OPTICAL TRACKING SYSTEM FOR AIRBORNE OBJECTS

• US 20100163679A1
• Filed: 02/10/2010
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Inventors: Wassick, Gregory J., Saggio, Frank III, Pavlich, Jane C., Mickley, Joseph G., Stitt, Raymond Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,104,716 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/135.A
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 39/00 Refuelling during flight filling or emptying fuel tanks B64D37/14

Abstract

An airborne tracking system including a radiation emitter, a radiation receiver and a signal processor. The radiation emitter is adapted to direct radiation to a positioning area a defined distance from the radiation emitter, the radiation carrying a modulated location signal containing information corresponding to positions within the positioning area. The radiation receiver is adapted to receive at least a portion of the emitted radiation carrying the modulated signal and output a signal to the signal processor indicative of the modulation of the location signal of the received radiation. Signal processor is adapted to process the outputted signal and identify a position within the positioning area indicative of the location in the positioning area of the received radiation.

Claims

1. An airborne tracking system, comprising:

a radiation receiver positioning system, the radiation receiver positioning system including a radiation emitter, a radiation receiver and a signal processor, the radiation emitter, radiation receiver being adapted for use on airborne objects; and

wherein the radiation emitter is adapted to direct radiation to a positioning area a defined distance from the radiation emitter, the radiation carrying a modulated location signal containing information corresponding to positions within the positioning area;

wherein the radiation receiver is adapted to receive at least a portion of the emitted radiation carrying the modulated signal and output a signal to the signal processor indicative of the modulation of the location signal of the received radiation; and

wherein the signal processor is adapted to process the outputted signal and identify a position within the positioning area indicative of the location in the positioning area of the received radiation.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the radiation emitter is adapted to emit a focused optical beam and scan the focused optical beam over the positioning area.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the emitted radiation is a focused optical beam, wherein the modulated location signal includes a plurality of digital data blocks, the plurality of digital data blocks containing information respectively corresponding to a plurality of discrete positions within the positioning area that respectively correspond to a current location of the focused beam within the positioning area.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the radiation emitter is adapted to emit a focused optical beam and scan the focused optical beam over the positioning area.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the radiation emitter is adapted to emit a focused optical beam and scan the focused optical beam over the positioning area in an X-Y raster.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the radiation emitter is adapted to emit a focused optical elongated beam and scan the focused optical elongated beam over the positioning area in a dual-pass manner.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the radiation emitter is adapted to emit a focused optical beam and scan the focused optical beam over the positioning area in a spiral pattern, the spiral pattern having a focus at the approximate center of the positioning area.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the radiation receiver is adapted to receive at least a portion of the focused beam when at least that portion of the focused beam is directed at the radiation receiver, and wherein the signal outputted by the receiver is indicative of the information contained in at least one digital data block carried by the received radiation.

9. The system of claim 3, wherein the radiation receiver is adapted to receive at least a portion of the focused beam when at least that portion of focused beam is directed at the radiation receiver and determine whether a full digital data block carried by the focused beam has been received, and only if a full digital data block has been received, output the signal to the signal processor, wherein the outputted signal is indicative of the information contained in the full digital data block received.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the radiation emitted by the radiation emitter is a focused beam and the radiation emitter is adapted to scan the focused beam over the positioning area;

wherein the radiation receiver positioning system is adapted to virtually divide at least a portion of the positioning area into a virtual grid, the virtual grid including a plurality of distributed distinct sectors, the distributed distinct sectors spatially corresponding to sub-areas within the positioning area, the sub-areas being disbursed within the positioning area in a geometrically defined manner;

wherein the radiation receiver positioning system is adapted to change the modulated location signal carried on the focused beam as the focused beam is scanned over the positioning area, wherein change in the modulated location signal corresponds in a defined manner to the sub-areas such that a modulated location signal indicative of a beam being directed at a first sub-area is distinct from a modulated location signal indicative of a beam being directed at a second sub-area; and

wherein the signal processor is adapted to analyze one or more outputted signals from the receiver indicative of the modulation of the location signal and identify a distinct sector corresponding to the received modulated location signal carried on the focused beam.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the signal processor identifies a sub-area at which the beam is directed based on the identification of the distinct sector corresponding to the received modulated location signal carried on the emitted radiation.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the signal processor is adapted to analyze a first outputted signal and a second outputted signal outputted after the first outputted signal to determine a location in the virtual grid at which the distinct sectors coincide;

the first and second outputted signals being respectively indicative of the modulation of the location signal of the beam received by the receiver.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the signal processor identifies a sub-area at which the beam is directed based on the determination of the location in the virtual grid at which the distinct sectors coincide.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the radiation emitted by the radiation emitter is a focused optical elongated beam and the radiation emitter is adapted to scan the focused optical elongated beam over the positioning area in a dual-pass manner, wherein the first outputted signal is generated by the reception of at least a portion of the focused optical elongated beam in a first pass of the beam over the positioning area, and wherein the second outputted signal is generated by the reception of at least a portion of the focused optical elongated beam in a second pass of the beam over the positioning area.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the focused optical elongated beam of the first pass is normal to the focused optical elongated beam of the second pass.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the radiation receiver positioning system is adapted to identify the location of the receiver within the positioning area based on the coincidence of the first optical elongated beam and the second optical elongated beam.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising an airborne object to which the radiation receiver is attached, the airborne object including an active control system adapted to regulate the position of the airborne object with respect to a refueling aircraft when the radiation receiver is proximate the refueling aircraft.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the radiation receiver is mounted on an airborne object, wherein the airborne object includes an active control system adapted to regulate the position of the radiation receiver within the positioning area when the radiation receiver is proximate a refueling aircraft.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the active control system is adapted to regulate the vertical and horizontal position of the airborne object to maintain a substantially fixed orientation of the receiver within the positioning area.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the active control system is adapted to regulate a position of the radiation receiver so that the position of the radiation receiver is substantially constant within the positioning area.

37. The system of claim 1, wherein the radiation emitter includes:

a single line optical beam emitter;

a prism; and

a rotatable mirror assembly;

wherein the radiation emitter is adapted to rotate the rotatable mirror assembly so that a single line optical beam emitted by the single line optical beam emitter is deflected by the mirror to project the emitted single line optical beam in a first orientation; and

wherein the radiation emitter is adapted to rotate the rotatable mirror assembly so that the single line optical beam emitted by the single line optical beam emitter passes through the prism to project the emitted single line optical beam in a second orientation different from the first orientation.

21. An airborne positioning system comprising:

a radiation receiver positioning system, the radiation receiver positioning system including a radiation emitter, a radiation receiver, and a signal processor;

wherein the radiation emitter is adapted to direct a beam of emitted radiation to an area away from the radiation emitter, the radiation including discernable properties that vary in a corresponding manner with varying orientation of the beam of radiation with respect to the radiation emitter;

wherein the radiation receiver is adapted to receive at least a portion of the emitted radiation and output a signal to the signal processor indicative of one or more of the discernable properties of the received radiation; and

wherein the processor is adapted to process the outputted signal and identify a first virtual orientation indicative of an orientation of the receiver relative to the radiation emitter when at least a portion of the radiation was received by the receiver.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the radiation emitter is adapted to emit a focused optical beam modulated with digital data blocks, the modulated digital data blocks respectively indicative of discrete orientations respectively corresponding to orientations of the beam relative to the radiation emitter.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein at least some of the varied discernable properties are respectively indicative of discrete orientations respectively corresponding to orientations of the beam relative to the radiation emitter in a first reference frame, and wherein at least some of the varied discernable properties are respectively indicative of discrete orientations respectively corresponding to orientations of the beam relative to the radiation emitter in a second reference frame.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the signal processor is adapted to analyze a first outputted signal from the receiver, the first outputted signal being indicative of a first discernable property of the received radiation indicative of a first discrete orientation corresponding to a first orientation of the beam relative to the radiation emitter in the first reference frame at the time that the radiation was received, and wherein the signal processor is adapted to analyze a second outputted signal from the receiver, the second outputted signal being indicative of a second discernable property of the received radiation indicative of a second discrete orientation corresponding to a second orientation of the beam relative to the radiation emitter in the second reference frame at the time that the radiation was received;

and

wherein the signal processor is adapted to identify a virtual location of the receiver relative to the radiation emitter based on the analysis of the first and second outputted signals.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the radiation receiver is adapted to receive the focused beam carrying the digital data blocks when the focused beam is directed at the radiation receiver and output the signal to the signal processor, wherein the outputted signal is indicative of the information contained in a digital data block carried on the received beam, and wherein the processor is adapted to analyze the outputted signal from the receiver indicative of the information contained in the received digital data block and identify the orientation of the beam relative to the radiation emitter based on the information contained in the received digital data block to identify the first virtual orientation.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the radiation emitted by the radiation emitter is a focused beam and the radiation emitter is adapted to scan the focused beam over the area;

wherein the radiation receiver positioning system is adapted to virtually divide at least a portion of the various possible orientations of the beam relative to the radiation emitter into a beam zone, the beam zone including a plurality of distributed distinct vectors, the distributed vectors spatially corresponding to actual orientations of the beam with respect to the radiation emitter, the actual orientations being disbursed within the beam zone in a geometrically defined manner;

wherein the radiation emitter is adapted to change the modulated signal carried on the focused beam as the focused beam is scanned over the area to obtain different modulated signals, the different modulated signals corresponding in a defined manner to the actual orientations such that a modulated signal indicative of a beam being directed along a first orientation is distinct from a modulated signal indicative of a beam being directed along a second orientation; and

wherein the signal processor is adapted to analyze the outputted signal from the receiver indicative of the modulation of the signal and identify the distinct vector corresponding to the received modulated signal carried on the emitted radiation.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the signal processor is adapted to identify the orientation of the receiver relative to the radiation emitter based on the identified distinct vector.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the signal processor determines at least one of (i) the distinct vector along which the beam is directed based on the identification of the distinct vector corresponding to the received modulated signal carried on the emitted radiation and (ii) the orientation along which the beam is directed based on the identification of the distinct vector corresponding to the received modulated signal carried on the emitted radiation.

29. The system of claim 21, further comprising an airborne object to which the radiation receiver is attached, the airborne object including an active control system adapted to regulate the position of the radiation receiver with respect to a refueling aircraft when the radiation receiver is proximate the refueling aircraft.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the airborne object is a refueling drogue assembly which includes an active control system adapted to regulate the position of the radiation receiver when the refueling drogue assembly is extended from a refueling aircraft.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the active control system is adapted to regulate the vertical and horizontal position of the radiation receiver to maintain a substantially fixed orientation of the receiver with respect to the radiation emitter.

32. A method of positioning a radiation receiver, comprising:

positioning a radiation receiver proximate a refueling aircraft, the radiation receiver and the refueling aircraft being airborne;

scanning a focused optical elongated beam from a radiation emitter onboard the refueling aircraft over a positioning area a defined distance from the radiation emitter;

modulating a signal carried on the beam as the beam is scanned over the positioning area in a manner corresponding to positions of the beam within the positioning area;

receiving the optical beam carrying the modulated signal with the radiation receiver; and

analyzing the modulation of the signal carried on the received optical beam to determine a position within the positioning area of the radiation receiver at the time the radiation was received.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising scanning the focused optical elongated beam over the positioning area in a two-pass manner and receiving the focused elongated beam scanned in a two-pass manner.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising receiving the optical beam scanned in a first pass of the two-pass scan and receiving the optical beam scanned in a second pass of the two-pass scan and comparing the beams received in the first pass and the second pass and determining the position of the receiver within the positioning area based on a correspondence of position of the beams within the positioning area of the beams.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising receiving the optical beam scanned in a first pass of the two-pass scan and receiving the optical beam scanned in a second pass of the two-pass scan and comparing the beams received in the first pass and the second pass and determining the position of the receiver within the positioning area based on a correspondence of position of the received beams within the positioning area.

36. The method of claim 32, further comprising actively controlling an airborne object attached to the radiation receiver to maintain a substantially fixed position of the radiation receiver relative to the radiation emitter based on the determined position within the positioning area of the radiation receiver.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein the radiation receiver is attached to a refueling device extended from the refueling aircraft.

39. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

positioning a second radiation receiver proximate the refueling aircraft, the second radiation receiver being airborne;

receiving the optical beam carrying the modulated signal with the second receiver; and

analyzing the modulation of the signal carried on the received optical beam to determine a position within the positioning area of the second receiver at the time the radiation was received.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the first and second radiation receivers are proximate the refueling aircraft at the same time.

41. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

scanning a second focused optical elongated beam from a second radiation emitter onboard the refueling aircraft over a second positioning area a respective defined distance from the radiation emitter;

modulating a signal carried on the second beam as the second beam is scanned over the second positioning area in a manner corresponding to positions of the second beam within the second positioning area;

receiving the second optical beam carrying the second modulated signal; and

analyzing the modulation of the second signal carried on the received second optical beam to determine a position within the second positioning area of a location where the second radiation was received at the time the second radiation was received.

42. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

scanning a second focused optical elongated beam from a second radiation emitter onboard the refueling aircraft over a second positioning area a defined distance from the radiation emitter;

modulating a signal carried on the second beam as the second beam is scanned over the second positioning area in a manner corresponding to positions of the second beam within the second positioning area;

receiving the second optical beam carrying the second modulated signal; and

analyzing the modulation of the second signal carried on the received second optical beam to determine a position within the second positioning area of a location where the second radiation was received at the time the second radiation was received.

43. A method of positioning an airborne object relative to a refueling aircraft, comprising:

executing the actions of claim 32; and

varying the position of the airborne object based on the determined position of the receiver within the positioning system to adjust a position of the airborne object relative to the refueling aircraft.

44. A method of positioning an airborne object relative to a refueling aircraft,

comprising:

executing the actions of claim 32; and

automatically varying the position of the airborne object based on the determined position of the receiver within the positioning system to automatically adjust a position of the airborne object relative to the refueling aircraft.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the airborne object is an autonomous drone.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein the airborne object is another aircraft.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein the airborne object is a refueling drogue.

48. The method of claim 44, wherein the airborne object is another aircraft.

49. An aerial refueling system comprising:

an aerial refueling device adapted to transfer fuel to a receiver aircraft extendable from a refueling aircraft; and

an aerial refueling device positioning system, the aerial refueling device positioning system including a radiation emitter, a radiation receiver and a signal processor;

wherein the radiation emitter is adapted to direct radiation to a positioning area a defined distance from the radiation emitter, the radiation carrying a modulated location signal containing information corresponding to positions within the positioning area;

wherein the radiation receiver is adapted to receive at least a portion of the emitted radiation carrying the modulated signal and output a signal to the signal processor indicative of the modulation of the location signal of the received radiation; and

wherein the signal processor is adapted to process the outputted signal and identify a position within the positioning area indicative of the location in the positioning area of the received radiation.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the radiation emitter is adapted to emit a focused optical beam and scan the focused optical beam over the positioning area.

51. The system of claim 49, wherein the emitted radiation is a focused optical beam, wherein the modulated location signal includes a plurality of digital data blocks, the plurality of digital data blocks containing information respectively corresponding to a plurality of discrete positions within the positioning area that respectively correspond to a current location of the focused beam within the positioning area.

52. The system of claim 50, wherein the radiation emitter is adapted to emit a focused optical elongated beam and scan the focused optical elongated beam over the positioning area in a dual-pass manner.

53. The system of claim 49, wherein the radiation emitted by the radiation emitter is a focused beam and the radiation emitter is adapted to scan the focused beam over the positioning area;

wherein the aerial refueling device positioning system is adapted to virtually divide at least a portion of the positioning area into a virtual grid, the virtual grid including a plurality of distributed distinct sectors, the distributed distinct sectors spatially corresponding to subareas within the positioning area, the sub-areas being disbursed within the positioning area in a geometrically defined manner;

wherein the aerial refueling device positioning system is adapted to change the modulated location signal carried on the focused beam as the focused beam is scanned over the positioning area, wherein change in the modulated location signal corresponds in a defined manner to the sub-areas such that a modulated location signal indicative of a beam being directed at a first sub-area is distinct from a modulated location signal indicative of a beam being directed at a second sub-area; and

wherein the signal processor is adapted to analyze one or more outputted signals from the receiver indicative of the modulation of the location signal and identify a distinct sector corresponding to the received modulated location signal carried on the focused beam.

54. The system of claim 49, wherein the aerial refueling system includes an active control system adapted to regulate the position of the aerial refueling device with respect to a refueling aircraft when the aerial refueling device is extended from the refueling aircraft.

55. An aerial refueling system comprising:

an aerial refueling device; and

an aerial refueling device positioning system, the aerial refueling device positioning system including a radiation emitter, a radiation receiver, and a signal processor;

wherein the radiation emitter is adapted to direct a beam of emitted radiation to an area away from the radiation emitter, the radiation including discernable properties that vary in a corresponding manner with varying orientation of the beam of radiation with respect to the radiation emitter;

wherein the radiation receiver is adapted to receive at least a portion of the emitted radiation and output a signal to the signal processor indicative of one or more of the discernable properties of the received radiation; and

wherein the processor is adapted to process the outputted signal and identify a first virtual orientation indicative of an orientation of the receiver relative to the radiation emitter when at least a portion of the radiation was received by the receiver.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the radiation emitter is adapted to emit a focused optical beam modulated with digital data blocks, the modulated digital data blocks respectively indicative of discrete orientations respectively corresponding to orientations of the beam relative to the radiation emitter.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein at least some of the varied discernable properties are respectively indicative of discrete orientations respectively corresponding to orientations of the beam relative to the radiation emitter in a first reference frame, and wherein at least some of the varied discernable properties are respectively indicative of discrete orientations respectively corresponding to orientations of the beam relative to the radiation emitter in a second reference frame.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the signal processor is adapted to analyze a first outputted signal from the receiver, the first outputted signal being indicative of a first discernable property of the received radiation indicative of a first discrete orientation corresponding to a first orientation of the beam relative to the radiation emitter in the first reference frame at the time that the radiation was received, and wherein the signal processor is adapted to analyze a second outputted signal from the receiver, the second outputted signal being indicative of a second discernable property of the received radiation indicative of a second discrete orientation corresponding to a second orientation of the beam relative to the radiation emitter in the second reference frame at the time that the radiation was received;

and

wherein the signal processor is adapted to identify a virtual location of the receiver relative to the radiation emitter based on the analysis of the first and second outputted signals.

59. The system of claim 55, wherein the radiation emitted by the radiation emitter is a focused beam and the radiation emitter is adapted to scan the focused beam over the area;

wherein the aerial refueling device positioning system is adapted to virtually divide at least a portion of the various possible orientations of the beam relative to the radiation emitter into a beam zone, the beam zone including a plurality of distributed distinct vectors, the distributed vectors spatially corresponding to actual orientations of the beam with respect to the radiation emitter, the actual orientations being disbursed within the beam zone in a geometrically defined manner;

wherein the radiation emitter is adapted to change the modulated signal carried on the focused beam as the focused beam is scanned over the area to obtain different modulated signals, the different modulated signals corresponding in a defined manner to the actual orientations such that a modulated signal indicative of a beam being directed along a first orientation is distinct from a modulated signal indicative of a beam being directed along a second orientation; and

wherein the signal processor is adapted to analyze the outputted signal from the receiver indicative of the modulation of the signal and identify the distinct vector corresponding to the received modulated signal carried on the emitted radiation.

60. The system of claim 55, wherein the aerial refueling system includes an active control system adapted to regulate the position of the aerial refueling device with respect to a refueling aircraft when the aerial refueling device is extended from the refueling aircraft.

61. A method of positioning an aerial refueling device, comprising:

extending an aerial refueling device from a refueling aircraft;

scanning a focused optical elongated beam from a radiation emitter onboard the refueling aircraft over a positioning area a defined distance from the radiation emitter;

modulating a signal carried on the beam as the beam is scanned over the positioning area in a manner corresponding to positions of the beam within the positioning area;

receiving the optical beam carrying the modulated signal with a receiver on aerial refueling device; and

analyzing the modulation of the signal carried on the received optical beam to determine a position within the positioning area of the receiver at the time the radiation was received.

62. The method of claim 61, further comprising scanning the focused optical elongated beam over the positioning area in a two-pass manner and receiving the focused elongated beam scanned in a two-pass manner.

63. The method of claim 62, further comprising receiving the optical beam scanned in a first pass of the two-pass scan and receiving the optical beam scanned in a second pass of the two-pass scan and comparing the beams received in the first pass and the second pass and determining the position of the receiver within the positioning area based on a correspondence of position of the beams within the positioning area of the beams.