Deutsche Aerospace Ag

Mbda Deutschland Gmbh

Lfk-lenkflugkoerpersysteme Gmbh

Lkf-lenkflugkoerpersysteme Gmbh

Nikolaus Schweyer

Juergen Zoz

Michael Holicki

Johannes Speth

Karl Dzida

Jürgen Zoz

A method for automatically generating a three-dimensional reference model as terrain information for a seeker head of an unmanned missile. A three-dimensional terrain model formed from model elements obtained with the aid of satellite and/or aerial reconnaissance is provided. Position data of the imaging device at least at one planned position and a direction vector from the planned position of the imaging device to a predetermined target point in the three-dimensional terrain model are provided. A three-dimensional reference model of the three dimensional terrain model is generated that incorporates only those model elements and sections of model elements from the terrain model, which in the viewing direction of the direction vector from the planned position of the imaging device, are not covered by other model elements and/or are not located outside the field of view of the imaging device.

Method for automatically generating a three-dimensional reference model as terrain information for an imaging device

A method for determining the position data of a target object in a reference system from an observation position at a distance. A three-dimensional reference model of the surroundings of the target object is provided, the reference model including known geographical location data. An image of the target object and its surroundings, resulting from the observation position for an observer, is matched with the reference model. The position data of the sighted target object in the reference model is determined as relative position data with respect to known location data of the reference model.

Method for determining position data of a target object in a reference system

A SAR image recorded by a reconnaissance system is transferred as a reference edge image together with the data of the trajectory as a reference. The signal of the infrared seeker head of the missile is converted into a virtual SAR edge image and compared to the SAR reference image to calculate the precise position of the missile.

Navigation method for a missile

The process according to the invention is used for influencing the quality of images furnished by an electronic imaging system. For this purpose, image segments are defined which surround individual image points; from the image point signals of the image points situated therein, characteristic brightness and contrast values are calculated and are assigned to the individual image points. Finally, these characteristic values are used to modify the background brightness and the contrast fraction of the image point signals. According to the invention, a subset of image points are selected as supporting points and the pertaining image segments are defined in such a manner that at least areas of the image which are of interest are completely covered. By means of a two-dimensional interpolation, corresponding characteristic values each assigned to the remaining image points can be obtained from the characteristic values determined for the supporting points. The latter can, in turn, be used to modify the background brightness as well as the contrast fraction (by amplification) of the image points. It is also possible to use the characteristic values for the collective modification of all image point signals of the respective image segment.

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Munich, Germany

Nikolaus Schweyer