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.
Claims19
A method for determining launch heading of an object at a launch location to reach a target, the method comprising:
- receiving at a processor information concerning operations of an electronic speed control system of a first drone, at a first location and a second location along an estimated flight path of the object;
- calculating a wind speed and heading for the at least two locations along the estimated flight path;
- and
- setting the launch heading of a launcher of the object based on the wind speed and heading for the first and second locations.
A method for determining launch heading of an object at a launch location to reach a target, the method comprising:
- receiving at a processor information concerning operations of a first electronic speed control system of a first drone at a first location and of a second electronic speed control system of a second drone at second location along an estimated flight path of the object;
- calculating a wind speed and heading for the at least two locations along the estimated flight path;
- and
- setting the launch heading of a launcher of the object based on the wind speed and heading for the first and second locations.
A system comprising for determining launch heading of an object to reach a target, the system comprising:
- at least one drone, each drone having an electronic speed control system;
- a processor configured to execute instructions to process information received from at least one electronic control system of at least one drone to determine a wind speed and a heading for at least two locations along an estimated flight path of the object;
- and
- a launcher configured to set a launch heading based on the wind speed and heading for the at least two locations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.