Tactical Relative Navigation via Orientation Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Navigation in GPS-denied environments, such as subterranean spaces, is challenging due to restrictive RF line-of-sight signals, which often limit positioning accuracy to a single node with unsupportive geometry, necessitating improved tactical relative navigation solutions.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing orientation transfer and ranging to determine bearing and range measurements between nodes, incorporating inertial sensors and dead reckoning systems, enabling accurate position determination even in restrictive environments through RF connectivity with a single node having known position information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If local positioning systems use multiple nodes with known position information for ranging measurements, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the system complexity and spatial distribution requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential navigation function from complex multi-node systems and implements it through a simplified two-node configuration. By using only two nodes (one with known position and one mobile), the system achieves accurate positioning through orientation transfer and ranging while eliminating the need for multiple distributed nodes, thus reducing spatial distribution requirements and system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary orientation transfer mechanism that mediates between the known position node and the mobile node. This intermediary approach allows the mobile node to determine its position by transferring orientation information from the known node, avoiding the need for direct ranging to multiple distributed nodes and simplifying the overall system architecture.
2Adaptability or versatility
If RF signals are used for positioning in tight corridors or cave tunnels, then navigation capability is provided, but signal geometry becomes unsupportive of accurate positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic orientation transfer where the system continuously updates position information based on real-time orientation measurements between nodes. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to changing signal geometries in restrictive environments like tight corridors and cave tunnels, maintaining positioning accuracy despite unfavorable RF signal conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameters used for positioning from traditional RF signal-based methods to orientation angle and bearing measurements. By using orientation transfer and ranging with inertial sensors, the system can maintain accurate positioning in environments where RF signal geometry would normally be unsupportive, as the orientation-based approach is less sensitive to signal propagation path constraints.
3Device complexity
If single node with known position information is used, then system complexity is reduced, but geometry for computed solution becomes unsupported
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional RF-based geometric positioning with an orientation transfer mechanism that uses inertial sensors and orientation angles. This substitution allows accurate positioning to be achieved with only one node having known position information, as the system uses orientation transfer and ranging calculations rather than relying on geometric relationships between multiple nodes, thus eliminating the geometry support requirement.
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 approach provides improved tactical relative navigation by accurately determining position and orientation in GPS-denied environments, enhancing navigation accuracy and robustness in tight corridors and cave tunnels.
Implementation Method 1
providing inertial measurements from an inertial sensor system of the second node to the navigation processor of the second node
Implementation Method 2
determining a time difference between a time of transmission of the ranging signal from the second node and a time of reception of the ranging signal at the first node
Data Source
AI summary
A navigation system/solution, suitable for use in a GPS-denied environment, may be implemented via a node, the node being mounted on-board a vehicle, such as a tactical aircraft. The system/solution allows for a single component of the node to obtain/determine a bearing measurement (via an orientation transfer scheme) and a range measurement (via a round trip timing scheme) based upon signals transmitted between the node and a second node, and further allows for the bearing and range measurements to be received and processed by a navigation processor of the node for determining a location of the node.