System and method for determining the position of a transmitting unit and a vessel having the system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for determining the position of a transmitting unit and a ship having the system. The system has an arrangement of at least four transmitting units, wherein the first transmitting unit in the arrangement transmits a first transmission signal to each of the remaining three transmitting units. Each of the remaining three transmitting units receives the first transmission signal and, after receiving the signal, returns a first response signal to the first transmitting unit. The first transmitting unit determines relative position data relative to the remaining three transmitting units based on the first response signal. The remaining three transmitting units each have stored position data related to the expected position of the arrangement of the transmitting units. The first transmitting unit obtains the stored position data related to the expected position from the remaining three transmitting units. The first transmitting unit assigns the relative position data determined by it to the acquired position data related to a single expected position to determine its position within the arrangement of the transmitting units based on the assignment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the positioning of a radio wave transmitting and receiving unit. In particular, the invention relates to a system for determining the position of a transmitting unit. The invention also relates to a vessel having a system for determining the position of a transmitting unit and a method for determining the position of a transmitting unit. Background Art

[0002] If a local navigation system suffers a failure of a radio beacon within a plurality of radio transmitters or of an individual radio transmitter, the system is in fact usually still operational, but with a certain degradation of performance. In order to restore full redundancy and performance, it is usually necessary to replace the defective radio beacon. For this purpose, the replacement radio beacon can be programmed by entering the physical location (i.e. position) and the identity of the radio beacon it is replacing. This is usually performed manually by service personnel as part of maintenance and repair work, which on the one hand can be delayed and on the other hand leads to high maintenance costs. During the time when the service personnel replace and reprogram the radio beacon, the radio beacon is inoperable, which can also particularly damage the reliability of the navigation system. In addition, the maintenance work usually has to be performed by personnel under adverse operating conditions, in particular in bad weather conditions. Summary of the invention

[0003] The object of the invention is to improve the determination of the position of a transmitting unit in an arrangement of a plurality of transmitting units.

[0004] This object is achieved by the subject-matter of the independent claims. Exemplary embodiments emerge from the dependent claims and the following description.

[0005] One aspect of the present invention points out a system for determining the position of a sending unit. The system has an arrangement of at least four sending units, wherein the arrangement, for example, forms an installation environment for the sending unit. A first sending unit of the at least four sending units is designed to send a first transmission signal to each of the remaining three sending units. Each of the remaining three sending units is designed to receive the first transmission signal, and after receiving the first transmission signal, return a first response signal to the first sending unit. Therefore, the sending unit can also be designed to receive a signal. Therefore, the sending unit can also be a sending and receiving unit, or can be referred to as a sending and receiving unit. The first sending unit is designed to determine relative position data about the first sending unit relative to the remaining three sending units based on the returned first response signal. The remaining three sending units each have stored position data related to the expected position of the sending unit within the arrangement of the sending units. The first sending unit is designed to obtain stored position data related to the expected position from the remaining three sending units. The first sending unit is designed to assign the relative position data determined by the first sending unit to the obtained position data related to a single expected position, for example based on a table value, so as to determine the position and / or identity of the first sending unit within the arrangement of the sending units based on the assignment.

[0006] This determination of the position of the first transmitting unit, in particular the unique designation of the desired position, makes it possible to determine the exact position of the first transmitting unit. This may be necessary, for example, when replacing a transmitting unit of a radio beacon system. Therefore, since the position of the first transmitting unit within the arrangement of transmitting units can be determined exactly, no further manual programming steps by maintenance personnel are required. For example, the required specified values ​​can be obtained (i.e. downloaded) from other transmitting units already present in the system. Therefore, the system for determining the position of a transmitting unit according to the invention significantly reduces the maintenance workload for such a transmitting unit, especially in the case of adverse environmental conditions or adverse weather conditions.

[0007] Thus, the system for determining the position can prove particularly advantageous in ships or vessels that use radio beacons as landing aids for aircraft. Thus, the system according to the invention is used to locate the radio wave transmitting and receiving unit. Thus, the transmitting unit can be a transmitter and a receiver for a radio beacon or a beacon light. In particular, the transmitting unit can be a radio transmitter and a radio receiver.

[0008] At least four transmission units can be positioned in a specific spatial arrangement relative to each other. In this case, the transmission units can be arranged at a respectively predefined distance relative to each other. The transmission units can be arranged, for example, in a specific pattern, such as a rectangle or a square. More than four transmission units can also be provided in this arrangement. The transmission units are designed, for example, to transmit signals, i.e., transmission signals, and also to receive transmitted signals, such as response signals. In other words, the transmission units can transmit transmission signals and can receive response signals, i.e., reception signals.

[0009] Therefore, the first transmitting unit transmits the first transmission signal to the remaining at least three transmitting units, so that these at least three or more transmitting units all receive the first transmission signal. After receiving the first transmission signal, at least three transmitting units all generate a first response signal in response to the reception of the first transmission signal, and return the first response signal to the first transmitting unit. The first transmitting unit can now determine the relative position data related to the first transmission signal based on the transmitted transmission signal and the returned first response signal, in which case the relative position data has information related to the relative position of the first transmitting unit relative to each of the remaining three transmitting units. That is, for example, the propagation time measurement of the first transmission signal and / or the corresponding response signal can be used to calculate the distance between the first transmitting unit and each of the remaining three transmitting units, and finally derive the relative position of the first transmitting unit within the entire arrangement. Therefore, the known signal propagation speed can be taken into account and the distance between the transmitting units is calculated based on the propagation time measurement.

[0010] The remaining three sending units also have stored position data related to the desired position of the arrangement of the sending unit. This means that the information related to the desired position of each individual sending unit in the arrangement of at least four sending units is stored in the remaining three sending units. In this case, the desired position mark can, for example, provide those desired positions of the sending unit of a fully adjusted, tuned and operational navigation system. If the sending unit is just in the desired position, it is therefore no longer necessary to further determine the position or calibrate. For example, the information related to the desired position of the sending unit can be obtained or downloaded from three other sending units by the first sending unit that is subsequently inserted into the arrangement of the sending unit. In other words, as a part of the download process, the first sending unit can obtain the stored position data related to the desired position of the sending unit from the remaining three sending units. This makes it possible to provide a type of learning process, in which the first sending unit learns the position data related to the desired position from the remaining three sending units.

[0011] Thus, it is no longer necessary to preprogram or preconfigure or manually program the desired position data in the first transmitting unit, since these data can be provided via a functional transmitting unit already in the arrangement. This is particularly useful when replacing a separate transmitting unit, since the maintenance personnel no longer need to perform any programming steps to determine the position of the first transmitting unit, i.e. the replaced transmitting unit. This makes it possible to provide a fast and repeatable process when replacing a first transmitting unit, in particular a radio beacon transmitting unit.

[0012] Then, the relative position data about the first transmitting unit determined by the response signal relative to the remaining three transmitting units is assigned to the position value, i.e. the stored desired position. The designation may involve, for example, assigning the determined relative position data to a suitable table value of the desired position. In this case, it may be provided that the determined relative position data is assigned to the position value or the desired position closest to the determined relative position data. In other words, the designation may include a type of exclusion method, wherein the table value of the desired position or the desired position whose correspondence with the determined relative position data is actually excluded is rejected, for example, because the determined relative position data has almost no correspondence with the table value. In contrast, if there is an approximate correspondence between the determined relative position data and each table value, the determined relative position data may be assigned to the table value, i.e., assigned to a single desired position stored as a table value, and therefore, the position of the first transmitting unit may be uniquely assigned to the desired position. Therefore, the position of the first transmitting unit in the arrangement of the transmitting unit is determined exactly, and as a result, the first transmitting unit may be incorporated into the arrangement of the remaining three transmitting units. Therefore, the first transmitting unit is uniquely identified in the arrangement of the transmitting unit.

[0013] After the position or identity of the first transmission unit has been determined exactly, all transmission units in the arrangement of at least four transmission units are now tuned or balanced to each other in terms of signaling. This means that, knowing the exact position and / or identity of the at least four transmission units, the exact position and / or orientation of a moving object (e.g. an aircraft) in the environment of the arrangement of transmission units can be determined. In particular, the relative position and / or orientation of the object can be determined based on propagation time measurements between each individual transmission unit in the arrangement of transmission units that is now tuned and the moving object, since the positions of the individual transmission units relative to each other are known.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first transmitting unit is designed to capture the deviation between the determined relative position data related to the first transmitting unit and the specified expected position, and calibrate the transmission parameters of the first transmitting unit based on the captured deviation.

[0015] The deviation between the determined relative position data relating to the first transmitting unit and the position data relating to the specified desired position is determined, for example, in the form of a geometric distance between the determined (i.e. current) position of the first transmitting unit within the arrangement of transmitting units and the desired position of the first transmitting unit.

[0016] The current position of the first transmitting unit within the arrangement of transmitting units is determined, for example, by a propagation time measurement of the first transmission signal and the first response signal. The expected position is, for example, a stored value indicating the expected position of the first transmitting unit within the arrangement. Therefore, the difference between the determined position and the expected position leads to the above-mentioned deviation.

[0017] Very small deviations between the determined position and the individual expected positions can be determined by comparing the determined position with a plurality of expected positions, for example in the form of a table search. The expected position belonging to this very small deviation can now be assigned to the first sending unit, with the result that the exact position and identity of the first sending unit within the arrangement can be uniquely determined. This position can in turn be stored in the first sending unit and / or in the remaining three sending units, with the result that the position and identity of each sending unit within the arrangement of sending units is known. This makes it possible to implement a type of initialization of the arrangement of sending units, with the result that the relative position and / or orientation between the arrangement of sending units and the moving object can then be determined by means of this initialized and tuned arrangement.

[0018] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the calibration of the first sending unit includes setting a time parameter and / or a frequency parameter of the first sending unit. The calibration may also include setting a time value and / or a frequency value.

[0019] This means that a time value or a time at which the transmission signal is transmitted by the first transmission unit is set. Additionally or alternatively, the frequency of the first transmission signal transmitted by the first transmission unit can be set. For example, a time parameter or a time value and / or a frequency parameter or a frequency value is specified. The time parameter and / or the frequency parameter can be set and specified by the first transmission unit itself.

[0020] All the sending units may be equipped with a control unit which may perform transmission and reception as well as designation and calibration. The control unit in the first sending unit may be designed to obtain stored position data relating to the desired position from the remaining three sending units and also to designate the relative position data determined by the first sending unit to the obtained position data relating to the single desired position. The control unit may be a data processing system or a processor.

[0021] The calibration takes into account geometric deviations that change the signal transmission characteristics, for example. These can be caused in particular by temperature differences and can influence the transmission behavior of the transmission signal and the response signal. For example, the result can be temperature-related delays of the individual transmission units, which can be compensated by calibration.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the transmission signal and / or the first response signal is a radio frequency based signal.

[0023] For example, the transmission signal and / or the response signal is a radio wave used as a measuring signal, which is used in particular to measure the propagation time of the transmission signal and the response signal between the individual transmitting units.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the invention, the response signal has position data relating to an expected position of the arrangement of the transmitting unit.

[0025] Thus, the position data relating to the desired position can be modulated with the response signal. This means that the first response signal transmitted by each of the remaining three transmission units to the first transmission unit has position data relating to the desired position. Thus, these data can be modulated with the actual radio-frequency-based measurement signal. Thus, the position data relating to the desired position can be forwarded simultaneously with the first response signal for the propagation time measurement to the first transmission unit, i.e. the newly installed or replaced transmission unit.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first response signal has data related to the geometric boundary conditions of the arrangement of the individual transmission units within the arrangement of the transmission units. The boundary conditions can be mathematical boundary conditions. The geometric boundary conditions can be understood as representing, for example, the specifications or restrictions of the possible positions of the first transmission unit and also the remaining transmission units within the arrangement of the transmission units. The boundary conditions can be stored as information in each of the remaining three transmission units.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first sending unit is designed to use data related to geometric boundary conditions to assign relative position data determined by the first sending unit to the obtained position data related to a single expected position, so as to determine the position and / or identity of the first sending unit within the arrangement of the sending units based on the assignment.

[0028] For example, the boundary condition can be specified by a geometric position boundary value that allows the relative position of the determined first transmitting unit to be assigned to a desired position based on less than three response signals. This is because the boundary condition has excluded some possible desired positions of the first transmitting unit. Therefore, the fewer desired positions to which the first transmitting unit can be assigned are retained for selection.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the geometric boundary conditions provide for an arrangement of at least four transmitting units in a plane.

[0030] The geometric boundary condition can be, for example, a condition that at least four transmitting units are in one plane. Therefore, it is not necessary to compare all possible desired positions with the relative position of the determined first transmitting unit. In particular, it is possible to limit the multiple possibilities that can be used to assign the first transmitting unit to the desired position. This is because the first transmitting unit is intended to be assigned only to a single desired position that is ultimately intended to reflect the exact position and / or identity of the first transmitting unit within the arrangement of the transmitting unit, so that the function of the transmitting unit, that is to say the adjusted arrangement of the transmitting unit, can be provided. Then, the adjusted arrangement can be used as a navigation aid for an object that moves relative to the arrangement.

[0031] According to one embodiment of the invention, each transmitting unit in the arrangement of at least four transmitting units is designed to receive radar signals from an object moving relative to the arrangement and therefore transmit a response signal to the moving object, as a result of which the relative position of the moving object relative to the arrangement of at least four transmitting units can be determined.

[0032] Thus, a navigation aid for navigating a moving object relative to the arrangement of the sending units can be provided. The moving object is, for example, an aircraft, in particular a helicopter or an airplane. The arrangement of the sending units is, for example, arranged in the area of ​​a landing point of the aircraft, as a result of which navigation information for the aircraft can be provided based on the response signals transmitted by the sending units in the arrangement to the aircraft. The navigation information may include the relative position and / or orientation of the aircraft relative to the arrangement of the sending units.

[0033] According to one embodiment of the invention, the arrangement has a total of eight transmitting units, wherein at least six transmitting units, preferably exactly six transmitting units, are substantially arranged in one plane. Therefore, all the previously mentioned properties of the arrangement of four transmitting units can also be applied to eight transmitting units, in which case the position of the first transmitting unit is always re-determined by means of the system according to the invention. This can become necessary when replacing a transmitting unit as part of a maintenance work, in which a new transmitting unit is installed in the arrangement here and now must be positioned so that an adapted or adjusted arrangement of the transmitting unit can be provided for navigation assistance. The plane can form a landing area for an aircraft, in particular for a helicopter.

[0034] According to one embodiment of the present invention, two transmitting units out of a total of eight transmitting units are arranged at a distance from the plane.

[0035] This means that two transmission units arranged at a certain distance are not in a plane. Transmission units arranged at a certain distance are, for example, on a connecting line extending parallel to the plane.

[0036] One aspect of the invention specifies a vessel having the above-described system for determining the position of a transmitting unit according to the invention.

[0037] Ship A ship is, for example, a ship, in particular a military ship. The ship can have a heliport, which is marked or surrounded by a transmission unit in the arrangement of transmission units.

[0038] According to one embodiment of the invention, an arrangement of at least four transmitting units, preferably six transmitting units, defines a landing area for the aircraft.

[0039] Thus, a radio beacon may be provided in the immediate vicinity of the landing area of ​​the aircraft, with the result that the aircraft may be safely navigated relative to the vessel even under adverse environmental conditions.

[0040] One aspect of the invention specifies a platform having the above-described system according to the invention. The platform can be a fixed platform or a mobile platform. Thus, the platform can be, for example, a transport vehicle, an oil rig, a helipad, etc.

[0041] The platform can also be an aircraft. For example, the platform is integrated into a manned or unmanned aircraft, as a result of which a moving object, which can likewise be a manned or unmanned aircraft, can be navigated relative to the aircraft with the platform. In particular, the platform with the system according to the invention can be an aircraft relative to which a manned or unmanned aircraft is to be navigated so that these escort aircraft can be accurately positioned or oriented relative to the first-mentioned aircraft. In order to be able to perform this accurate positioning or orientation, the system according to the invention can predetermine the exact position and identity of all the sending units in the system if a sending unit needs to be replaced.

[0042] The platform may also be a land vehicle. For example, the platform is a military land vehicle. Thus, an object moving relative to the land vehicle may be navigated. For example, a manned or unmanned aerial vehicle may be navigated relative to the land vehicle.

[0043] One aspect of the present invention specifies a method for determining the position of a transmitting unit. In one step of the method, at least four transmitting units are set in an installation environment. In another step, a first transmission signal is transmitted to each of the remaining three transmitting units. In another step, the transmitted first transmission signal is received by means of each of the remaining three transmitting units, and a first response signal is returned to the first transmitting unit by means of each of the remaining three transmitting units. In another step, relative position data about the first transmitting unit relative to the remaining three transmitting units is determined based on the returned first response signal. In another step, position data related to the desired position of the arrangement of the transmitting unit is stored by means of the remaining three transmitting units. In another step, the stored position data related to the desired position is obtained from the remaining three transmitting units. In another step, the relative position data determined by the first transmitting unit is assigned to the obtained position data related to the single desired position, so as to determine the position of the first transmitting unit within the arrangement of the transmitting units based on the assignment. The individual steps of the method can be performed in any desired order or in the above order.

[0044] The system according to the invention proves to be particularly advantageous in the event that a local navigation system suffers from a failure of a single radio transmitter or radio beacon among a plurality of radio transmitters. In this case, only the failed radio transmitter needs to be physically replaced with another new radio transmitter. The setting of the identification and position information of the new radio transmitter can then be carried out autonomously, i.e. automatically, and no longer requires input by maintenance personnel. This also makes it possible to keep the stock of replacement radio transmitters small. In particular, there is no need to store replacement parts for each individual transmission unit or each individual radio beacon.

[0045] In other words, a new beacon or a new radio transmitter learns the stored data related to the former, i.e. the former information such as the identity and position information of the former beacon, from the other radio transmitters. Since the complete pattern data, i.e. also the former information, can be stored in each beacon, these data can be obtained by the new beacon from all other beacons in the arrangement of beacons. If multiple beacons are replaced during an execution cycle, the system can detect this and can emit a NOGO signal, as a result of which an indication of the limited operating capability of the system can be transmitted during this period. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] Figure 1 An arrangement of at least four transmission units according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0047] Figure 2 A plan view of a vessel with an arrangement of eight transmitting units according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0048] Figure 3 A side view of a vessel with an arrangement of eight transmitting units according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown.

[0049] Figure 4 A flow chart of a method for determining a position of a transmitting unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] The illustrations in the figures are schematic and not drawn to scale.

[0051] If the same reference numerals are used in the various figures in the following description of the figures, these reference numerals represent the same or similar elements. However, the same or similar elements may also be represented by different reference numerals.

[0052] Figure 1 A system 10 is shown for determining the position of a first transmitting unit 1 within an arrangement 20 of transmitting units 1, 2, 3, 4. The arrangement may be arranged in Figure 1 The first transmission unit 1 of at least four transmission units 1, 2, 3, 4 is designed to transmit a first transmission signal 11 to each of the remaining three transmission units 2, 3, 4. Each of the remaining three transmission units 2, 3, 4 is designed to receive the first transmission signal 11, and after receiving the first transmission signal 11, return a first response signal 12 to the first transmission unit 1.

[0053] The first transmission unit 1 is designed to determine relative position data about the first transmission unit 1 with respect to the remaining three transmission units 2, 3, 4 based on the returned first response signal 12. The relative position data is determined based on propagation time measurements of the first transmission signal 11 from the first transmission unit 1 to each of the remaining transmission units 2, 3, 4 and the propagation time measurements of the first response signal 12 from the remaining transmission units 2, 3, 4 to the first transmission unit 1. For example, the propagation time of the first transmission signal 11 from the first transmission unit 1 to the second transmission unit 2 and the propagation time of the response signal 12 returned from the second transmission unit 2 to the first transmission unit 1 are measured and added. Thus, the distance between the first transmission unit 1 and the second transmission unit 2 can be calculated based on the propagation time measurements taking into account the known propagation speed of the signal.

[0054] The remaining three transmission units 2, 3, 4 each have stored position data relating to the desired position 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a of the arrangement 20 of the transmission units 1, 2, 3, 4. The desired positions 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a are all illustrated in FIG. Figure 1The first transmitting unit 1 is designed to obtain stored position data relating to the desired position 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a from the remaining three transmitting units 2, 3, 4, for example based on position data modulated with a use signal, in particular a response signal 12. A deviation d, in particular a geometric distance d, between all obtained desired positions 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a and the determined relative position of the first transmitting unit 1 can be determined.

[0055] The first transmitting unit 1 is designed to assign the relative position data determined by the first transmitting unit 1 to the obtained position data relating to a single desired position 1a, taking into account the deviation d. For example, the desired position 1a having the smallest deviation d with respect to the determined relative position is assigned to the first transmitting unit 1. This is Figure 1 1a in the desired position. Thus, the position and / or identity of the first transmitting unit 1 within the arrangement 20 of transmitting units 1, 2, 3, 4 can be determined based on the designation, as a result of which an adjusted and operational arrangement 20 of transmitting units 1, 2, 3, 4 is obtained, wherein all transmitting units 1, 2, 3, 4 are tuned to each other and can now be used as a navigation device for navigating a moving object relative to the arrangement 20. During the designation, it can be specified as a boundary condition that all transmitting units 1, 2, 3, 4 are intended to be located in one plane, as a result of which the designation can already be performed based on two first response signals 12, because, for example, the specification that the three transmitting units 1, 2, 3 are located in one plane and the corresponding distance measurements between transmitting unit 1 and transmitting unit 2 and transmitting unit 1 and transmitting unit 3 are already sufficient to determine the relative position of the transmitting unit 1 in space or in the arrangement 20. Thus, the number of possibilities regarding the desired position to which the first transmitting unit 1 can actually be designated can be significantly limited.

[0056] Figure 2 A ship 100 is shown having a system 10 for determining the position of a transmitting unit 1. The ship 100 may be a vessel, in particular an aircraft carrier. For this purpose, the ship 100 may have a system 10 for determining the position of an aircraft ( Figure 2 The system 10 has an arrangement 20 of eight transmission units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, six of which are arranged in a plane 110, wherein the plane 110 forms the landing surface and the six transmission units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 in the plane 110 define a landing area 111 of the aircraft.

[0057] Figure 3 Shown from Figure 2 A side view of a vessel 100. Figure 3It can be clearly seen that the transmission units 7 and 8 are not arranged in the plane 110, but at a distance from the plane 110. In contrast, the six transmission units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 are in the plane 110. If the system 10 or the arrangement 20 is operational, that is to say the transmission units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 have all been adjusted, positioned, identified and calibrated, then all the transmission units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 can be used as navigation means for navigating the aircraft 200 by: transmitting a transmission signal 13 to the transmission units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 by the aircraft; after receiving the transmission signal 13, the transmission units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 each return a response signal 14 to the aircraft 200; and then determining the relative position and / or orientation of the aircraft 200 relative to the vessel 100 and therefore relative to the arrangement 20 based on the propagation time measurements of the transmission signal 13 and the response signal 14. Thus, it is ensured that the aircraft 200 lands safely on the vessel 100. In this case, the arrangement 20 of the transmission units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 may have any desired form. Figure 2 and Figure 3 Only one example of such an arrangement 20 is shown.

[0058] Figure 4 A flow chart of a method for determining the position of a transmitting unit 1 is shown. In step S1, at least four transmitting units 1, 2, 3, 4 are arranged in an installation environment. The installation environment can be fixed or can also be arranged on a mobile platform. In another step S2, a first transmission signal 11 is transmitted to each of the remaining three transmitting units 2, 3, 4. In another step S3, the transmitted first transmission signal 11 is received by each of the remaining three transmitting units 2, 3, 4, and a first response signal 12 is returned to the first transmitting unit 1 by each of the remaining three transmitting units 2, 3, 4. In another step S4, relative position data about the first transmitting unit 1 relative to the remaining three transmitting units 2, 3, 4 is determined based on the returned first response signal 12. In another step S5, position data related to each predefined expected position 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a of the arrangement 20 of the transmitting units 1, 2, 3, 4 is stored by the remaining three transmitting units 2, 3, 4. In a further step S6, the stored position data relating to the desired positions 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a are obtained by the first sending unit 1 from the remaining three sending units 2, 3, 4. Furthermore, in a further step S7, the relative position data determined by the first sending unit 1 are assigned to the obtained position data relating to the single desired position 1a, so that the position of the first sending unit 1 within the arrangement 20 of the sending units 1, 2, 3, 4 is determined based on the assignment.

Claims

1. A system (10) for determining a position of a transmitting unit, comprising: An arrangement (20) of at least four transmission units (1, 2, 3, 4); in, A first transmission unit (1) among the at least four transmission units (1, 2, 3, 4) is designed to transmit a first transmission signal (11) to each of the remaining three transmission units (2, 3, 4); Each of the remaining three sending units (2, 3, 4) is designed to receive the first transmission signal (11), and after receiving the first transmission signal (11), return a first response signal (12) to the first sending unit (1); The first sending unit (1) is designed to determine relative position data of the first sending unit (1) relative to the remaining three sending units (2, 3, 4) based on the returned first response signal (12); wherein the remaining three transmission units (2, 3, 4) each have stored position data associated with a desired position (1a, 2a, 3a, 4a) of each transmission unit (1, 2, 3, 4) of the arrangement (20) of transmission units (1, 2, 3, 4); wherein the first sending unit (1) is designed to obtain stored position data related to the desired position (1a, 2a, 3a, 4a) from the remaining three sending units (2, 3, 4); wherein the first sending unit (1) is designed to assign the acquired position data relating to a single desired position (1a) to the first sending unit (1) in order to determine the position and identity of the first sending unit (1) within the arrangement (20) of sending units (1, 2, 3, 4); The designation is based on deviations (d) between all obtained desired positions (1a, 2a, 3a, 4a) and the relative position data determined by the first sending unit (1).

2. The system (10) according to claim 1, in, The first transmitting unit (1) is designed to capture a deviation (d) between the determined relative position data related to the first transmitting unit (1) and a specified expected position (1a), and to calibrate a transmission parameter of the first transmitting unit (1) based on the captured deviation (d).

3. The system (10) according to claim 2, in, The calibration of the first sending unit (1) comprises setting a time parameter and / or a frequency parameter of the first sending unit (1).

4. System (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, in, The first transmission signal (11) and / or the first response signal (12) are / is signals based on radio frequency.

5. System (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, in, The first response signal (12) has position data relating to an expected position (1a, 2a, 3a, 4a) of an arrangement (20) of transmitting units (1, 2, 3, 4).

6. System (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, in, The first response signal (12) has data relating to geometric boundary conditions of the arrangement (20) of individual transmission units (1, 2, 3, 4) within the arrangement (20) of transmission units (1, 2, 3, 4).

7. The system (10) according to claim 6, in, The first sending unit (1) is designed to assign relative position data determined by the first sending unit (1) to obtained position data associated with a single desired position (1a) using data associated with the geometric boundary conditions, so as to determine the position of the first sending unit (1) within the arrangement (20) of the sending units (1, 2, 3, 4) based on the assignment.

8. The system (10) according to claim 6, in, The geometric boundary conditions specify an arrangement (20) of the at least four transmission units (1, 2, 3, 4) in a plane (110).

9. System (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, in, Each transmitting unit (1, 2, 3, 4) in an arrangement (20) of at least four transmitting units (1, 2, 3, 4) is designed to receive a radar signal (13) from an object (200) moving relative to the arrangement (20) and to transmit a response signal (14) to the moving object (200), as a result of which the relative position of the moving object (200) relative to the arrangement (20) of at least four transmitting units (1, 2, 3, 4) can be determined.

10. System (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, in, The arrangement (20) has a total of eight transmitting units (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8), of which at least six transmitting units (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) are arranged substantially in one plane (110).

11. The system (10) according to claim 10, in, Two transmission units (7, 8) out of the total eight transmission units (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) are arranged at a distance from the plane (110).

12. A vessel (100) having a system (10) according to one of claims 1 to 11.

13. The vessel (100) according to claim 12, in, An arrangement (20) of at least four transmission units (1, 2, 3, 4) defines a landing area (111) for an aircraft (200).

14. A method for determining a location of a transmitting unit, comprising: (S1) arranging at least four sending units (1, 2, 3, 4) in an installation environment; (S2) transmitting a first transmission signal (11) to each of the remaining three transmission units (2, 3, 4) through a first transmission unit (1) among the at least four transmission units (1, 2, 3, 4); (S3) receiving the transmitted first transmission signal (11) through each of the remaining three transmission units (2, 3, 4), and returning a first response signal (12) to the first transmission unit (1) through each of the remaining three transmission units (2, 3, 4); (S4) determining relative position data of the first sending unit (1) relative to the remaining three sending units (2, 3, 4) based on the returned first response signal (12); (S5) storing position data related to a desired position (1a, 2a, 3a, 4a) of each sending unit (1, 2, 3, 4) of the arrangement (20) of the sending units (1, 2, 3, 4) by the remaining three sending units (2, 3, 4); (S6) obtaining stored position data related to the desired position (1a, 2a, 3a, 4a) from the remaining three sending units (2, 3, 4); (S7) assigning the obtained position data relating to the single desired position (1a) to the first sending unit (1) in order to determine the position and identity of the first sending unit (1) within the arrangement (20) of sending units (1, 2, 3, 4); The designation is based on the deviation (d) between all the obtained expected positions (1a, 2a, 3a, 4a) and the relative position data determined by the first sending unit (1).

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