View-point guided weapon system and target designation method
AssigneeRosemont Aerospace Inc.
InventorsTodd A. Ell, Robert D. Rutkiewicz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A passive guidance system including a viewpoint capture system (VCS) including a first processor in communication with first memory and a first SWIR imager for creating a viewpoint image database having a plurality of images, at least one of the images having a target point. A weapon guidance module is in communication with the VCS and coupled to a weapon. The weapon guidance module includes a second processor in communication with second memory and a second SWIR imager for storing the viewpoint image database and correlating in-flight images from the second SWIR imager to provide guidance commands directing the weapon to the target point.
Claims20
A weapon guidance system for allowing a forward observer to use a target designator in advance of weapon launch comprising:
- a) a viewpoint capture system (VCS) including a first processor in communication with first memory and a first shortwave infrared (SWIR) imager for creating a viewpoint image database having a plurality of images, at least one of the images having a target point being indicated by the target designator;
- and
- b) a guidance module for coupling to a weapon including:
- i) second memory for storing the viewpoint image database;
- ii) a second shortwave infrared (SWIR) imager for creating in-flight images for storage in the second memory;
- and
- iii) a second processor in communication with the second memory for correlating the images in the viewpoint image database with the in-flight images to generate guidance commands directing the weapon to the target point.
A method for guiding a weapon comprising the steps of:
- creating a viewpoint image database by using an imaging system to capture a plurality of views of a target point at a plurality of focal lengths;
- downloading the viewpoint image database to a guidance module on the weapon;
- launching the weapon;
- and
- correlating in-flight weapon images from an on-board imaging system with the plurality of views in the viewpoint image database to determine guidance commands for the weapon to hit the target point.
A target designation system comprising:
- a viewpoint capture system (VCS) including a first processor in communication with first memory and a first shortwave infrared (SWIR) imager for creating a viewpoint image database having a plurality of images at a plurality of magnification levels, each image with a designated target pixel, wherein at least one of the images has a target point;
- and
- a weapon guidance module in communication with the VCS for coupling to a weapon, the weapon guidance module including a second processor in communication with second memory and a second shortwave infrared (SWIR) imager for storing the viewpoint image database and correlating in-flight images from the second SWIR imager to provide guidance commands directing the weapon to the target point.
A method for designating a target comprising the steps of:
- creating a viewpoint image database by using an imaging system to capture a plurality of views of a target point at a plurality of magnification settings;
- downloading the viewpoint image database to a weapon guidance module on a weapon before weapon launch;
- and
- automatically tagging an individual pixel within each view as the target point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.