Celestial Pattern Recognition Allowing Autonomous Earth-Surface or Deep-Space Positioning.

Abstract

This project explores the feasibility of using a small, general digital processor, with an optical sensor and a clock, as a means to autonomously determine location. A stellar pattern-recognition algorithm is presented that determines the identity of any of the navigation stars catalogued in the U.S. Naval Observatory 'Air Almanac' which may be in the sensor's field of view. Appendices describe an iterative method for determining position on the surface of the earth from celestial observations without using azimuth information, and a mechanism for determining relative position in deep space.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1983
Accession Number
ADA138115

Entities

People

  • E. P. Schempp

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Sensors
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Algorithms
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Databases
  • Dead Reckoning
  • Deep Space
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Inertial Navigation
  • Inertial Navigation Systems
  • Light Sources
  • Navigation
  • Operating Systems
  • Optical Detectors
  • Pattern Recognition
  • Recognition
  • Three Dimensional

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics.
  • Robotics and Automation.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • AI & ML
  • AI & ML - Autonomous Systems
  • Space
  • Space - Space Objects
  • Space - Spacecraft Maneuvers