With Map Matching Patents (Class 342/64)
  • Patent number: 11893776
    Abstract: An image recognition method and apparatus, a training method, an electronic device, and a storage medium are provided. The image recognition method includes: acquiring an image to be recognized, the image to be recognized including a target text; and determining text content of the target text based on knowledge information and image information of the image to be recognized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zhenzhong Zhang
  • Patent number: 11629975
    Abstract: A low visibility aid device includes a main body having a front end, a back end, a middle section and an interior space. A mounting bracket extends outward from the main body for securing the device onto a manned aircraft for use during flight. A sensor suite is positioned within the main body to capture flight data information including audiovisual information, altitude information, attitude information and heading information of the aircraft during flight. A control unit having a wireless communication unit is positioned within the main body and selectively transmits the flight data information to a user device. A power generation unit generates power for use by the system components during device operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Inventors: Ruben Leon, Ananda Leon
  • Patent number: 11574476
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a system and method to increase the speed of a computer determination whether a video contains a particular content. In some embodiments, the quantity of data in the video is first reduced while preserving the searched-for content. Optionally, first, the size of the data is reduced by reducing the resolution, for example resolution may be reduced without searching and/or processing the full data set. Additionally or alternatively, low quality and/or empty data is removed from the dataset. Additionally or alternatively, redundant data may be searched out and/or removed. Optionally, after data reduction, the reduced dataset is analyzed to determine if it contains the searched-for content. Optionally, an estimate is made of the probability of the full dataset containing the searched-for content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Inventor: Elyasaf Korenwaitz
  • Patent number: 11555703
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is provided. The method comprises determining a first value of a coefficient of an edge-determining algorithm in response to a spatial resolution of a first image acquired with an image capture device onboard a vehicle, a spatial resolution of a second image, and a second value of the coefficient in response to which the edge-determining algorithm generated a second edge map corresponding to the second image. The method further comprises determining, with the edge-determining algorithm in response to the coefficient having the first value, at least one edge of at least one object in the first image. The method further comprises generating, in response to the determined at least one edge, a first edge map corresponding to the first image. The method further comprises determining at least one navigation parameter of the vehicle in response to the first and second edge maps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Joseph Syrstad, Kevin Sweeney
  • Patent number: 11169258
    Abstract: Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are provided for registration of synthetic aperture range profile data to aid in SAR-based navigation. In one example, a SAR-based navigation system includes a memory comprising a plurality of executable instructions. The SAR-based navigation system further includes a processor adapted to receive range profile data associated with observed views of a scene, compare the range profile data to a template range profile data of the scene, and estimate registration parameters associated with the range profile data relative to the template range profile data to determine a deviation from the template range profile data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Shankar R. Rao, Kang-Yu Ni, Soheil Kolouri
  • Patent number: 10984355
    Abstract: When monitoring a workspace to determine whether scheduled tasks or chores are completed according to a predetermined schedule, a video monitoring system monitors a region of interest (ROI) to identify employee-generated signals representing completion of a scheduled task. An employee makes a mark or gesture in the ROI monitored by the video monitoring system and the system analyzes pixels in each captured frame of the ROI to identify an employee signal, map the signal to a corresponding scheduled task, update the task as having been completed upon receipt of the employee signal, and alert a manager of the facility as to whether the task has been completed or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael C. Mongeon, Robert Loce, Matthew Shreve
  • Patent number: 10969230
    Abstract: An information processing device includes a display configured to display a mesh of mesh information based on longitude and latitude. A mesh is composed of a plurality of blocks. The mesh information includes area information about a traveling area where a moving body can travel. The area information is the additional information added to each of the plurality of blocks. The additional information is the display information that is weighted and sorted, based on the number of overlapping points of the plurality of locus logs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: MICWARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Ito, Michihiro Nishida
  • Patent number: 10746876
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the determination of a plurality of distinct echo pulses originating from the same emitted signal train of an active 3D sensor in order to provide distance measurements of the surroundings in front of the 3D sensor, whereas the signal train received by the 3D sensor is subjected to a predefined trigger condition, so that only those peaks of the signal train that fulfill the predefined trigger condition are taken into account in the determination of the distinct echo pulses, According to the invention for the determination of the distinct echo pulses, at least two different trigger conditions are applied simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Hendoldt Sensors GmbH
    Inventors: Patrick Kramper, Thomas Muensterer
  • Patent number: 10684619
    Abstract: A notification method includes determining, on the basis of positional information regarding a drone and positional information regarding a plurality of terminals carried by an operator who visually observes and operates the drone and one or more visual observers who visually observe the drone, at least either responsible observation areas, which are areas in which the operator and the one or more visual observers are to visually observe the drone, or responsible observation periods, which are periods for which the operator and the one or more visual observers are to visually observe the drone, and notifying the plurality of terminals of at least either the responsible observation areas or the responsible observation periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventor: Shunsuke Kuhara
  • Patent number: 10599142
    Abstract: An HMD includes an image display section worn on a head of a user, an HMD communication section configured to receive a captured image transmitted by a vehicle, a position estimating section configured to estimate a position of the vehicle in a real space on the basis of the captured image received by the HMD communication section, and a display control section configured to cause the image display section to display the captured image received by the HMD communication section and information concerning the position of the vehicle estimated by the position estimating section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichi Kobayashi, Masahide Takano
  • Patent number: 10586406
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an autonomous vehicle and methods of operating an autonomous vehicle. A sensor for the autonomous vehicle generates sensor data for a current location of the autonomous vehicle. A positioning system generates data for identifying the current location of the vehicle. A computing system of the autonomous vehicle identifies a portion of a roadway model which corresponds to the current location of the vehicle. The roadway model has a level of detail suitable for autonomous operation. The computing system identifies whether a discrepancy is present between the identified portion of the roadway model and the sensor data. When the computing system identifies the discrepancy, the computing system communicates data which corresponds to the discrepancy to a roadway model management system configured to update the roadway model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: USHR INC.
    Inventors: Alastair Nigel Jenkins, Richard James Pollock
  • Patent number: 10565715
    Abstract: A method for estimating the motion of a carrier with respect to an environment in relation to which the carrier is moving. The carrier bearing a navigation sensor and a vision sensor producing images of the environment. In the images acquired by the vision sensor, the characteristic elements of the images representing characteristic elements of the environment are identified. At least one condensed measurement is calculated as a function of characteristic elements of at least two images acquired at different instants. The motion of the carrier by a navigation filter is estimated, as a function of navigation measurements carried out and as a function of the condensed measurement. The condensed measurement is calculated as a function furthermore of a priori estimation of the motion, as provided by the navigation filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventor: Bernard Polle
  • Patent number: 10535144
    Abstract: A method for multi-sensor fusion using a projective particle filter includes measuring, using a plurality of sensors, data related to one or more objects. A higher dimensional state space may be sampled using particle data. Particle data may be projected onto an observation space to extract measurement data. The measurement data are combined to infer higher-dimensional information. The higher dimensional state space includes presumed information related to one or more states associated with the one or more objects. The higher-dimensional information includes estimated information related to one or more states associated with the one or more objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Nima Moshtagh, Paul Martin Romberg, Moses W. Chan
  • Patent number: 10489663
    Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to identifying changes between models of a locality. In one embodiment, a method includes, in response to determining that a location model is available for a present environment of a vehicle, generating a current model of the present environment using at least one sensor of the vehicle. The method also includes isolating dynamic objects in the current model as a function of the location model. The method includes providing the dynamic objects to be identified and labeled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin B. Olson, Michael R. James, Ryan M. Eustice, Ryan W. Wolcott
  • Patent number: 10444398
    Abstract: A method of processing 3D sensor data to provide terrain segmentation involves processing the 3D data so as to analyze the positions of sets returns from the terrain in the horizontal plane. Returns from an idealized flat terrain form a series of scanlines in the horizontal plane. A return having a significant displacement in the horizontal plane in comparison to other returns in the same scan line is classified as a non-ground return corresponding to an elevated object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Hensoldt Sensors GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Muensterer, Patrick Kramper
  • Patent number: 10412395
    Abstract: A sensor data processing apparatus can be coupled to multiple image sensors of different types. The apparatus determines a geolocation of areas imaged in each frame or pixel based on sensor geolocation information and encodes the geolocation information in metadata space of the corresponding frame. The apparatus is configured to align edges and/or corners of the frame with edges or corners of adjacent frames based on the geolocation information to stitch together a mosaic or panoramic image without overlapping frames. The apparatus can be figured to stitch together image frame in real time without performing feature registration and without resampling frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Carl A. Woody, Tyler Layne Hook
  • Patent number: 10249267
    Abstract: The general field of the invention is that of the graphical representation of a synthetic three-dimensional view of the exterior landscape in an on-board visualization system for aircraft, said graphical representation being displayed on a visualization screen comprising the piloting and navigation information of said aircraft superposed onto said three-dimensional synthetic representation of the exterior landscape, said synthetic representation being computed up to a first determined distance, characterized in that said three-dimensional synthetic representation is tilted at a tilt angle about an axis positioned at the level of the terrain in a substantially horizontal plane, and substantially perpendicularly to an axis between the flight direction and the heading of the aircraft, said axis moving with the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Norbert Frestel, Emmanuel Monvoisin, Pierre Mariani, Johanna Lux
  • Patent number: 10114106
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a radar system with auto-alignment suitable for use in an automated vehicle is provided. The system includes a radar-sensor, a speed-sensor, and a controller. The radar-sensor is used to detect objects present in a field-of-view proximate to a host-vehicle on which the radar-sensor is mounted. The radar-sensor is operable to determine a measured-range-rate (dRm), a measured-azimuth-angle (Am), and a measured-elevation-angle (Em) to each of at least three objects present in the field-of-view. The speed-sensor is used to determine a measured-speed (Sm) of the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the radar-sensor and the speed-sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jan K. Schiffmann, Yu Liu, David A. Schwartz, Xumin Zhu
  • Patent number: 9946939
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided for determining the geographic location of an end-user device (e.g., vehicle, mobile phone, smart watch, etc.). An end-user device may collect a depth map at a location in a path network. Feature geometries may be obtained from a fingerprint database in proximity to the location in the path network. The depth map may be oriented with the feature geometries of the fingerprint. Control points from an extracted feature geometry in the depth map may be compared with control points within the fingerprint. Match rates may be calculated based on the comparison, and a geographic location of the end-user device may be determined when an overall match rate exceeds a minimum threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Leo Modica, Leon Stenneth
  • Patent number: 9903719
    Abstract: Systems and methods relating to assessing a navigation subsystem are provided. One method includes: acquiring a ground image associated with a nominal position; assigning one or more texture classes to each of a plurality of pixels of the ground image; partitioning the processed ground image into a plurality of ground image sub regions; retrieving a reference image from an atlas of reference images; generating a plurality of matching statistics comprising a matching statistic for each ground image sub region by comparing the ground image sub region to a portion of the reference image; calculating a calculated position of the ground image and an uncertainty associated with the calculated position based on the matching statistics; and determining critique data associated with the navigation subsystem based on a comparison of the calculated position of the ground image with at least one position determined by the navigation subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Litel Instruments
    Inventors: Robert O. Hunter, Jr., Adlai H. Smith
  • Patent number: 9875445
    Abstract: Technologies for analyzing temporal components of multimodal data to detect short-term multimodal events, determine relationships between short-term multimodal events, and recognize long-term multimodal events, using a deep learning architecture, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Mohamed R. Amer, Behjat Siddiquie, Ajay Divakaran, Colleen Richey, Saad Khan, Hapreet S. Sawhney, Timothy J. Shields
  • Patent number: 9857179
    Abstract: One example includes an inertial navigation system (INS). The INS includes a navigation controller configured to generate inertial data associated with motion of a vehicle based on at least one navigation sensor configured on the vehicle and based on magnetic anomaly data. The INS also includes a magnetic anomaly INS-aiding system comprising a plurality of magnetometers distributed in a respective plurality of locations on the vehicle. The magnetic anomaly INS-aiding system can be configured to generate the magnetic anomaly data based on magnetic field measurements of a fixed magnetic anomaly at each of the plurality of magnetometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Larsen, Michael D. Bulatowicz, A. Douglas Meyer, Dennis P. Bevan
  • Patent number: 9810770
    Abstract: A method of selectively displaying an image representative of a weather condition in relation to an aircraft includes selecting, on a display screen, a display area to display weather data based on the location of the aircraft, selecting a weather condition to display from among a plurality of weather conditions, determining if any weather conditions are available to be displayed outside the selected display area and if the weather conditions should be displayed outside the selected display area based on the location of the aircraft and the severity of the non-selected weather conditions, receiving, from a weather data source, weather data representative of the selected weather condition with respect to the selected display area, and receiving weather data representative of weather conditions that should be displayed outside the selected display area, the weather data including location data for the weather conditions, and displaying the image representative of the selected weather condition within the select
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: ROCKWELL COLLINS, INC.
    Inventors: Shimon Weichbrod, David Graves
  • Patent number: 9805285
    Abstract: Provided is a state estimation apparatus that enables more accurate and robust detection and tracking of an object by obtaining a plurality of sets of observation data for a tracking target object and estimating the internal state of the object using a plurality of likelihoods calculated from the obtained sets of observation data. The state estimation apparatus obtains first observation data and second observation data, each of which is composed of a plurality of pieces of observation data, and obtains possibility measurement data and necessity measurement data from the obtained plurality of pieces of observation data. In the state estimation apparatus, a likelihood obtaining unit obtains a first likelihood wp and a second likelihood wn from the possibility measurement data and the necessity measurement data. Using the obtained first likelihood wp and second likelihood wn enables the internal state of the object to be estimated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignees: MegaChips Corporation, Kyushu Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Norikazu Ikoma, Hiromu Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 9778044
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for mapping irregular features. In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method may include obtaining tracking data that has dead reckoning tracking data for a tracked subject along a path and performing shape correction on the tracking data to provide a first estimate of the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: TRX SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Amrit Bandyopadhyay, Brian Beisel, John Karvounis, Benjamin Funk, Carole Teolis, Christopher Giles
  • Patent number: 9589355
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided for determining the geographic location of an end-user device (e.g., vehicle, mobile phone, smart watch, etc.). An end-user device may collect a depth map at a location in a path network. Feature geometries may be obtained from a fingerprint database in proximity to the location in the path network. The depth map may be oriented with the feature geometries of the fingerprint. Control points from an extracted feature geometry in the depth map may be compared with control points within the fingerprint. Match rates may be calculated based on the comparison, and a geographic location of the end-user device may be determined when an overall match rate exceeds a minimum threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Leo Modica, Leon Stenneth
  • Patent number: 9557181
    Abstract: A vehicle navigation system has a processing device. The processing device receives entries in a first data structure that are generated and are respectively associated with one tile of a tiling. The processing device may compare a three-dimensional terrain on the respective tile with at least one pre-defined tile pattern. Either an identifier for a pre-defined tile pattern or data describing the terrain on the respective tile may be stored by the processing device in the entry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: HARMAN BECKER AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Vladimir Ivanov, Martin Fischer, Carsten-Christian Spindler, Simon Schütz
  • Patent number: 9441973
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for mapping irregular features. In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method may include obtaining tracking data that has dead reckoning tracking data for a tracked subject along a path and performing shape correction on the tracking data to provide a first estimate of the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: TRX Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Amrit Bandyopadhyay, Brian Beisel, John Karvounis, Benjamin Funk, Carole Teolis, Christopher Giles
  • Patent number: 9404754
    Abstract: AROTAN provides for autonomous terrain aided navigation that is fully independent of the position uncertainty of the vehicle during flight. AROTAN aligns a grid to the search space and periodically updates the search space during the measurement history to account for growth in position uncertainty. AROTAN computes terrain sufficiency statistics for a moving history to provide robust criteria for when to perform the correlation. A post-correlation refinement provides an additional correction of the horizontal position error and a correction of the altitude. AROTAN can quickly provide the vehicle's location based on the correlation from a single measurement history.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Thomas Lee Caylor, James Thomas Landon, George Jeffrey Geier
  • Patent number: 9329001
    Abstract: A small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) is used for remotely detecting concealed explosive devices—such as buried or otherwise hidden improvised explosive devices (IED)—and exploding or disarming the device while an operator of the sUAS, or other personnel, remain at a safe distance. The sUAS system can be operated at an extended, e.g., greater than 100 meters, standoff from the detection apparatus, explosive, and potential harm and may be operated by a single member of an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team. The sUAS may be implemented as an easy-to-operate, small vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft with a set of optical, thermal, and chemical detection modules for detecting an IED by aerial surveillance, confirming the existence of explosives, and providing options for detonating the IED electrically or by delivery of a payload (e.g., object or device) to neutralize the IED while maintaining the sUAS itself safe from harm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Inventor: Farrok Mohamadi
  • Patent number: 9081093
    Abstract: A method and apparatus (1) for processing SAR imagery data, comprising: determining variance ratio data from the SAR imagery data; and processing, for use in change detection, the determined variance ratios data by making use of the F-distribution. The method may further comprise selecting a desired false alarm rate; and wherein making use of the F-distribution comprises determining a change detection threshold for the determined variance ratios data that is dependent upon the F-distribution and the desired false alarm rate. Another possibility is that making use of the F-distribution comprises using the F-distribution to determine probabilities for the determined variance ratios data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventor: Christopher Jon Willis
  • Patent number: 8977491
    Abstract: An apparatus for use with a weather radar system having a radar antenna, the apparatus for mounting to an aircraft and for verifying terrain features shown on an electronic display, the terrain features based on terrain data from a terrain database. The apparatus includes processing electronics configured to receive radar return data from the weather radar system and configured to correlate the radar return data with the terrain data. The processing electronics using the correlation to provide an indication as to whether the terrain features displayed on the electronic display are correct or incorrect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick D. McCusker, Daniel L. Woodell, Richard D. Jinkins, Richard M. Rademaker
  • Patent number: 8786467
    Abstract: A method and a system for displaying an airport or runway moving map with traffic information on a display screen in the cockpit or flight deck of an aircraft. Symbology representing surface and near-surface aircraft and surface vehicle traffic and associated traffic data are filtered to prevent or limit clutter on the display screen. Traffic symbology is automatically and manually filtered to display only relevant traffic. Traffic data is selectively displayed and displayed as/when relevant or needed. The displayed traffic information may be derived from automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast, traffic information system-broadcast, automatic dependent surveillance-rebroadcast, traffic collision avoidance system or other source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Samuel T. Clark, Roglenda R. Bowe, Stephen Bernard Ortman, Jean Marie Crane
  • Patent number: 8788128
    Abstract: In the examples described the forward-looking radar generated real-time terrain model (or in an alternative example in combination with a terrain database), can allow the use of a radio altimeter to compute aircraft vertical position relative to the runway threshold. Such a system typically provides improved accuracy for precision landings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick D. McCusker
  • Patent number: 8682507
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and system for improving real-time determination of flight parameters of an aircraft during flight. A selection module selects and delivers measured values of input parameters to an estimation unit, and the estimation unit uses the input parameters to estimate at least two selected flight parameters. The input parameters are received by the estimation unit on the basis of identified flight mechanics equations associated with the selected flight parameters. The estimation unit includes an extended Kalman filter, which is configured to receive the values of the input parameters and to output joint estimations of the selected flight parameters based on the flight mechanics equations, during the flight of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignees: Airbus Operations SAS, Onera (Office National d'etudes et de Recherches Aerospatiales)
    Inventors: Pierre Ezerzere, Cedric Seren, Georges Hardier
  • Patent number: 8659469
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a movable information collection apparatus capable of grasping the current situation in a timely fashion. Also, an object of the present invention is to provide a geographical monitoring system capable of utilizing the movable information collection apparatus. The movable information collection apparatus includes an observation data collection antenna system that receives observation data obtained by observing an observation target area from the air, a geographic information database that stores previously acquired geographic information in the observation target area, an evaluation calculation unit that calculates and outputs a difference between the observation data and the previously acquired geographic information, the observation data collection antenna system, the geographic information database, and the evaluation calculation unit being mounted on a movable pedestal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Pasco Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuo Fukunaga, Akio Oniyama, Hiroyuki Okada, Shuhei Hikosaka, Yuzuru Matsui
  • Patent number: 8583360
    Abstract: A navigation system determines its usage mode. In some embodiments, a method comprises determining a usage mode of a navigation system based on at least one of an acceleration indicator, a speed indicator, and a magnet sensor. The usage mode is at least one of a pedestrian mode, a vehicular mode, an aerial mode, a train mode, and a marine mode. The method further comprises configuring a navigation subsystem based on the usage mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Deric W. Waters, Tarkesh Pande
  • Patent number: 8577608
    Abstract: A method essentially comprising a step of storing each plot mesh. Each plot mesh receiving plots sent thereto by detector means and retaining in memory at least the altitude of the highest plot and the number of plots neighboring said highest plot in said mesh. The altitude and the number of plots neighboring are updated each time a new plot is sent to the plot mesh. A step of rejecting plot meshes is presenting a number of neighboring plots that is less than a predetermined rejection threshold value. The rejection threshold value is a function of the position of the mesh relative to the detector means. A step is preparing the local terrain elevation database from the plot meshes (M(i,j)) that are not rejected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Eurocopter
    Inventors: Marianne Gillet, Francois-Xavier Filias, Richard Pire
  • Patent number: 8569669
    Abstract: A SAR image recorded by a reconnaissance system is transferred as a reference edge image together with the data of the trajectory as a reference. The signal of the infrared seeker head of the missile is converted into a virtual SAR edge image and compared to the SAR reference image to calculate the precise position of the missile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: LFK-Lenkflugkoerpersysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Holicki, Nikolaus Schweyer, Juergen Zoz
  • Patent number: 8560280
    Abstract: A method for calculating a navigation phase for a carrier, in a navigation system involving terrain correlation, includes determining a navigability map in which each point of interest of an onboard map is associated with a navigability score. The method is applicable to all terrain aided navigation techniques, and allows the consideration of the quality of the onboard maps and terrain sensors used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Christian Louis, Sébastien Reynaud
  • Patent number: 8355868
    Abstract: A method and system for a multi-spectrum celestial navigation system includes a first sensor responsive to at least a first and a second wavelength band of electromagnetic radiation. The sensor is configured to generate a first output related to the first wavelength band of electromagnetic radiation and to generate a second output related to the second wavelength band of electromagnetic radiation. The system also includes a processor programmed to receive the first and second outputs, determine a position of the sensor with respect to one or more stars using a stored star catalog and the received first and second outputs, and output the determined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC
    Inventor: Terrell Michael Brace
  • Patent number: 8321070
    Abstract: In order to target and intercept a desired object within a number of objects detected in an environment, detection data is received from two different sensors, where the detection data includes spatial coordinates. A set of four-point subsets (tetrahedra) are selected from each set of spatial coordinates. A number of correlation maps are determined between the first set of spatial coordinates and the second set of spatial coordinates based on the plurality of four-point subsets. The mean sphericity for each corresponding plurality of four-point subsets in the plurality of correlation maps is determined, and a threat object map based on the correlation map having the greatest mean sphericity is created. The desired object is targeted based on the correlation map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Steven J. Manson
  • Patent number: 8279108
    Abstract: The general field of the invention is that of viewing systems of the synthetic vision type SVS, for a first aircraft, the said system comprising at least one cartographic database of a terrain, position sensors, for the said aircraft, an air traffic detection system calculating the position and the danger rating of at least one second aircraft exhibiting a risk of collision with the said first aircraft on the basis of data originating from sensors or systems such as TCAS or ADS-B, an electronic computer, a man-machine interface means and a display screen, the computer comprising means for processing the various items of information originating from the database, sensors and interface means, the said processing means arranged so as to provide the display screen with a synthetic image of the terrain comprising a representation of the said second aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Christian Nouvel, Corinne Bacabara, Jean-Noel Perbet
  • Patent number: 8212714
    Abstract: A yaw angle error of a motion measurement system carried on an aircraft for navigation is estimated from Doppler radar images captured using the aircraft. At least two radar pulses aimed at respectively different physical locations in a targeted area are transmitted from a radar antenna carried on the aircraft. At least two Doppler radar images that respectively correspond to the at least two transmitted radar pulses are produced. These images are used to produce an estimate of the yaw angle error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Armin W. Doerry, Jay D. Jordan, Theodore J. Kim
  • Patent number: 8212711
    Abstract: A method for determining a corrected UAV trajectory for a UAV having an on-board synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and a programmed trajectory includes the SAR obtaining observed radar range profile curves associated with point scatterers; calculating an error objective function based on the observed radar range profile curves to obtain a perturbation path; and applying the perturbation path to the programmed trajectory to obtain the corrected UAV trajectory input back into the SAR. Optimal parameter values applied to the UAV motion model then constitute an improved estimate of the UAV trajectory. A system for computing the corrected UAV trajectory also includes an on-board UAV inertial navigation system and an on-board processor having a machine-readable storage media capable for storing the software instructions for applying the subject algorithm via the processor that then applies the corrected trajectory to the SAR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Abraham Schultz, Feng-Ling C Lin
  • Patent number: 8138960
    Abstract: A map information update support device includes a communication interface unit that acquires plural items of radar image data of the same observation area acquired at different times, respectively, a registration processing unit that registrates the plural items of radar image data with respect to one another, a characteristic value calculation unit that calculates a characteristic value representing a state of a surface of the earth in the observation area using the items of radar image data after the registration process, a feature changed area extraction unit that extracts a feature changed area based on the characteristic value, a road change candidate area extraction unit that synthesizes the feature changed area with map information of the observation area and extracts a road change candidate area that is a candidate of a road changed portion, and an output unit that outputs the map information synthesized with the road change candidate area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Pasco Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Nonaka, Takashi Shibayama, Susumu Takagishi, Tadashi Sasakawa
  • Patent number: 8005612
    Abstract: A map distribution system includes a map distribution server that distributes map data to a navigation device. The server includes a first table having entries that each include update data in correspondence with an ID for the update data and an ID for each other update data upon which the update data depends, a second table having entries that each include an area ID of an area of the map data in correspondence with a version of the area and the ID for each update data that is applied in the version of the area, and an update manager that refers to the second table to select the ID for each update data required for updating an area selected based on input from the navigation device and the required ID for each other update data upon which any update data required for updating the area selected depends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akinori Asahara, Kenji Naka, Michio Morioka, Hirokazu Inayoshi
  • Patent number: 7899598
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a surface-modifying machine, wherein information on the desired condition and on the actual condition of ground to be prepared is provided and is used to derive control statements for the machine based on a comparison of the desired and the actual condition. The information on the actual condition is represented by a point cloud as a spatial distribution of discrete surface points. In order to derive control statements, at least two surface points each from the point cloud are used for every horizontal position so that non-differentiated information can be derived that for example also allow to identify various planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Clement Woon, Peter A. Stegmaier, Klaus Schneider, Martin Nix
  • Patent number: 7818115
    Abstract: A navigation solution of a navigation system with a Terrain Navigation Module is determined by a procedure including determining a supported position solution and the relative covered path between two height measurements, ascertaining a quality of each active supported position from each active supported position by way of a first quality function, and creating a search area and predetermined positions for each position inside the search area and each relatively stored covered path. The procedure further includes ascertaining a quality of each relatively stored terrain height measurement, and a quality of each reference height, and determining the quality of the position support by a function of all minimum probabilities of all used positions in the search area and supporting the navigation solution ascertained in the Strap Down Module by the navigation filter with the aid of the determined position support and the determined quality of the position support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Kreutz, Juergen Metzger, Bernd Taddiken
  • Patent number: 7791529
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining an estimated speed of an aircraft relative to ground being overflown by the aircraft, in which use is made of the sum of an acceleration measurement of the aircraft plus a difference value, the difference value being obtained from observation data or signals relating to a region of the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Eurocopter
    Inventors: François Xavier Filias, Jean-Paul Petillon, Richard Pire