With Homing Means Patents (Class 114/21.3)
  • Patent number: 10281239
    Abstract: A method and a device for assisting aiming at a target, in particular for the purpose of improving the accuracy with which a projectile is guided towards said target by means of a laser beam. The method makes use of a camera serving to capture either a complete image of the environment, or else a selective image of said target in said environment. Thereafter, the method makes it possible to verify that said laser beam is indeed pointing at said target by displaying the point of contact of said laser beam in said environment on the image captured by said camera, and then to determine the accuracy with which said laser beam is indeed pointing at said target. As a function of said accuracy, launching of said projectile may either be confirmed or cancelled. This method also makes it possible to identify the code of said guide beam illuminating said target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventor: Nikolaus Boos
  • Patent number: 9541393
    Abstract: Example methods, apparatuses, or articles of manufacture are disclosed herein that may be utilized, in whole or in part, to facilitate or support one or more operations or techniques for reducing power consumption or error of a digital compass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher Brunner, Victor Kulik
  • Patent number: 9208447
    Abstract: A method for classifying unclassified vehicle tracks using real-time sensor data comprises acquiring a computer database of vehicle track characteristics data for known vehicle tracks; defining vehicle track signatures based on the vehicle track characteristics data; and generating a graph based on the vehicle track signatures, the graph having state nodes representative of distinguishing vehicle track characteristics defined in the vehicle track signatures and links between the state nodes representative of relationships between distinguishing vehicle track characteristics defined in the vehicle track signatures, said graph also having reporting nodes for classifying unknown vehicle tracks when sufficient distinguishing vehicle track characteristics have been observed. The method also comprises processing with the graph, using a processor, real-time sensor data corresponding to a first unclassified vehicle track until the first unclassified vehicle track is classified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Richard N. Pedersen, Mark E. Barbustiak
  • Patent number: 8502063
    Abstract: A lightweight, miniature torpedo has a contact and attachment assembly that is operable to hold the torpedo to a ship's hull in response to contact with the ship's hull, a chamber containing a plurality of flammable elements that are sequentially ignited and burn against the ship's hull at a combustion temperature that is higher than a melting temperature of the material of the ship's hull, and a propulsion and steering assembly that propels and directs the torpedo through water to the ship's hull. The torpedo is constructed with a size and weight that enables it to be carried by and launched from an unmanned aerial vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Louis David Rivoli
  • Patent number: 8275493
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for launching and recovering an unmanned, water-born vehicle (UWBV) from a mother ship. The UWBV mimics the behavior of dolphins and is positioned ahead of the ship in preparation for bow riding. The UWBV uses a guidance system to position and keep in the bow wave. A high-frequency (HF) sonar transceiver array aboard the ship computes and sends course corrections to maintain the UWBV within the bow wave. The frequency range of the HF array can be 100 kHz or higher due to the short distance between the ship and the UWBV. Accordingly, the HF array can have a small aperture allowing for accurate bearing resolution. Course corrections can be sent on a near-continuous basis such that changes in thrust and rudder angle can be minimized to allow for accurate control of the UWBV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Inventor: Anthony A. Ruffa
  • Patent number: 7576281
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for altering the course of a moving article and a method thereof comprising of a launching aircraft or surface craft to deploy said apparatus towards a moving article. The apparatus comprises of a driving mechanism (10), wherein said driving mechanism (10) further comprises of a plurality of sections such as a nose section (12), a propulsion section (14), a drag chute section (16) and a cutting section (18), and wherein said sections are integrally connected with one another in a tight and secure manner. The driving mechanism (10) is capable to be launched from an aircraft or a surface craft towards a target and wherein upon launch said driving mechanism (10) is capable of steering itself on its own towards its target and thereafter attaching itself to the target and wherein by using the drag chute section (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Singapore Technologies Dynamics Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Pao Chuen Lui, Saik Hay Fong, Hong Soon Tan, Tee Peng Toh
  • Patent number: 7503259
    Abstract: A system of cluster depth charges increases the probability of inflicting damage on an underwater target. In an embodiment, the cluster depth charges are within a housing, and have intelligent sensor, buoyancy, and tracking and homing systems. In another embodiment, the cluster depth charges have a gun attached to a buoyancy section. In another embodiment, the cluster depth charges have magnets so that the cluster depth charges can attach to the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Robert J. Howard
  • Patent number: 6910658
    Abstract: An anti-torpedo torpedo having laser homing head, the torpedo being launched from a parent vessel or platform which itself houses the expensive to replace, the bulky, or the high power consuming parts of the laser, said parts being optically connected to an optical projector in the homing head in the torpedo itself and to any parts of the laser not housed in the parent vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: BAE Systems PLC
    Inventors: David Hart, Robert L. Cooke
  • Patent number: 6674691
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for collecting ocean turbulence data without interference from the hydrodynamic effects of the vehicle. The ocean turbulence data collection system comprises an underwater vehicle, such as an unmanned underwater vehicle, at least one sensor for collecting the ocean turbulence data, and a stinger arrangement mounted to the nose portion of the vehicle for positioning the at least one sensor sufficiently forward of the nose portion of the vehicle to avoid interference from the hydrodynamic effects of the vehicle. The collection system is also provided with at least one accelerometer for compensating for motion not induced by turbulence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Daniel W. French, John J. Vaillancourt, Edward R. Levine, Rolf G. Lueck
  • Patent number: 6651004
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for directing a pursuing vehicle, such as a torpedo, on an intercept trajectory from a launching vehicle to a target vehicle with evasion capabilities. The guidance system bases a solution on vectors on a first Cartesian coordinate system. Evasive maneuvers for the target vehicle are based upon vectors on a second Cartesian coordinate system. The guidance system converts the evasive maneuver to the first coordinate system and then performs an iterative process using initial guidance parameter values to determine, upon convergence of the solutions, final guidance parameters for the target vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Joseph J. Perruzzi, Michael Dipaola, Edward J. Hillard
  • Patent number: 6622647
    Abstract: A noise cancellation system and method for use with a seeker head of a marine vessel are provided according to the invention. The seeker head employs one or more hydrophones that generate one or more output signals. The noise cancellation system includes a plurality of motion sensors. The plurality of motion sensors generate a plurality of noise signals based on a hydrodynamic flow noise caused by the marine vessel and acting on the marine vessel. The noise cancellation system further includes a processor receiving the plurality of noise signals and the one or more output signals and applying an active noise cancellation to the one or more output signals to substantially cancel out the flow noise. The active noise cancellation is based on the noise signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Inventor: Martin L. DePoy
  • Publication number: 20030005872
    Abstract: A noise cancellation system and method for use with a seeker head of a marine vessel are provided according to the invention. The seeker head employs one or more hydrophones that generate one or more output signals. The noise cancellation system includes a plurality of motion sensors. The plurality of motion sensors generate a plurality of noise signals based on a hydrodynamic flow noise caused by the marine vessel and acting on the marine vessel. The noise cancellation system further includes a processor receiving the plurality of noise signals and the one or more output signals and applying an active noise cancellation to the one or more output signals to substantially cancel out the flow noise. The active noise cancellation is based on the noise signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventor: Martin L. DePoy