Multi-Aircraft Passive Navigation Using Star Vision and Datalink
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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, especially in denial of GPS scenarios or for non-emissive applications like UCAVs.
Innovation Solution
A passive positioning system using a star vision system and inertial reference system for absolute positioning, combined with a communication interface for relative positioning between vehicles, allowing for determination of relative positions without active emissions, utilizing star trackers and vision-based terrain matching navigation systems.
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 vehicle emissions increase and GPS denial environments render the system inoperative
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces active electromagnetic sensing systems (GPS receivers, radar, LIDAR) with passive optical vision systems. The vision system captures images of the environment and uses feature matching algorithms to determine vehicle position and orientation without emitting energy, thereby eliminating the harmful emissions associated with active sensors while maintaining positioning capability
Solution Approach 2:
The vision system uses naturally occurring environmental features (landmarks, terrain characteristics, celestial bodies) as positioning references without requiring external active transmission. The system serves itself by utilizing ambient light and existing environmental structures rather than requiring external active beacons or transmitters
2Reliability
If GPS receivers and active radio positioning are used, then positioning reliability is improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to GPS denial and restricted environments
Solution Approach 1:
The vision system is designed to operate across multiple environments and conditions by utilizing various natural features for positioning. It can function using terrestrial landmarks, terrain features, celestial bodies, or combinations thereof, making it universally applicable in GPS-denied environments including urban canyons, underwater, aerial, and space operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the GPS-dependent radio positioning system with an optical vision-based system that does not rely on satellite signals. This substitution enables operation in GPS-denied environments by using passive optical sensing of environmental features rather than active radio frequency communication with external satellites
3Object-generated harmful factors
If passive vision systems are used for positioning, then vehicle emissions are reduced and GPS denial resistance is improved, but measurement precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces computer vision algorithms and image processing techniques as intermediaries between the passive optical sensor and the positioning function. These algorithms extract geometric relationships and feature correspondences from images, translating visual data into precise position and orientation measurements without requiring active emission
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces active electromagnetic sensing with passive optical vision systems combined with computational algorithms. The vision system captures environmental features and uses mathematical models to determine vehicle position, achieving accurate measurement without the harmful emissions of active sensors while maintaining precision through sophisticated image processing
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 continuous, accurate relative positioning in restricted environments, providing self-contained navigation capabilities for vehicles, even in the absence of GPS, with precision comparable to GPS systems, suitable for tactical operations and various vehicle types.
Implementation Method 1
a star vision system configured to provide first data associated with the first vehicle in response to captured star positions
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method of determining an absolute position of a first vehicle can be used in restricted areas. The system performs operations of or the method includes receiving image data from a vision system mounted on a second vehicle, 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.