Sensor-based guidance for rotorcraft
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsBrendan Blanton, Katherine Gresko, Deanna Dibernardi, Timothy Paul, Joseph Kenney, Robert Allen
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Abstract
Disclosed herein is a method that comprises acquiring one or more images of an off-board signal source using a camera onboard a rotorcraft. The off-board signal source comprises a beacon array, which comprises at least two beacons. The method also comprises processing, using an image processor, the one or more images of the beacon array to identify one or more coded signals that are propagated from the off-board signal sour. The method further comprises decoding the one or more coded signals to identify information for providing guidance to an operator of the rotorcraft.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- acquiring one or more images of an off-board signal source using a camera onboard a rotorcraft, the off-board signal source comprising a beacon array, the beacon array comprising at least two beacons;
- processing, using an image processor, the one or more images of the beacon array to identify one or more coded signals that are propagated from the off-board signal source, the one or more coded signals comprising directional information for the rotorcraft relative to a payload that is obstructed from view of an operator of the rotorcraft, the one or more coded signals inputted by a ground crew member assisting the operator of the rotorcraft in picking up the payload;
- decoding the one or more coded signals to identify the directional information for the operator of the rotorcraft:
- and
- providing the directional information to the operator of the rotorcraft.
A system, comprising:
- a rotorcraft;
- a camera onboard the rotorcraft;
- an image processor for processing images that the camera acquires;
- an off-board signal source, the off-board signal source comprising a beacon array, the beacon array comprising at least two beacons;
- and
- a controller, the controller configured to:
- acquire one or more images of the off-board signal source using the camera;
- process, using the image processor, the one or more images of the beacon array to identify one or more coded signals that are propagated from the off-board signal source, the one or more coded signals comprising directional information for the rotorcraft relative to a payload that is obstructed from view of an operator of the rotorcraft, the one or more coded signals inputted by a ground crew member assisting the operator of the rotorcraft in picking up the payload;
- decode, using the image processor, the one or more coded signals to identify the directional information for the operator of the rotorcraft;
- and
- provide the directional information to the operator of the rotorcraft.
An apparatus, comprising:
- an image capturing module configured to acquire one or more images of an off-board signal source using a camera onboard a rotorcraft, the off-board signal source comprising a beacon array, the beacon array comprising at least two beacons;
- an image processing module configured to process, using an image processor, the one or more images of the beacon array to identify one or more coded signals that are propagated from the off-board signal source, the one or more coded signals comprising directional information for the rotorcraft relative to a payload that is obstructed from view of an operator of the rotorcraft, the one or more coded signals inputted by a ground crew member assisting the operator of the rotorcraft in picking up the payload;
- a signal decoding module configured to decode, using the image processor, the one or more coded signals to identify the directional information for the operator of the rotorcraft;
- and
- a presentation module configured to provide the directional information to the operator of the rotorcraft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.