Lockheed Martin Corporation

Thomas R Metzger

Daniel E Dosch

Thomas J Meyer

David L Sieracki

Patrick W Garten

A system and process that can be used to determine vehicle attitude with only one navigation receiver. In one embodiment, the antenna of the navigation receiver is driven with a signal that modulates sensitivity in azimuth. The received navigation signal strength is demodulated by the phase at which the antenna is sweeping and a phase angle and a magnitude for the incoming signal are calculated. Using this calculated phase angle, magnitude and antenna characteristics, the location of the user (i.e. the navigation receiver) and the location of the navigation satellite, the attitude of the antenna and hence the user or user vehicle can be determined.

System and process of determining vehicle attitude

A rotational stabilization system and method which allows for greater spatial separation of accelerometer sensors while maintaining or reducing an existing external footprint.

Compact gradiometer with accelerometer based rotational control

A method and apparatus for an improved gravity gradiometer are disclosed.

Gravity gradiometer system

An enclosure or containment system for expansion cards includes first and second sub-enclosures that interengage to form an enclosure assembly that substantially surrounds the major surface areas of the expansion card while providing support along some of the edges thereof to provide a protected volume that physically protects and shields the electronic and electrical components on the expansion card while providing enhanced heat transfer therefrom.

Card level enclosure system having enhanced thermal transfer and improved EMI characteristics

In a rail track system having transition points, a locomotive having a navigation system (such as a combined inertial/GPS location system) moves along an initially known track and enters the 'halo' surrounding a track transition to begin data collection/logging to accumulate successive position information data points as the locomotive moves into, progresses through, and exits the 'halo.' The collected data for movement within the &#x201c;halo&#x201d; is then subject to a best fit assessment relative to the data pre-stored in the track database.

Locomotive/train navigation system and method

A locomotive location system and method utilizes inertial measurement inputs, including orthogonal acceleration inputs and turn rate information, in combination with wheel-mounted tachometer information and GPS/DGPS position fixes to provide processed outputs indicative of track occupancy, position, direction of travel, velocity, etc. Various navigation solutions are combined together to provide the desired information outputs using an optimal estimator designed specifically for rail applications and subjected to motion constraints reflecting the physical motion limitations of a locomotive. The system utilizes geo-reconciliation to minimize errors and solutions that identify track occupancy when traveling through a turnout.

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Wheatfield, NY, United States of America

Thomas R Metzger