Telescope Array Celestial Navigation Drift Elimination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current orientation and navigation systems rely on external signals or exhibit drift over time, lacking a solution that does not depend on satellite reception and maintains accuracy without positional error accumulation.
Innovation Solution
A telescope array with multiple telescopes, rigidly connected at predetermined orientations, enables simultaneous imaging of predesignated celestial objects, using a positioning system and photodetectors to calculate orientation relative to the celestial sphere and nadir, allowing for independent navigation without external signals and minimizing drift.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current orientation and navigation systems use external signals or traditional methods, then they can provide positioning information, but they exhibit drift over time and accumulate positional errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical or signal-based navigation systems with an optical astronomy-based system. By using telescopes to observe celestial objects and calculate orientation through astronomical triangulation, the system eliminates drift accumulation inherent in mechanical gyroscopes and inertial systems, providing continuous accurate positioning without external signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the stable and predictable positions of celestial objects as a self-contained reference framework. By continuously observing celestial bodies and calculating orientation based on their known positions, the system serves itself as a reference, eliminating dependency on external satellite signals and preventing drift accumulation over time.
2Reliability
If a telescope array is used to determine orientation relative to celestial objects, then external signal independence is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation system is divided into multiple telescopes, each assigned to track specific celestial objects. This segmentation allows the system to achieve reliable external signal independence through distributed observation, while the modular structure manages complexity by assigning specific functions to individual telescope units rather than requiring a single complex system.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescope array serves multiple functions simultaneously: it determines orientation relative to the celestial sphere, calculates position on the planetary surface, and provides continuous navigation reference. This multi-functionality justifies the device complexity by consolidating multiple navigation capabilities into a single integrated astronomical observation system.
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 accurate and reliable orientation and positioning information, independent of external signals, by leveraging the stability of celestial object positions and the telescope array's alignment, reducing positional errors and maintaining accuracy over time.
Implementation Method 1
The probe particle is free to move within the evacuated volume (in response to a gravitational field)
Data Source
AI summary
Multiple telescopes of a telescope array are rigidly aligned at predetermined relative orientations to simultaneously image corresponding predesignated celestial objects. Detection of light from the celestial objects collected by the telescopes enables calculation or estimation of orientation of the telescope array with respect to the celestial sphere. That orientation, in combination with a planetary nadir direction, enables estimation or calculation of position of the telescope array relative to a planetary surface. The nadir can be measured by dropping a probe particle through an evacuated chamber onto or through a two-dimensional sensor.