Sandy Kennedy

Title: Sandy Kennedy: Innovator in Visual Positioning and Navigation Systems

Introduction

Sandy Kennedy is a prominent inventor based in Calgary, Canada, known for her innovative contributions to visual positioning and navigation systems. With a total of 3 patents, she has made significant strides in enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of navigation technologies.

Latest Patents

One of her latest patents is a visual positioning system that utilizes images of a working environment to determine position. This system determines an otherwise unknown position and orientation of a camera in a working environment, relative to an associated coordinate system, based on visually identifiable unique objects in images taken by the camera. The system utilizes a database that includes or may be updated to include position coordinates for unique objects of interest. It identifies a plurality of objects within images taken by the camera at a given location and enters the database to determine position coordinates for the respective identified objects or to add position coordinates to the database for the respective identified objects, or both. The system may also update the database to include newly identified unique objects and objects that are altered between images, to determine position and orientation of the camera in a changing environment. Additionally, sensors may be included to add extra information relative to the position and orientation of the camera.

Another notable patent is a navigation system with rapid GNSS and inertial initialization. This navigation system for use with moving vehicles includes target points proximate to a rendezvous site located on a first moving vehicle. One or more transmitters associated with the target points broadcast time-tagged target point positioning information. A navigation unit on a second moving vehicle utilizes a camera with known properties to capture images that include the target points. The navigation unit processes the image that corresponds in time to the positioning information to determine the relative position and orientation of the rendezvous site at the second vehicle. It then calculates an absolute position and orientation corresponding to the second vehicle and initializes its component inertial subsystem using a local position and orientation based on the calculated absolute position and orientation.

Career Highlights

Sandy has worked with notable companies such as Novatel Inc. and Hexagon Technology Center GmbH, where she has applied her expertise in developing advanced navigation systems.

Collaborations

Throughout her career, Sandy has collaborated with talented individuals, including Kristian Morin and Michael Bobye, contributing to various innovative projects.

Conclusion

Sandy Kennedy's work in visual