Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for determining remote object orientation and position with an electromagnetic coupling. A plurality of radiating antennas are provided for radiating electromagnetic energy. Each of the radiating antennas have independent components for defining a source reference coordinate frame. A transmitter is provided for applying electrical signals to the radiating antennas for generating a plurality of electromagnetic fields. The signals are multiplexed so that the fields are distinguishable from one another. A plurality of receiving antennas are disposed on a remote object for receiving the transmitted electromagnetic fields. The receiving antennas have a plurality of independent components for detecting the transmitted electromagnetic fields and defining a sensor reference coordinate frame.

Abstract: Two spaced bodies, each including at least two independently oriented radiating antennas, are in communication with each other by such means as an electromagnetic field. The first body receives radiation transmitted from the second body and establishes the pointing angles to the second body with respect to the first body coordinate reference frame. The field received by the first body can include information defining the second body's pointing angles to the first body with respect to the second body's coordinate reference frame and the relative roll about their mutually aligned pointing axis. These pointing angles and relative roll are sufficient for determining the orientation of the first body relative to the second body. The second body receives radiation transmitted from the first body and establishes the pointing angles to the first body with respect to the second body.

Abstract: A field (e.g., a magnetic field) which nutates about a pointing vector is used to both track or locate an object in addition to determining the relative orientation of this object. Apparatus for generating such a field includes mutually orthogonal coils and circuitry for supplying an unmodulated carrier, hereafter called DC signal, to one coil and an AC modulated carrier signal, hereafter called AC signal, to at least one (usually two) other coil, such that the maximum intensity vector of a magnetic field produced by the currents in the coils nutates about a mean axis called the pointing vector direction of the field.

Abstract: An electromagnetic field which nutates about a pointing vector is used to both track or locate a remote object in addition to determining the relative orientation of the object. Apparatus for generating such a field includes mutually orthogonal dipole radiators, defining a reference coordinate frame, and circuitry for supplying excitations, such that the maximum intensity vector of a vector field produced by these excitations in the radiators nutates about a mean axis or axis of nutation which is called the pointing vector direction of the field. A pointing coordinate frame has the x-axis coincident with the pointing vector and the y-axis in the x-y plane of the reference frame. Mutually orthogonal sensors at the object sense the field and establish a sense coordinate frame, which can be coincident with the coordinate frame of the remote body.