Aerial Vehicle Navigation Using Atmospheric Light Refraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aerial vehicles face challenges in navigation when GPS signals are unavailable or unreliable, relying on base station corrections for Earth Orientation Parameter Prediction (EOPP) and Precise Ephemeris (PE) to account for Earth wobble and atmospheric drag.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle employs a system that includes a landmark camera for capturing surface images and a celestial body camera to capture light refracted or dispersed by the atmosphere. By comparing these images to landmark data and celestial body catalogs, the vehicle determines its position and attitude, combining datasets through a navigation filter to reduce reliance on base station corrections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle relies on base station corrections (EOPP and PE parameters) for navigation, then navigation accuracy is maintained, but the system becomes dependent on external infrastructure and more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle performs self-navigation by independently measuring atmospheric refraction of celestial body light and comparing it with predicted refraction values from a catalog. This self-service approach eliminates dependence on external base station corrections while maintaining navigation accuracy through autonomous measurement and computation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the navigation function from the external base station infrastructure and transfers it to the vehicle itself. By removing the dependency on EOPP and PE correction parameters from base stations, the system achieves independence while preserving navigation capability through onboard atmospheric refraction measurements.
2Measurement precision
If the vehicle uses landmark camera for position determination, then position data can be obtained, but the system lacks redundancy and is sensitive to landmark availability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges two independent navigation approaches: landmark-based position determination and atmospheric refraction-based position determination. By combining these methods, the system achieves redundancy where each method can compensate for the other's limitations, improving both precision and environmental adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the measurement parameter from solely landmark-based geometric positioning to include atmospheric refraction measurements. By measuring the refraction angle of celestial body light through the atmosphere and comparing it with predicted values, the system obtains an additional independent parameter for position determination that works independently of landmark availability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle navigates without base station corrections, then system independence is improved, but navigation accuracy may deteriorate due to uncorrected errors
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle independently measures atmospheric refraction angles and compares them with predicted refraction values from a celestial body catalog. This self-service measurement process provides real-time position information without requiring external base station corrections, maintaining both independence and precision through autonomous atmospheric optics measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical/infrastructure-based correction system (base stations transmitting EOPP and PE parameters) with an optical measurement system. By using atmospheric refraction of celestial body light as the measurement mechanism, the system achieves independence from ground-based infrastructure while maintaining navigation precision through physical optical phenomena.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables the vehicle to determine its position and attitude accurately without relying on GPS signals or base station corrections, effectively addressing the limitations of existing navigation technologies.
Implementation Method 1
The celestial body camera can be pointed towards a horizon of the planet and can capture light that is dispersed or refracted by the atmosphere of the planet
Implementation Method 2
The celestial body camera can be pointed towards a horizon of the planet and can capture light that is dispersed or refracted by the atmosphere of the planet
Data Source
AI summary
Navigation with light refraction or dispersion and landmark data is provided. A system can include a data processing system. The data processing system can receive a first image of a surface of a planet from a first camera. The data processing system can generate a first position dataset based on the first image and data representing landmarks of the surface of the planet. The data processing system can receive, by a second camera oriented towards an atmosphere of the planet, a second image. The data processing can generate, via a celestial body catalog, a second position dataset based at least in part on an amount of refraction or dispersion of light of a celestial body in a second image. The data processing system can determine, based on a filter applied to the first position dataset and the second position dataset, a position and attitude of a vehicle.