Abstract: The present application discloses an image resolution and transmission system in which a user can advantageously select one or more areas of interest to be captured and transmitted by a remote camera. Using a set of tools available on a computing device with a display, a user selects parameters such as location, shape and size of the area(s) of interest. Upon receiving one or more control signals, the remote camera transmits image data for the selected area(s) of interest at one or more optimal resolutions based on the available transmission bandwidth.

Abstract: In some examples, an auxiliary device for presenting images captured by a vehicle includes a display, a communication module configured to receive data signals from the vehicle, and processing circuitry configured to determine one or more images based on the data signals received from the vehicle and present, via the display, the one or more images. The auxiliary device also includes an input device configured to receive user inputs. The processing circuitry is further configured to determine a set of annotations to the one or more images based on the user inputs and cause the communication module to transmit the set of annotations to a primary device that remotely controls movements of the vehicle.

Abstract: An attitude estimator system is provided. The attitude estimator system includes a navigation system, a Kalman filter, and a form observations module. The navigation system receives input from a first accelerometer and gyroscope, a second accelerometer and gyroscope, and a third accelerometer and gyroscope. The form observations module receives input from at least one high performance accelerometer and/or gyroscope; forms and outputs at least one of velocity-derived observations and attitude-derived observations.

Abstract: A method to improve estimation and stabilization of heading in an inertial navigation system is provided. The method includes operating an inertial measurement unit oriented in a first orientation, forward-rotating the operational inertial measurement unit by a selected-rotation angle about a Z-body axis of the inertial navigation system, wherein the inertial measurement unit is oriented in a second orientation, operating the inertial measurement unit oriented in the second orientation, reverse-rotating the operational inertial measurement unit by the selected-rotation angle about the Z-body axis, wherein the inertial measurement unit is oriented in the first orientation, continuously receiving information indicative of an orientation of the inertial measurement unit at a rotational compensator, and continuously-rotationally compensating navigation module output at the rotational compensator, wherein output of the rotational compensator is independent of the rotating.

Abstract: A state is added to a Kalman filter to model GPS multipath errors. The multipath states may be modeled as either a random walk model or a Gauss-Markov process. The choice of the model depends on the characteristics of the multi-path error and the GPS receiver. Adding this state to the Kalman filter to model multipath improves the navigation system's robustness when operating as a deeply integrated system when multipath is present.

Abstract: An attitude estimator system is provided. The attitude estimator system includes a navigation system, a Kalman filter, and a form observations module. The navigation system receives input from a first accelerometer and gyroscope, a second accelerometer and gyroscope, and a third accelerometer and gyroscope. The form observations module receives input from at least one high performance accelerometer and/or gyroscope; forms and outputs at least one of velocity-derived observations and attitude-derived observations.

Abstract: A system comprises at least one inertial sensor operable to provide inertial sensor data during a trip; a processing unit coupled to the at least one inertial sensor, the processing unit operable to calculate navigation data based on the inertial sensor data and to estimate error in the inertial sensor data, wherein the processing unit is further operable to adjust subsequent inertial sensor data received during the trip from the at least one inertial sensor in order to compensate for the estimated error; and a memory coupled to the navigation unit and operable to store data between power cycles; wherein the processing unit is further operable to calculate a current trip error estimate from a plurality of error estimates during the trip and to estimate a repeatability error component based on the current trip error estimate and previous trip error estimates stored in the memory; wherein the repeatability error component is stored in the memory, the processing unit being further operable to update inertial sen

Abstract: A method to improve estimation and stabilization of heading in an inertial navigation system is provided. The method includes operating an inertial measurement unit oriented in a first orientation, forward-rotating the operational inertial measurement unit by a selected-rotation angle about a Z-body axis of the inertial navigation system, wherein the inertial measurement unit is oriented in a second orientation, operating the inertial measurement unit oriented in the second orientation, reverse-rotating the operational inertial measurement unit by the selected-rotation angle about the Z-body axis, wherein the inertial measurement unit is oriented in the first orientation, continuously receiving information indicative of an orientation of the inertial measurement unit at a rotational compensator, and continuously-rotationally compensating navigation module output at the rotational compensator, wherein output of the rotational compensator is independent of the rotating.

Abstract: A system comprises at least one inertial sensor operable to provide inertial sensor data during a trip; a processing unit coupled to the at least one inertial sensor, the processing unit operable to calculate navigation data based on the inertial sensor data and to estimate error in the inertial sensor data, wherein the processing unit is further operable to adjust subsequent inertial sensor data received during the trip from the at least one inertial sensor in order to compensate for the estimated error; and a memory coupled to the navigation unit and operable to store data between power cycles; wherein the processing unit is further operable to calculate a current trip error estimate from a plurality of error estimates during the trip and to estimate a repeatability error component based on the current trip error estimate and previous trip error estimates stored in the memory; wherein the repeatability error component is stored in the memory, the processing unit being further operable to update inertial sen

Abstract: A self-contained device and method provides that a first body or unit is held in, mounted on or otherwise place in a predetermined position relative to an orientation transfer device that determines its orientation and/or position. The orientation transfer device is mounted to, held in or by or otherwise placed in a predetermined position relative to a second body or unit and the second unit is moved to a position and/or orientation that is the same as that of the first body, or difference in position and/or orientation of the second body relative to the first body is determined, thereby establishing the orientation of the second body.

Abstract: A state is added to a Kalman filter to model GPS multipath errors. The multipath states may be modeled as either a random walk model or a Gauss-Markov process. The choice of the model depends on the characteristics of the multi-path error and the GPS receiver. Adding this state to the Kalman filter to model multipath improves the navigation system's robustness when operating as a deeply integrated system when multipath is present.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improved state estimates using filter algorithms are provided. In one embodiment, a method for navigating a vehicle comprises executing a filter algorithm having a state transition matrix that calculates an update to a state vector based on a state vector for a previous instance in time; receiving inertial measurement data from at least one inertial sensor; receiving data from at least one navigation aid; monitoring for the existence of one or more conditions based on a known error characteristic of the at least one inertial sensor; when the one or more conditions exist, calculating at least one element of the one or more elements of the state transition matrix based on the data from the at least one navigation aid; and when the one or more conditions do not exist, calculating the one or more elements of the state transition matrix based on inertial measurement data.

Abstract: A method of determining a location is provided. The method comprises placing a plurality of radio frequency (RF) tags within an area, mapping the placement of the plurality of RF tags within the area, detecting one or more of the plurality of RF tags in the area, and determining a location based in part on the mapping and on probability distributions associated with each of the one or more detected RF tags.

Abstract: A method for navigating an autonomous vehicle along a desired path is described. The method includes manually navigating the vehicle along the desired path, measuring an environment in the vicinity of the desired path, during the manual navigation, using at least one sensor affixed to the vehicle, storing the environmental measurements as a programmed path within the vehicle, and subsequently utilizing an algorithm, the stored environmental measurements, and additional environmental measurements, to navigate the vehicle along the programmed path.

Abstract: A method for locating at least one object in a restricted environment is disclosed. The method involves determining a measuring position with a navigation package, measuring a range between the at least one object and the measuring position, and establishing a location of the at least one object based upon the measuring position and the measured range.

Abstract: A navigation system includes an inertial navigation unit. The navigation system also includes a Kalman filter that generates corrective feedback for use by the inertial navigation unit. The Kalman filter generates the corrective feedback as a function of at least one of GPS/DGPS information, sensor information, user input, terrain correlation information, signal-of-opportunity information, and/or position information output by a motion classifier.

Abstract: A navigation system with resume logic and mode logic provides as an output an accurate navigation solution using multiple RF sensors. The resume logic determines which sensors are currently providing good data to the navigation system. The mode logic selects an operating mode of the navigation system and selects which data to use for calculating corrections to the navigation solution. The mode logic makes the selections based on the results of the resume logic. The resume logic continues to test data from the sensors. If a sensor that has previously provided erroneous data starts providing good data, the mode logic will automatically select that data for use in calculating the corrections to the navigation solution. The tracking of RF transmitters by the multiple RF sensors is controlled using a plurality of available inertial and non-inertial sensors.

Abstract: A system for providing connectivity to co-located instruments includes a processor for receiving and processing GPS data and IMU data, a GPS receiver antenna operable to supply the GPS data to the processor, and an IMU, co-located with the GPS receiver antenna, operable to provide the IMU data to the processor. A single cable is provided between the processor and co-located equipment and, by using filtering mechanisms, the single cable is operable to simultaneously supply DC power to the IMU and to transmit the GPS data and the IMU data to the processor.

Abstract: A navigation system includes an inertial measurement unit, a navigation computer, a GPS receiver, and a clock controller. The inertial measurement unit has a first clock and a first switch, the navigation computer has a second clock and a second switch, and the GPS receiver has a third clock. The clock controller controls the first and second switches. Accordingly, the inertial measurement unit, the navigation computer, and the GPS receiver may use their own clocks, or the inertial measurement unit and the navigation computer may use the second clock, or the inertial measurement unit, the navigation computer, and the GPS receiver may use the third clock.

Abstract: A GPS receiver acquires GPS data from at least one GPS satellite. A code offset and a frequency offset are determined based on the acquired GPS data. A change in GPS position of the GPS receiver during the determination of the code offset is determined, and a change in rate of the GPS receiver during the determination of the frequency offset is also determined. The code offset is updated based on the change in GPS position, and the frequency offset is updated based on the change in rate. The updated code offset and the updated frequency offset are handed over to a tracking function.