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:
Dec. 03, 2013

Filed:

Apr. 24, 2012
Applicants:

Javier Mendez-rodriguez, Gainesville, VA (US);

Christopher T. Rodgers, Adamstown, MD (US);

Inventors:

Javier Mendez-Rodriguez, Gainesville, VA (US);

Christopher T. Rodgers, Adamstown, MD (US);

Assignee:

Exelis, Inc., McLean, VA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 19/00 (2011.01); B64D 45/08 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract

A processor calculates a safe landing zone for an aircraft. The processor executes the following steps: (a) converting 4D point cloud data into Cartesian coordinates to form a height map of a region; (b) segmenting the height map to form boundaries of an object in the region; and (c) determining maximum height within the boundaries of the object. Also included are (d) determining if the maximum height is greater than a predetermined height to form a vertical obstruction (VO) in the region; and (e) determining if the VO is in the line of sight (LOS) of the aircraft to classify the landing zone as safe or unsafe. The processor further includes the step of: (f) forming a slope map over the height map.


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