Vehicle having antenna positioner adjusted for timing latency and associated methods
AssigneeL3Harris Technologies, Inc.
InventorsScott M. Lyon, Brent R. Mellor, Jr., Brian H. Rosenlof
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle includes a vehicle platform, an antenna, and an antenna positioner configured to position the antenna relative to the vehicle platform. An inertial navigation system (INS) is associated with the vehicle platform and configured to generate INS output data. An inertial measurement unit (IMU) is associated with the antenna positioner and configured to generate IMU output data having a timing latency difference relative to the INS output data. A controller may be configured to control the antenna positioner based upon the INS output data and the IMU output data adjusted for the timing latency therebetween.
Claims29
A vehicle comprising:
- a vehicle platform;
- an antenna;
- an antenna positioner configured to position the antenna relative to the vehicle platform when the vehicle is in motion;
- an inertial navigation system (INS) associated with the vehicle platform and configured to generate INS output data when the vehicle is in motion;
- an inertial measurement unit (IMU) associated with the antenna positioner and configured to generate IMU output data when the vehicle is in motion and having a dynamic timing latency difference relative to the INS output data when the vehicle is in motion;
- and
- a controller configured to control the antenna positioner when the vehicle is in motion based upon the INS output data and the IMU output data adjusted for the dynamic timing latency therebetween.
An antenna positioning system for a vehicle comprising a vehicle platform, an antenna positioner configured to position an antenna relative to the vehicle platform when the vehicle is in motion, and an inertial navigation system (INS) associated with the vehicle platform and configured to generate INS output data when the vehicle is in motion;
- the antenna positioning system comprising:
- an inertial measurement unit (IMU) associated with the antenna positioner and configured to generate IMU output data when the vehicle is in motion and having a dynamic timing latency difference relative to the INS output data;
- and
- a controller configured to control the antenna positioner when the vehicle is in motion based upon the INS output data and the IMU output data adjusted for the dynamic timing latency therebetween.
A laser pointing system for a vehicle platform comprising a pointing device configured to point a laser relative to the vehicle platform when the vehicle is in motion, and an inertial navigation system (INS) associated with the vehicle platform and configured to generate INS output data when the vehicle is in motion;
- the laser positioning system comprising:
- an inertial measurement unit (IMU) associated with the pointing device and configured to generate IMU output data when the vehicle is in motion and having a dynamic timing latency difference relative to the INS output data;
- and
- a controller configured to control the pointing device when the vehicle is in motion based upon the INS output data and the IMU output data adjusted for the dynamic timing latency therebetween.
A method for positioning an antenna for a vehicle comprising a vehicle platform, an antenna positioner configured to position the antenna relative to the vehicle platform when the vehicle is in motion, and an inertial navigation system (INS) associated with the vehicle platform and configured to generate INS output data when the vehicle is in motion;
- the method comprising:
- operating an inertial measurement unit (IMU) associated with the antenna positioner to generate IMU output data when the vehicle is in motion and having a dynamic timing latency difference relative to the INS output data;
- and
- operating a controller to control the antenna positioner when the vehicle is in motion based upon the INS output data and the IMU output data adjusted for the dynamic timing latency therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.