Other

Arete Associates

David C Campion

David M Kane

Matthew Michael Pohlman

Randall E Potter

John Charles Dennison

Nicholas Dwork

In certain aspects, this invention is a 'control system' that detects and minimizes (or otherwise optimizes) an angle between vehicle centerline (or other reference axis) and vehicle velocity vector&#x2014;as for JDAM penetration. Preferably detection is exclusively by optical flow (which herein encompasses sonic and other imaging), without data influence by navigation. In other aspects, the invention is a 'guidance system', with optical-flow subsystem to detect an angle between the vehicle velocity vector and line of sight to a destination&#x2014;either a desired or an undesired destination. Here, vehicle trajectory is adjusted in response to detected angle, for optimum angle, e.g. to either home in on a desired destination or avoid an undesired destination (or rendezvous), and follow a path that's ideal for the particular mission&#x2014;preferably by controlling an autopilot or applying information from navigation. Purposes include real-time angle optimization to improve autopilots or guidance, and vehicle development or testing.

Optical-flow techniques for improved terminal homing and control

Selected scene regions are imaged. I: mirrors (preferably MEMS) address an imaging sensor to regions. C: the mirrors direct radiation from a source to a calibration sensor, along an imaging-channel segment. Beam splitter(s) let the channels share optical path at the mirrors. To minimize imaging-channel diffractive blur, the calibration channel modifies wavefront angle and smoothness at the mirrors&#x2014;measuring (and setting mirrors to optimize) PSF sharpness, then applying these measurements (and settings) to optimize imaging-channel settings by iterative multidimensional gradient search. An afocal lens receives scene radiation, magnifying deflection at the scene. An FOR is imaged on the imaging sensor; the mirrors address the sensor to a narrow FOV within the FOR; the lens enlarges deflections to cover the FOR. Plural diffraction-grating orders communicate between calibration source and sensor when the selected region is in plural scene portions, regardless which FOV is addressed.

Refined optical system

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Agoura Hills, CA, United States of America

David C Campion