Geolocation Calibration for Calibrating Radio Direction Finding System by Remote Control
AssigneeSouthwest Research Institute
InventorsSteven P. SAULNIER, Benjamin S. DAVIS, Patrick D. HANRAHAN, Mike J. HERRING
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mobile radio direction finding (RDF) calibrator, and a method of using it to calibrate an RDF system aboard a vehicle. The calibrator has a GPS (global positioning satellite) or other GNSS (global navigation satellite system) receiver, which permits the calibrator to make its location known to the calibration process of the RDF-equipped vehicle. During calibration, the calibration process controls the calibrator remotely. As the RDF-equipped vehicle moves in a circle, it collects calibration response data, as well as location data, so that the calibration response data can be mapped to the correct azimuth.
Claims14
A method of calibrating a radio direction finding (RDF) system carried by a vehicle, the vehicle programmed and/or having a human operator for performing an RDF calibration process, comprising:
- moving within radio communication distance of a mobile calibrator, the calibrator comprising a platform for carrying calibrator hardware, the calibrator hardware comprising at least a controller, a signal generator, a datalink, a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver, and associated antennas;
- delivering a request to initiate the calibration process to the calibrator;
- positioning the vehicle at a first azimuth position on a circle;
- receiving calibration signals and geolocation data from the calibrator;
- collecting calibration response data in response to the calibration signals;
- using the geolocation data to associate the calibration response data with the first azimuth position;
- incrementally repeating the positioning, receiving, collecting, and using steps for a series of azimuth positions as the vehicle travels in the circle;
- and
- compiling a calibration database representing response data for each azimuth position.
A mobile calibrator for calibrating a radio direction finding (RDF) system carried by a vehicle, the vehicle programmed and/or having a human operator for performing an RDF calibration process, comprising:
- a mobile platform;
- calibration hardware comprising at least a controller, a signal generator, a datalink, a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver, and associated antennas;
- wherein the controller is programmed to perform the following tasks:
- receive GNSS signals from the GNSS receiver, calculate the location of the platform based on the GNSS signals;
- receive a start time from the RDF calibration process;
- deliver calibration signals and location data to the RDF calibration process;
- and synchronize the delivery of the calibration signals and geolocation data to the start time, using GNSS timestamp data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.