Rosemount Aerospace Limited

Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.

Robert D Rutkiewicz

Todd Anthony Ell

Joseph T Pesik

John Albert Severson

Jason Graham

Kent Allan Ramthun

Gary E Halama

Robert Stuelke

Owen Daniel Evans

David Matty

Bruce B Chenoweth

In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a thermoelectric generator (TEG) system can include a TEG conversion element configured to be in thermal communication with a leading edge surface subject to hypersonic flow and a heatsink to generate a temperature differential across the TEG conversion element mounted between the leading edge surface and heatsink, and an electrical conductor configured to connect between the TEG conversion element and a powered unit to supply electrical energy from the TEG conversion element to the powered unit.

Powering sensor packages in moving platforms

In certain embodiments, an imaging system includes an enclosure with an objective aperture opening into an interior space of the enclosure, an optical assembly optically coupling the objective aperture to an imaging sensor within the enclosure, a spatial light modulator (SLM) mounted to the objective aperture for selectively blocking and admitting illumination through the objective aperture into the interior space, and an illuminator mounted to illuminate the interior space of the enclosure.

Spatial light modulator seeker calibration

A non-uniformity correction (NUC) calibration method comprises obtaining image data for a plurality of images with an image sensor, wherein each image in the plurality of images is obtained at a different respective global pixel gain setting and global expose in the image sensor; and using the image data for non-uniformity correction calibration to compute pixel NUC values for the pixels in the image sensor. The method can further include storing the pixel NUC values and obtaining further image data corrected by the stored pixel NUC values. In embodiments, the method can include moving a platform based on the further image data. In certain embodiments, the platform can be a guided munition.

Non-uniformity correction (NUC) self-calibration using images obtained using multiple respective global gain settings

Apparatus and associated methods relate to ranging object(s) nearby an aircraft using triangulation. A light projector mounted at a projector location on the aircraft projects pulses of polarized light onto the scene external to the aircraft. The projected pulses of polarized light are polarized in a first polarization state. A camera mounted at a camera location on the aircraft has a shutter synchronized to the projector output pulse and receives a portion of the projected pulses of polarized light reflected by the object(s) in the scene and polarized at a second polarization state orthogonal to the first polarization state. Location(s) and/or range(s) of the object(s) is calculated, based on the projector location, the camera location, and pixel location(s) upon which the portion of light is imaged.

Method and system for aircraft taxi strike alerting

A system includes at least one light projector, at least one image sensor, and at least one controller. The at least one light projector is attachable to an aircraft at a first location. The at least one light projector is configured to emit a first beam of light in a first direction at a first intensity. The at least one image sensor is attachable to the aircraft at a second location. The at least one image sensor is configured to capture a first image of a scene including reflections of the first beam of light and a second image of the scene without the at least one projector emitting a beam of light. The at least one controller is configured to determine a maximum detection range of the first beam of light based upon the light intensity of the light beam, the first location, and the second location.

Visibility range sensing

A system includes a first smart sensor, a second smart sensor, and at least one image processor. The first smart sensor is configured to sense light in a forward direction and to capture an image during a first time period. The second sensor is configured to sense light in the forward direction and to capture a second image during the first time period. The at least one image processor is configured to identify at least one object in the first and second image, to determine a first size of the at least one object in the first image and a second size of the at least one object in the second image, and to determine a distance of the at least one object from the aircraft based upon the first size and the second size.

Taxi strike alert system

Apparatus and associated methods relate to ranging an object nearby an aircraft by triangulation using two simultaneously-captured images of the object. The two images are simultaneously captured from two distinct vantage points on the aircraft. Because the two images are captured from distinct vantage points, the object can be imaged at different pixel-coordinate locations in the two images. The two images are correlated with one another so as to determine the pixel-coordinate locations corresponding to the object. Range to the object is calculated based on the determined pixel-coordinate locations and the two vantage points from which the two images are captured. Only a subset of each image is used for the correlation. The subset used for correlation includes pixel data from pixels upon which spatially-patterned light that is projected onto the object by a light projector and reflected by the object.

Ranging objects external to an aircraft using multi-camera triangulation

Apparatus and associated methods relate to ranging object(s) nearby an aircraft using triangulation of pulses of linearly-patterned light projected upon and reflected by the object(s). A light projector projects the pulses of linearly-patterned light in a controllable direction onto the scene external to the aircraft. A reflected portion of the projected pulses is focused onto a selected row or column of light-sensitive pixels of a two-dimensional array, thereby forming a row or column of image data. The direction of projected light and the row or column of pixels selected are coordinated so that the portion of the projected pulses reflected by the scene is received by the camera and focused on the selected one of the rows or columns of light-sensitive pixels. Location(s) and/or range(s) of object(s) in the scene are calculated, based on a projector location, a camera location, and the row or column of image data.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to ranging object(s) nearby an aircraft using triangulation of pulses of spatially-patterned light projected upon and reflected by the object(s). The projected pulses provide rapidly-changing illumination of a spatially patterned portion of the scene. A camera receives a reflected portion of the projected pulse and focuses the received portion onto a plurality of light-sensitive pixels, thereby forming a pulse image. The pulse image includes pixel data indicative of a rate of change of light intensity focused thereon exceeding a predetermined threshold. Pixel coordinates, corresponding to a subset of the plurality of light-sensitive pixels that are indicative of the rate of change of light intensity exceeding a predetermined threshold, are identified. Trajectory and/or range data of object(s) in the scene are calculated, based on a projector location, a camera location, and the identified pixel coordinates.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to using an image of a fiducial located indicating a parking location for the aircraft to provide docking guidance data to a pilot of an aircraft. The fiducial has vertically-separated indicia and laterally-separated indicia. A camera is configured to mount at a camera location so as to be able to capture two-dimensional images of a scene external to the aircraft. The two-dimensional image includes pixel data generated by the two-dimensional array of light-sensitive pixels. A digital processor identifies first and second sets of pixel coordinates corresponding to the two vertically-separated and the two laterally-separated indicia, respectively. The digital processor then calculates, based at least in part on the identified first pixel coordinates corresponding to the two vertically-separated indicia, a range to the parking location.

Method and system for providing docking guidance to a pilot of a taxiing aircraft

Apparatus and associated methods relate to controlling, based on a mode selector, the field of view of an external object detector during aircraft taxi operations. For example, during high-speed taxi operations, the field of view can be controlled to have a relatively-small solid-angle of detection capability. The relatively-small solid-angle field of view can be aligned so as to detect more distant objects within a narrow corridor extending forward of the aircraft's wingtips. During low-speed taxi operations, for example, the field of view can be controlled to have a relatively-large solid-angle of detection capability. The relatively-large solid-angle field of view can be aligned so as to detect close objects in the vicinity of the aircraft wings and engine nacelle. The object detector projects structured light within the controlled field of view, thereby illuminating the object(s) external to the aircraft that are within the illumination field of view.

Method and system for aircraft taxi strike alerting using adaptive field of view

Apparatus and associated methods relate to calculating position and/or range data of object(s) in a scene external to an aircraft. A light projector is configured to project, from an aircraft projector location, a collimated beam of light in a controllable direction onto the scene. The light projector is further configured to control the intensity of the projected light, based on the controlled direction of the collimated beam of light. The reflected beam is detected by a camera located apart from the light projector. An image processor is configured to use triangulation, to calculate position values and/or range data of the object(s) in the scene. The image processor can be further configured to identify the object(s) in the scene and to produce, based in object(s) in the scene, one or more maps of the scene. The intensity of the collimated beam can be controlled based on the produced maps.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to ranging an object nearby an aircraft by triangulation of spatially-patterned light projected upon and reflected from the object. The spatially patterned light can have a wavelength corresponding to infrared light and/or to an atmospheric absorption band. In some embodiments, images of the object are captured both with and without illumination by the spatially-patterned light. A difference between these two images can be used to isolate the spatially-patterned light. The two images can also be used to identify pixel boundaries of the object and to calculate ranges of portions of the object corresponding to pixels imaging these portions. For pixels imaging reflections of the spatially-patterned light, triangulation can be used to calculate range. For pixels not imaging reflections of the spatially-patterned light, ranges can be calculated using one or more of the calculated ranges calculated using triangulation corresponding to nearby pixels.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a seeker for a Semi-Active Laser (SAL) guided missile. The seeker has a Short-Wave InfraRed (SWIR) camera and a Pulse Timing Logic (PTL) detector. The PTL detector has a SWIR photo detector axially aligned with a lens stack of the SWIR camera. The SWIR photo detector is configured to detect a sequence of SWIR pulses generated by a SAL target designator and reflected by a designated target. The PTL detector has a pulse timer configured to identify a sequence pattern of the detected sequence of SWIR pulses, and to predict a timing of a next SWIR pulse in the identified sequence pattern so as to synchronize exposure of the SWIR camera to capture a next image of the designated target at the predicted timing of the next SWIR pulse. Such exposure timing can advantageously improve the signal to noise ratio of the next image.

Target-designation detection used to shutter camera images for locating target

A dual-mode, semi-active, laser-based and passive image-based seeker for projectiles, missiles, and other ordnance that persecute targets by detecting and tracking energy scattered from targets. The disclosed embodiments use a single digital imager having a single focal plane array sensor to sense data in both the image-based and laser-based modes of operation. A shuttering technique allows the relatively low frame-rate of the digital imager to detect, decode and localize in the imager's field-of-view a known pulse repetition frequency (PRF) from a known designator in the presence of ambient light and other confusing target designators, each having a different PRF.

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Edina, MN, United States of America

Robert D Rutkiewicz