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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 10, 2013
Filed:
Aug. 16, 2007
David L. Caballero, Huntington Beach, CA (US);
Thomas Paul Weismuller, Orange, CA (US);
David L. Caballero, Huntington Beach, CA (US);
Thomas Paul Weismuller, Orange, CA (US);
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
A method of navigating a space vehicle. An image of a planet surface is received. The received image is processed to identify edge pixels and angle data. The edge pixels and angle data are used to identify planetary features by shape, size, and spacing relative to other planetary features. At least some of the planetary features are compared with a predefined planet surface description including sizes and locations of planet landmarks. One or more matches are determined between the planetary feature(s) and the planet surface description. Based on the match(es), a location of the space vehicle relative to the planet is determined.