Apparatus for measurement of vertical obstructions
OwnerMichael Franklin Abernathyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Accurate measurements of flight path obstructions are taken from a moving aerial platform. Platform position, including altitude, is combined with dynamic data including target distance and target elevation data to calculate obstruction height or altitude. An optical subsystem on the aerial platform images the obstructions and provides a video stream showing the obstructions. The video stream and aerial platform data are wirelessly communicated to a control terminal where an operator observes a presentation of obstructions and obstruction altitudes or heights. The operator can issue commands to the aerial platform.
Claims20
A system for updating an obstruction database wherein the obstruction database stores data comprising geospatial data concerning hazards to aviation, the system comprising:
- a mobile platform wherein the mobile platform measures a platform distance from the mobile platform to a target, wherein the mobile platform determines a platform altitude indicating an altitude of the mobile platform, wherein the mobile platform measures an elevation angle indicating an angle between horizontal and a line from the mobile platform to the target, and wherein the target is a hazard to aviation;
- an analysis module that accepts the platform distance, the platform altitude, and the elevation angle and calculates a target height;
- a presentation module that presents the target height or altitude to a user;
- and
- a database updating module that updates the obstruction database to record the target as a hazard to aviation, wherein an operator points a camera to the top and bottom of the target to obtain a respective elevation angle for measuring the height of the target.
A system for updating an obstruction database wherein the obstruction database stores data comprising geospatial data concerning a plurality of hazards to aviation, the system comprising:
- a mobile platform wherein the mobile platform measures a platform distance from the mobile platform to a target, wherein the mobile platform determines a platform altitude indicating an altitude of the mobile platform, wherein the mobile platform determines a platform location comprising a platform longitude and a platform latitude, and wherein the mobile platform measures an elevation angle indicating an angle between horizontal and a line from the mobile platform to the target;
- an analysis module that accepts the platform distance, the platform altitude, the platform location, and the elevation angle and calculates a target height;
- a presentation module that presents the target height or altitude to a user;
- and
- a database updating module that updates the obstruction database to record the target as a hazard to aviation, wherein an operator points a camera to the top and bottom of the target to obtain a respective elevation angle for measuring the height of the target.
A system for updating an obstruction database wherein the obstruction database stores data comprising geospatial data concerning a plurality of hazards to aviation, the system comprising:
- an mobile platform comprising a distance measuring module, an altitude determination module, an angle measuring module, and a three axis inertial measurement system, wherein the distance measuring module measures a platform distance from the mobile platform to a target, wherein the altitude determination module determines a platform altitude indicating an altitude of the mobile platform, wherein the three axis inertial measurement system determines the platform attitude, and wherein the angle measuring module measures an elevation angle indicating an angle between a platform reference vector and a line from the mobile platform to the target;
- an analysis module that accepts the platform distance, the platform altitude, the platform attitude, and the platform reference vector and calculates a target height;
- and
- a presentation module that presents the target height to a user, wherein an operator points a camera to the top and bottom of the target to obtain a respective elevation angle for measuring the height of the target.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.