Patents by Inventor Todd Michael Aycock

Todd Michael Aycock has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10408918
    Abstract: In a method for determining orientation of an object, raw image data of the sky is recorded using a sky polarimeter. One or more of Stokes parameters (S0, S1, S2), degree of linear polarization (DoLP), and angle of polarization (AoP) are calculated from the image data to produce a set of processed images. Last known position and time data of the object are obtained, and a known Sun azimuth and elevation are calculated using the last known position and time data. Roll and pitch of the object are found, and the roll and pitch data are used to find a zenith in the processed images. The yaw/heading of the object is determined using the difference between a polarization angle at the zenith and a calculated Sun azimuth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Polaris Sensor Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Michael Aycock, David B. Chenault, Arthur Lompado, J. Larry Pezzaniti
  • Publication number: 20180259617
    Abstract: In a method for determining orientation of an object, raw image data of the sky is recorded using a sky polarimeter. One or more of Stokes parameters (S0, S1, S2), degree of linear polarization (DoLP), and angle of polarization (AoP) are calculated from the image data to produce a set of processed images. Last known position and time data of the object are obtained, and a known Sun azimuth and elevation are calculated using the last known position and time data. Roll and pitch of the object are found, and the roll and pitch data are used to find a zenith in the processed images. The yaw/heading of the object is determined using the difference between a polarization angle at the zenith and a calculated Sun azimuth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: Polaris Sensor Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Michael Aycock, David B. Chenault, Arthur Lompado, J. Larry Pezzaniti
  • Patent number: 9989625
    Abstract: A system for determining a new orientation and/or position of an object comprises a sky polarimeter configured to record image data of the sky, a signal processing unit, and logic configured to receive and store in memory the image data received from the sky polarimeter. The logic calculates the Stokes parameters (S0, S1, S2,), DoLP, and AoP from the image data, detects obscurants and filters the obscurants (such as clouds and trees) from the image data to produce a filtered image. The logic is further configured to find the Sun and zenith in the filtered image, and to determine the roll, pitch, yaw, latitude and longitude of the object using the filtered image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Polaris Sensor Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Michael Aycock, David B. Chenault, Arthur Lompado, J. Larry Pezzaniti
  • Publication number: 20170184700
    Abstract: A system for determining a new orientation and/or position of an object comprises a sky polarimeter configured to record image data of the sky, a signal processing unit, and logic configured to receive and store in memory the image data received from the sky polarimeter. The logic calculates the Stokes parameters (S0, S1, S2,), DoLP, and AoP from the image data, detects obscurants and filters the obscurants (such as clouds and trees) from the image data to produce a filtered image. The logic is further configured to find the Sun and zenith in the filtered image, and to determine the roll, pitch, yaw, latitude and longitude of the object using the filtered image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Applicant: Polaris Sensor Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Michael Aycock, David B. Chenault, Arthur Lompado, J. Larry Pezzaniti
  • Patent number: 9423484
    Abstract: A system for determining a new orientation and/or position of an object comprises a sky polarimeter configured to record image data of the sky, a signal processing unit, and logic configured to receive and store in memory the image data received from the sky polarimeter. The logic calculates the Stokes parameters (S0, S1, S2,), DoLP, and AoP from the image data, detects obscurants and filters the obscurants (such as clouds and trees) from the image data to produce a filtered image. The logic is further configured to find the Sun and zenith in the filtered image, and to determine the roll, pitch, yaw, latitude and longitude of the object using the filtered image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Polaris Sensor Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Michael Aycock, David Chenault, Arthur Lompado, J. Larry Pezzaniti
  • Publication number: 20150226827
    Abstract: A system for determining a new orientation and/or position of an object comprises a sky polarimeter configured to record image data of the sky, a signal processing unit, and logic configured to receive and store in memory the image data received from the sky polarimeter. The logic calculates the Stokes parameters (S0, S1, S2,), DoLP, and AoP from the image data, detects obscurants and filters the obscurants (such as clouds and trees) from the image data to produce a filtered image. The logic is further configured to find the Sun and zenith in the filtered image, and to determine the roll, pitch, yaw, latitude and longitude of the object using the filtered image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Applicant: Polaris Sensor Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Michael Aycock, David Chenault, Arthur Lompado, Larry J. Pezzaniti