Complementary Gimbal Control for Stable Moving Target Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surveillance systems face challenges in maintaining continuous gimbal control for moving targets, particularly in environments where computational complexity is high, leading to unstable movements and interruptions, especially when using MTI technology on mobile platforms.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for monitoring moving targets using complementary gimbal control through displacement partitioning, which combines operator-controlled and MTI-based gimbal adjustments, incorporating displacement information to stabilize gimbal movements by dividing pixel errors into phased steps and integrating GPS/INS data for continuous control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If MTI technology is used for moving target detection on mobile platforms, then detection capability is improved, but computational complexity increases and real-time processing becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemoving target detection capabilityVSAvoidcomputational complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the control process into two distinct parts: operator control for coarse positioning and MTI-based automatic control for fine tracking. This segmentation allows the computationally intensive MTI processing to be applied only when needed for precision tracking, rather than continuously, thereby reducing overall computational burden while maintaining detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies MTI technology partially - only for automatic gimbal control when targets are detected, rather than continuously processing all images. This partial application of the complex algorithm reduces computational load while still providing the detection capability where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Extent of automation

If full automatic MTI-based gimbal control is implemented, then automation level is improved, but system reliability deteriorates due to processing delays and interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic gimbal controlVSAvoidgimbal control stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges two control approaches - operator control and automatic MTI-based control - into a unified system. The operator control provides stable, continuous adjustment while MTI-based control adds automatic tracking capability. This combination ensures reliability by having the operator control as a stable baseline while gaining automation benefits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses an intermediary approach where MTI detection results serve as a mediator between the operator and the gimbal control system. Rather than directly controlling the gimbal based on MTI data alone, the system processes MTI results and uses them to generate control commands that are then applied to the gimbal, smoothing out processing delays and interruptions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If manual operator control is used for gimbal adjustment, then system simplicity is maintained, but productivity and response speed deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol system simplicityVSAvoidtarget tracking speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service through automatic MTI-based target detection and tracking. Once a target is detected by the MTI algorithm, the system automatically generates gimbal control commands to track the target without requiring continuous operator intervention. This self-service capability increases productivity and response speed while maintaining relative system simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Speed

If continuous gimbal control is attempted at high processing speeds, then response speed is improved, but system stability worsens due to processing interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegimbal control speedVSAvoidgimbal movement stability

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the control mode based on operational needs. The operator can switch between manual control mode (slower but stable) and automatic MTI-based control mode (faster but potentially less stable). This dynamic flexibility allows the system to optimize between speed and stability depending on the situation, rather than being constrained to a single fixed mode.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12499558B2Apparatus and method for monitoring moving target based on complementary gimbal control through displacement partitioning

Publication Date: 2025.12.16 AGENCY FOR DEFENSE DEV

AI summary

Provided are an apparatus and method for monitoring a moving target based on complementary gimbal control through displacement partitioning, wherein the apparatus includes a processor configured to detect the moving target on the basis of information regarding an image acquired from a camera mounted on a gimbal, acquire first control information of an operator regarding the gimbal, which is input in response to the moving target, acquire second control information regarding the gimbal, which is calculated in response to the operation of detecting the moving target, and control the gimbal on the basis of the first control information and second control information.