comprises an optical source that the controller directs to orient along the directional vector and determines a second distance from the range determination system to the selected source;

wherein the controller compares the first and second distance to determine if the optical source is determining the second range based on detection of an external portion of the selected source or another object between the selected source and the optical source.

18. An emitter location system as in claim 17, wherein said range determination system comprises a laser rangefinder.

19. An emitter location system as in claim 17, wherein the location determination system comprises a global position system that determines position of the emitter location system with regard to a reference coordinate system.

20. An emitter location system of claim 17, further comprising:

a transmitter operably coupled to the controller;

an aerial vehicle in communication with the transmitter; and

a marker carried by the aerial vehicle and configured to be dropped proximate selected source.

21. An emitter location system as of claim 20, further comprising a visual line-of-sight device configured to detect infrared light.

22. An emitter location system as in claim 21, wherein the visual line-of-sight device comprises an infrared scope configured to detect light emitted by the range determination system.

23. An electromagnetic radiation source locating system comprising:

a directional electromagnetic radiation sensor including an antenna configured to detect radiant energy transmissions from an electromagnetic radiation source;

a controller in communication with the electromagnetic radiation sensor;

a support operably coupled to the electromagnetic radiation sensor for supporting the antenna in a plurality of orientations relative to the radiant energy transmissions;

a position detector in communication with the controller, the position detector configured to detect a position of the antenna relative to a reference coordinate system and provide a position signal indicative of the position of the antenna to the controller, the position detector comprises a global positioning system receiver;

an orientation detector in communication with the controller, the orientation detector configured to detect rotational orientation of the antenna and provide at least one orientation signal indicative of orientation of the antenna to the controller, wherein the orientation sensor includes a digital compass;

the controller being configured to control movement of the antenna to determine a first and second directional vector to the source of the radiant energy transmissions in part in response to at least one said orientation signal, wherein the controller determines a first distance from the antenna to the source based on movement of the antenna to determine maximum signal strength of the radiant energy transmissions, the controller further determines the first distance based on a signal triangulation determination with respect to the antenna and source derived from orientations of the antenna as it measures two separate emissions from the source wherein the measurements are made at antenna positions a known distance apart;

an actuator controlled by the controller configured to move the antenna so as to orient the antenna in said plurality of orientations; and

a range sensor in communication with the controller, the range sensor configured to detect a second distance to an aligned object in a path of said first or second directional vector and providing a second distance signal indicative thereof to the controller, the range sensor comprises a laser range finder configured to transmit a laser pulse and determine the second distance to the aligned object based upon the pulse as reflected off of the aligned object;

wherein the controller determines if the range sensor is determining the second distance based on detection of the source or an obstruction to the source by comparing the first and second distance signals to determine if the first and second distances match.

24. The electromagnetic radiation source locating system of claim 23, wherein the antenna comprises a Yagi directional antenna operably coupled to a radio frequency signal processor.

25. The electromagnetic radiation source locating system of claim 23, wherein the controller includes a spatial processor configured to calculate location of the source of the radiant energy transmission source based upon at least two different said directional vectors.

26. The electromagnetic radiation source locating system of claim 23, further comprising:

a transmitter operably coupled to the controller;

an aerial vehicle in communication with the transmitter; and

a marker carried by the aerial vehicle and configured to be dropped proximate the radiant energy transmission source.

27. The electromagnetic radiation source locating system of claim 23, further comprising a visual line-of-sight device, wherein the visual line-of-sight device comprises an infrared scope configured to detect light emitted by the range sensor.

28. The electromagnetic radiation source locating system of claim 23, further comprising a camera oriented along operably coupled to the controller configured to detect light emitted by the range sensor.

29. A radio frequency source locating system comprising:

a directional antenna configured to receive radio frequency signals from a source;

a radio frequency signal processor operably coupled to the antenna;

a support configured to be mounted to a vehicle and operably coupled to the antenna;

an actuator configured to orient the directional antenna;

a controller in communication with the radio frequency signal processor and configured to cause the actuator to orient the antenna based upon detections of a maximum detected strength of a selected one of the radio frequency signals from said source;

a position detector in communication with the controller, the position detector configured to detect position of the locating system relative to a reference coordinate system and provide a first and a second position signal indicative of position of the directional antenna of the locating system thereof to the controller upon detections of a first and second maximum detected strength of the selected one of the radio frequency signals from said source at a respective spaced apart first and second detection location;

wherein the position detector comprises a global positioning system receiver;

an orientation detector in communication with the controller, the orientation detector is configured to detect orientation of the antenna upon said detections of the first and second maximum detected strength of the selected one of the radio frequency signals from said source based on movement of the directional antenna, the orientation detector further configured to provide at least a first and a second orientation signal to the controller, wherein the orientation sensor includes a digital compass; and

a range sensor in communication with the controller, the range sensor is oriented in coordination with the antenna, the range sensor comprising a laser range finder;

wherein the controller is configured to determine a first directional vector to said source of the selected one of the radio frequency signals in response to the first orientation signal at said first detection location;

wherein said position detector and orientation detector further includes control logic or instructions that selectively output or provide said second position signal and second orientation signal upon said second detection of maximum detected signal strength of the selected one of the radio frequency signals from said source after traversing or movement of the radio frequency source locating system to said second detection location;

wherein the controller determines if the range sensor is determining the second distance based on detection of the source or an obstruction to the source by comparing the first and second distances to determine if the first and second distances match.

30. The radio frequency source locating system of claim 29, wherein the controller includes a spatial processor section configured to calculate the location of the source of the radiant energy transmissions based upon at least two different direction vectors to the same source in two different positions of the locating system.

31. The radio frequency source locating system of claim 29, further comprising:

a transmitter operably coupled to the controller;

an aerial vehicle in communication with the transmitter; and

a marker carried by the aerial vehicle and configured to be dropped proximate to the radio frequency signal source.

32. The radio frequency source locating system of claim 29, further comprising a visual line-of-sight device comprising a camera or imager disposed such that it is collinearly aligned with the antenna and the laser range finder, wherein the camera or imager is configured to detect outputs of the laser range finder.

33. An emitter location system comprising:

an antenna configured to detect and receive a plurality of radio frequency signals;

a radio frequency receiver system coupled with the antenna to process the plurality of radio frequency signals;

an orientation determination system that determines orientation of the antenna to output a plurality of orientation data;

a location determination system comprising a global position system that determines position of the emitter location system with regard to a reference coordinate system;

a position determination system that determines location data for the emitter location system;

a controller coupled with the radio frequency receiver system, the orientation determination system, and the position determination system, the controller including a radio frequency signal triangulation system that receives two or more of the plurality of radio frequency signals originating from a selected source, said plurality of orientation data, and said location data and determines a directional vector to the selected source and a first distance from a reference location in the emitter location system to the selected source;

a range determination system coupled with the controller, wherein the range determination system comprises an optical source that the controller directs to orient along the directional vector and determines a second distance from the range determination system to the selected source, wherein said range determination system comprises a laser rangefinder;

wherein the controller compares the first and second distance to determine if the optical source is determining the second range based on detection of an external portion of the selected source or another object between the selected source and the optical source.

34. An emitter location system as in claim 33, further comprising:

a transmitter operably coupled to the controller;

an aerial vehicle in communication with the transmitter; and

a marker carried by the aerial vehicle and configured to be dropped proximate selected source.

35. An emitter location system as of claim 33, further comprising a visual line-of sight device configured to detect infrared light, wherein the visual line-of-sight device comprises an infrared sensor and display disposed within the system to be oriented in coordination with the antenna and the infrared sensor to detect infrared light emitted by the laser range finder.