Aircraft Laser Strike Origin Determination via Camera Vector Intersection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laser strikes on aircraft pose significant safety risks due to the difficulty in detecting and locating the source of the laser beam on the ground, leading to vulnerabilities during critical flight times and challenges in identifying responsible individuals.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a camera on an aircraft to determine the position of a laser beam by computing a relative direction vector, converting it into a global coordinate vector, and intersecting it with a ground representation to pinpoint the laser's location, which can also transmit this information to remote entities for further action.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If a camera system is used to detect laser strikes on aircraft, then real-time detection capability is improved, but the difficulty of locating the laser source on the ground remains
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the two-dimensional camera image coordinates into three-dimensional global coordinates by incorporating altitude information and camera orientation. This dimensional transformation enables precise calculation of the laser source location on the ground surface, resolving the contradiction between detection capability and location precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary calculation process that uses camera metadata (position, orientation, focal length) and image processing to bridge the gap between detecting the laser strike on the aircraft and locating the source on the ground. This intermediary system converts observable strike positions into actionable location data.
2Productivity
If pilots focus on critical flight tasks during takeoff and landing, then flight operation efficiency is improved, but vulnerability to laser strikes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary detection and warning capability that operates independently of pilot attention. The system continuously monitors for laser strikes and can provide advance warning to pilots before the laser beam causes harmful effects, allowing pilots to maintain focus on critical flight tasks while still being protected from laser threats.
Solution Approach 2:
The aircraft's camera system and processing equipment automatically detect, track, and locate laser strikes without requiring pilot intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously monitoring for threats and generating location data, reducing the burden on pilots during critical phases of flight.
3Measurement precision
If multiple laser strikes are detected to improve location accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple detection results from different laser strikes into a single refined location estimate. By combining data from multiple strikes and using statistical processing, the system achieves higher precision without requiring separate complex processing streams for each strike, thus managing complexity while improving accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices that determine a position on the ground of a laser that emits a laser beam that strikes an aircraft. The process includes determining a strike position from a camera that is located on the aircraft. A relative direction vector of the laser beam is computed with respect to the camera. The relative direction vector is converted into a global coordinate direction vector. The position on the ground of the laser is determined based on a point where the global coordinate direction vector intersects with the ground representation.