Methods and apparatus for pointing logic in aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12135191-B2
Application number	US-202318166222-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 8, 2023
Priority date	Feb 8, 2023
Publication date	Nov 5, 2024
Grant date	Nov 5, 2024

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for pointing logic in aircraft are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus to aim an aiming device carried by an aircraft includes at least one memory, machine readable instructions, and processor circuitry. The processor is to at least one of instantiate or execute the machine readable instructions to determine a position of a target, determine an orientation of the aircraft, determine aiming points based on the orientation and a movement range of the aiming device, and determine a movement of at least one of the aircraft or the aiming device based on the aiming points and the position to orient the aiming device toward the target.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus to aim an aiming device carried by an aircraft, the apparatus comprising:
at least one memory;
machine readable instructions; and
processor circuitry to at least one of instantiate or execute the machine readable instructions to:
determine a position of a target,
determine an orientation of the aircraft,
determine aiming points based on the orientation and a movement range of the aiming device, and
determine a movement of at least one of the aircraft or the aiming device based on the aiming points and the position to orient the aiming device toward the target.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the processor circuitry is to execute the instructions to move the aiming device based on the determined movement.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the aircraft is a first unmanned aerial vehicle and the target is a second unmanned aerial vehicle, and wherein the aiming device includes at least one of a weapon, a capture device or a disabling device.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 , wherein the processor circuitry is to determine the movement based on a rotational axis of the at least one of the weapon, the capture device or the disabling device.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the processor circuitry is to determine the movement based on intersecting the aiming points with the target.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the processor circuitry is to execute the instructions to determine the movement of the aiming device based on an orientation of the target.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the processor circuitry is to execute the instructions to move the aiming device based on an angular velocity of the aiming device.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the orientation determined by the processor circuitry includes a pitch angle and a roll angle of the aircraft.

9. A non-transitory machine readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause processor circuitry to at least:
determine a position of a target;
determine an orientation of an aircraft carrying an aiming device;
determine aiming points based on the orientation and a movement range of the aiming device; and
determine a movement of at least one of the aircraft or the aiming device based on the aiming points and the position to orient the aiming device toward the target.

10. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium as defined in claim 9 , wherein the instructions cause the processor circuitry to move the aiming device based on the determined movement.

11. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium as defined in claim 9 , wherein the aiming device includes at least one of a weapon, a capture device or a disabling device, and wherein the instructions cause the processor circuitry to determine the aiming points based on a rotational axis of the at least one of the weapon, the capture device or the disabling device.

12. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium as defined in claim 9 , wherein the aiming device is a weapon, and wherein the instructions cause the processor circuitry to determine the movement based on a projectile speed of a projectile to be fired from the weapon.

13. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium as defined in claim 9 , wherein the instructions cause the processor circuitry to determine the movement based on intersecting the aiming points with the target.

14. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium as defined in claim 13 , wherein the instructions cause the processor circuitry to determine the movement of the aiming device based on an orientation of the target.

15. A method of aiming an aiming device carried by an aircraft toward a target, the method comprising:
determining, by executing instructions with at least one processor, a position of the target;
determining, by executing instructions with the at least one processor, an orientation of the aircraft,
determining, by executing instructions with the at least one processor, aiming points based on a movement range of the aiming device and the orientation; and
determining, by executing instructions with the at least one processor, a movement of at least one of the aircraft or the aiming device based on the aiming points and the position to orient the aiming device toward the target.

16. The method as defined in claim 15 , further including moving the aiming device based on the determined movement.

17. The method as defined in claim 16 , wherein the aircraft and the aiming device are moved simultaneously based on the determined movement.

18. The method as defined in claim 15 , wherein the aiming device includes at least one of a weapon, a capture device or a disabling device, and wherein the movement is determined based on a rotational axis of the at least one of the weapon, the capture device or the disabling device.

19. The method as defined in claim 15 , wherein the movement is determined based on an orientation of the target.

20. The method as defined in claim 15 , wherein the movement is determined based on intersecting the aiming points with the target.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Famularo Douglas
• Saunders Jeffery

Classifications

• G05D1/46

  Control of position or course in three dimensions [3D] · CPC title

• G05D1/689

  Pointing payloads towards fixed or moving targets (positioning towed, pushed or suspended implements G05D1/672) · CPC title

• F41J9/08

  Airborne targets, e.g. drones, kites, balloons {(aircraft for towing targets B64D3/02)} · CPC title

• B64U10/14

  with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters · CPC title

• B64U2101/16

  for controlling, capturing or immobilising other vehicles · CPC title