The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Jun. 05, 2007

Filed:

Jul. 07, 2004
Applicant:

Thomas E. Speer, Des Moines, WA (US);

Inventor:

Thomas E. Speer, Des Moines, WA (US);

Assignee:

The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01C 21/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract

A flightpath guidance system and method is disclosed for using moving waypoints for a curved route plan such as a Bezier curve. The actual location of a vehicle and a leading target point along the path are used to provide commanded guidance of the vehicle along the path and to correct for disturbances from the intended route. Waypoints along the path may be moving with respect to the reference frame in which the vehicle is measured. Curved flightpath guidance using moving waypoints may be used for aerial rendezvous and refueling, multiple vehicle applications such as formation flying and battlefield formation grouping, and carrier landing. Further application includes air traffic control and commercial flight guidance systems.


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