Target Location Accuracy via Sensor Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current target location methods incur significant measurement errors due to inaccuracies in determining target bearing, requiring expensive north-seeking modules and hardware modifications, which limits accuracy in Far Target Location systems.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize multiple sensors to generate and combine target location estimates, validating that the estimates correspond to the same target, thereby increasing accuracy without the need for costly hardware modifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If north-seeking modules are used to improve bearing accuracy, then target location accuracy is improved, but system cost and hardware complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor measurements (bearing from first sensor, range from second sensor) to compute target location. By merging data from multiple sensors with different measurement types, the system achieves improved accuracy without requiring expensive north-seeking modules on each sensor platform.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary calculation process that uses measured bearing and range values as inputs to compute target location. This intermediary approach avoids the need for direct high-precision bearing measurement hardware by using mathematical computation to derive the location from multiple less-expensive measurements.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used to improve location accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges data from multiple sensors by combining bearing measurements from a first sensor with range measurements from a second sensor. This combination approach improves accuracy while managing complexity through a systematic integration process that handles multiple sensor types in a unified manner.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a validation process that checks whether the combined location estimate is consistent with the individual sensor measurements. This feedback mechanism ensures data quality and helps manage system complexity by automatically identifying and rejecting inconsistent measurements.
Data Source
AI summary
A system target location includes one or more sensors operable to determine a location of a target and generate a set of coordinates corresponding to the target. The system further includes a system controller operable to receive one or more sets of coordinates from the one or more sensors, generate a combined estimate of the target location, and validate that each of the sets of coordinates correspond to the same target.