Multi-Aircraft Passive Navigation for GPS-Denied Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Navigation and positioning systems face challenges in environments where GPS is unavailable or restricted, particularly for tactical operations, as they rely on active sensors and radio positioning, which may not be suitable for all vehicles, necessitating a self-contained relative navigation capability.
Innovation Solution
A system combining a star vision system, inertial reference system, and communication interface to determine absolute and relative positions between vehicles using star positions and vision-based terrain matching, enabling relative positioning without emissions or with limited emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS receivers and active sensors are used for navigation and positioning, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the system becomes unsuitable for restricted environments and non-emissive applications
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses passive optical sensors to capture star positions and terrain features, allowing the vehicle to determine its own position without external assistance or emissions. The inertial reference system integrates with passive vision data, enabling self-contained navigation that adapts to GPS-denied and restricted environments while maintaining positioning accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces active electromagnetic sensing systems (radar, GPS) with passive optical sensing systems. The star vision system and terrain-based vision system use optical cameras to capture celestial and terrestrial features, converting optical information into position data without emitting energy, thus enabling operation in restricted environments
2Adaptability or versatility
If passive vision systems and inertial reference systems are used for positioning, then environmental adaptability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the inertial reference system with passive vision systems (star vision and terrain vision) into an integrated navigation architecture. The inertial measurement unit provides continuous position estimates that are corrected by periodic updates from passive optical sensors, combining the advantages of both systems while sharing computational resources and data processing pipelines
Solution Approach 2:
The passive vision system serves multiple functions: star position detection for absolute positioning, terrain feature recognition for relative positioning, and navigation guidance. The same optical camera hardware is used across different vision modes, reducing overall system complexity compared to dedicated sensors for each function
3Measurement precision
If active sensors and radio positioning are used for navigation, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the system generates harmful emissions and cannot operate in restricted environments
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the absence of GPS signals (a harmful condition in restricted environments) into a beneficial opportunity to use passive celestial navigation. By utilizing star positions visible in the optical spectrum, the system achieves accurate positioning without generating any electromagnetic emissions that would be detected or restricted
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes active radio-based positioning systems with passive optical-based positioning systems. Instead of transmitting radio signals or relying on GPS satellites, the system uses optical cameras to capture star positions and terrain features, processing this optical data through inertial navigation algorithms to achieve accurate positioning without harmful emissions
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
Enables accurate and continuous relative positioning in GPS-denied environments, allowing for operations like formation flying, target location, and evasive maneuvers, with precision comparable to GPS systems.
Implementation Method 1
a star vision system configured to provide first data associated with the first vehicle in response to captured star positions
Implementation Method 2
Based on the distances to each of the airborne objects and their corresponding geodetic positions, the current geodetic position of the vehicle is determined by triangulation
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and a method of determining an absolute position of a first vehicle (22) can be used in restricted areas. The system performs operations of or the method includes receiving image data from a vision system (42) mounted on a second vehicle (32, 34, 36), determining a first location of the second vehicle using at least positions of stars in the image data, providing the first location to the first vehicle, determining a first relative position between the first vehicle and the second vehicle using at least one signal communicated between the first vehicle and the second vehicle, and determining the absolute position using at least the relative location data and the first location.