Systems and methods for obtaining wind information
OwnerCharles Kirksey, Al Garciainventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for determining the wind force along the planned trajectory of a projectile are disclosed herein. A drone is flown along the expected path of the trajectory along a set heading. The drone is programmed to maintain the heading. As wind forces act upon the drone during its flight, the drone's electronic stability system provides automatic power and directional control to one or more motors that control the rotors and propellers that keep the drone aloft. By monitoring the changes in motor or drone state information over time in response to wind forces, the wind can be determined at various locations along the flight path. This information can be provided to a ballistics calculator to determine the launch heading of the projectile.
Claims14
A method for determining launch heading of an object at a launch location to reach a target, the method comprising:
- providing to a processor a range to the target and elevation to the target;
- flying a drone a first distance on a flight path from the launch location towards the target;
- obtaining drone state information, the drone state information comprising a measurement of electrical power supplied to each motor of the drone for at least two locations along the flight path;
- transmitting the drone state information to a processor programmed to correlate drone state information to wind data;
- calculating wind data from the drone state information, the wind data comprising a wind force vector for the at least two locations along the flight path;
- setting the launch heading of the object in response to the wind data;
- and
- launching the object.
A system for determining launch heading of an object to reach a target, the system comprising:
- a drone having an electronic speed control system and a first transceiver capable of transmitting information concerning the electronic speed control system;
- a second transceiver capable of receiving information concerning the electronic speed control system;
- a processor configured to execute instructions to process the information concerning the electronic speed control system to determine a wind speed and heading for at least two locations along an estimated flight path of the object, and further configured to execute instructions to determine the launch heading using the wind speed and headings for the at least two locations;
- and
- a display to output to a user the launch heading.
A method for obtaining wind data for use by a processor operating a ballistics calculator, wherein the ballistics calculator provides a launch heading for an object located at a launch location and aimed at a target, the method comprising:
- flying a drone a distance on a flight path from the launch location towards the target;
- obtaining drone state information, the drone state information comprising a measurement of electrical power supplied to each motor of the drone for at least two locations along the flight path;
- and
- transmitting the drone state information to a processor programmed to correlate drone state information to wind data;
- and
- transmitting wind data to the processor operating the ballistics calculator.
A method for obtaining wind data for use by a processor operating a ballistics calculator, wherein the ballistics calculator provides a launch heading for an object located at a launch location and aimed at a target, the method comprising:
- flying a drone a distance on a flight path from the launch location towards the target, wherein the drone comprises an inertial measurement unit;
- using the inertial measurement unit to measure an inertial change comprising either a change in linear acceleration or a change in angular acceleration of the drone;
- transmitting the inertial change to a processor programmed to calculate wind data from the inertial change;
- and
- transmitting wind data to the processor operating the ballistics calculator.
A method for determining launch heading of an object at a launch location to reach a target, the method comprising:
- providing to a processor programmed to operate a ballistics calculator a range to the target and elevation to the target;
- flying a drone a first distance on a flight path from the launch location towards the target, the drone comprising an inertial measurement unit;
- using the inertial measurement unit to measure an inertial change comprising either a change in linear acceleration or a change in angular acceleration of the drone for at least two locations along the flight path;
- transmitting the inertial changes to a processor programmed to correlate inertial changes to wind data;
- calculating wind data from the inertial changes, the wind data comprising a wind force vector for the at least two locations along the flight path;
- setting the launch heading of the object in response to the wind data;
- and
- launching the object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.