Precision geographic location system and method utilizing an image product
AssigneeLitel Instruments
InventorsRobert O. Hunter, Jr., Adlai H. Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of mapping a target region image to a referenced image includes steps of acquiring the target region image. The method also includes acquiring the referenced image overlapping the target region image. The method further includes determining a number of common subregions in an intersection of the referenced image and the target region image, determining offsets between the common subregions, computing a distortion map of the target region image over the intersection, and remapping the target region image to match the reference image. The method can be utilized in a Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and the target image can be a SAR image.
Claims21
A method of mapping a target region image to a reference image, the method comprising the steps:
- acquiring a target region image;
- acquiring the reference image overlapping said target region image;
- determining a number of common subregions in an intersection of the reference image and the target region image;
- determining the offsets between the common subregions;
- computing a distortion map of the target region image over the intersection;
- and
- remapping the target region image to match the reference image and generate a remapped target region image;
- and
- transmitting the remapped target region image to a system configured to at least one of monitor or control movement of an aerial platform using the remapped target region image.
The method of 1 where the aerial platform is one of a munition or a vehicle.
A method for improving targeting accuracy of a GPS guided munition:
- acquiring a firing station image;
- precisely locating firing emplacement locations using a remapped image;
- acquiring GPS locations of the firing emplacements;
- using the difference from the firing emplacement locations and the GPS locations to correct targeting and generate corrected targeting data;
- and
- at least one of:
- controlling movement of the GPS guided munition using the corrected targeting data;
- or
- transmitting the corrected targeting data to a system configured to control the movement of the GPS guided munition using the corrected targeting data.
A method of improving navigational position fix for an aerial platform comprising:
- acquiring a ground image using sensors embedded on the aerial platform;
- recording a GPS signal locating the ground image using a remapped image;
- locating the aerial platform using the ground image;
- correcting in situ navigational data of the aerial platform using information gained in location to generate corrected navigational data;
- and
- transmitting the corrected navigational data to a system configured to at least one of monitor or control movement of the aerial platform using the corrected navigational data.
The method of 18 where the aerial platform is a munition.
The method of 19 where the aerial platform is a cruise missile.
A method for precisely targeting a munition, comprising:
- acquiring a firing station image;
- locating firing emplacement locations using a remapped image technique;
- transmitting the firing emplacement locations to fire control;
- acquiring a target image;
- locating targets within the target image using the remapped image technique;
- transmitting the firing emplacement locations to fire control;
- and
- releasing munitions utilizing the firing emplacement locations, and the target locations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.