Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd.

Haim Somech

Ohad Rozenberg

A computer-implemented method of controlling an aircraft during autonomous landing. The method includes using a computer for performing the following: applying image processing on an image captured by a camera on board the aircraft while approaching a runway for identifying in the image a touchdown point (TDP) of the runway; calculating a deviation, in image parameters, of the TDP relative to the center of the image; converting the deviation in image parameters to angular and distance deviation values based on predefined ratios; calculating an offset of the aircraft's position relative to a landing corridor ending at the identified TDP based on the calculated angular and distance deviation; and transmitting the calculated offset to an aircraft control system configured to provide instructions for controlling the aircraft; wherein the offset is used for controlling the aircraft for guiding the aircraft towards the landing corridor to enable landing.

Image sensor based autonomous landing

The presently disclosed subject matter includes a camera system for aerial photography applications which can be mounted on an aircraft and be operated for obtaining images of a surveyed area. The proposed camera system comprises a camera control unit operatively connected to a camera supported by a pivotal supporting device such as a gimbal assembly. The camera is continuously moved along a scanning line without stopping and is operated to capture images in a certain frame rate, this is carried out by measuring as well as regulating the angular velocity of the camera to adapt the pictured and the non-pictures zones over the scanning line.

Aerial photography camera system

The presently disclosed subject matter includes a method and system configured for enabling using a high resolution imaging assembly for surveying large areas as well as for tracking objects within the surveyed area, notwithstanding the bandwidth limitation of the communication link.

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Yavne, Israel

Haim Somech