DE3036222A1 - CARD NAVIGATION SYSTEM - Google Patents

Description

description

The present invention relates to a map navigation system, particularly for light combat aircraft of the combined type Training and light fighter-bomber ,, and helicopter ,,, which are used to attack at the absolute lowest altitude.

The map navigation system according to the present invention is intended to bridge the gap between the extremely expensive and complicated navigation systems found in and designed for the latest heavy fighter aircraft
mostly simple form of aerial navigation with the help of a
ordinary card close »

The map navigation system according to the present invention is primarily as an improved variant of the moving

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BANK: DRESDNER BANK. HAMBURG. 4030448 (BLZ 20080000) ■ POST CHECK: HAMBURG 147Θ07-200 (BLZ 200 100 20) TELEGRAM: SPECHTZIES

BATH ORIGINAL

Cart on which a fixed point always shows the calculated position of the aircraft above the ground.

Of particular note among the particular advantages of the system according to the present invention is that it is not tied to a specific map scale, and that no need for one. Series of dar-like cardboards for future requirements, since the system is based on an image, which is preferably in color made with a simple camera from a topographic map. This card can therefore be used with the last known, Data of interest to the pilot, such as enemy deployment, etc., can be completed. From the topographical A transparency is produced on the card which, since there is no major requirement for memory life, is fast can be developed with simple facilities. As mentioned above, photographing the topographical map with an ordinary camera, and it must then be ensured that the camera It is exactly at right angles to the map and that the focus and exposure settings are correct. The photographing distance on the other hand is arbitrary and so provided that a sufficiently large part of the card on the finished Image is obtained. Shortly before the start, the

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• Placed transparently in the image magazine of the map projector, which generates an image of the map on a map display device at a convenient reading distance for the pilot or navigator. The map display device has a crosshair in which a fixed point represents the position of the aircraft and a course line indicates the course of the aircraft. With the help of a control device, a point on the map, the geographical coordinates of which are known, is now set on the map directly and below the fixed point. A computer, which is connected to the control unit, and the image projector now read the image coordinates of this point from the map simultaneously with the delivery of the geographical coordinates (geographical longitude and latitude) of the same point via the control device. The same procedure takes place with at least one other point in the same image. From this data, the computer calculates the image scale to be used. Regarding the map projection, etc. relevant information has been used "useful in making the original card can warden saved for these calculations irr computer.

When the map projector on the starting point and the scart course based on zero has been set, the system according to the present invention is ready to take over. During the flight, the computer continuously calculates the

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Course and speed of the aircraft, based on the ground, and requests the continuous based on this data Shift of the map image, see that the Fj.xpunkt and the course lines agree with the calculated values. For this purpose, all available flight data are entered into the computer via the data input unit entered.

If the pilot has any slight discrepancy between that indicated by the map display device through direct contact with the ground If you notice the specified position and the actual floor position, the system can continuously run through Shifting the map image into the correct position can be corrected. The calculator is programmed to work with its ongoing calculations take past errors into account by entering a correction factor. Thus becomes the accuracy of the system increases with every correction, large or small. If any in error. corrections have been carried out by errors, the memory of the computer makes a return "to the previous, uncorrected Position, possible.

The entered correction factor is also eliminated in the event of an erroneous correction.

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The picture magazine of the card image projector can have several different ones Contains pictures or different scales and can also contain pictures or cards with different scales in Use the direction of different axes, but then require knowledge of numerous points matched to them is to make a calculation of what is necessary for the continuous work of the calculator. Scale factors through the Enable calculator. If picture magazines containing several different card pictures are used, it can. an advantage would be maps with different scales, for example a general map for the approach and a detailed one Map for the area of the attack target.

The calculation of the scale for the corresponding images takes place in the manner described above. A change between different images can either be done by hand, or left to the computer, which is in one such a case is programmed to switch to the next picture as soon as it has a sufficient range Has.

As it is desirable to have a larger one in front of the aircraft

Having map area available as behind the aircraft, is the fixed point representing the aircraft on the map display device the map image display device

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arranged eccentrically. To do this in an optical system To achieve this, a map image projector was selected which generates an image whose optical axis lies in the plane representing point. The calculator moves continuously the localized transparency, so that this position is constantly applicable. That through the map projector The generated image is now arranged so that it covers a larger area than the map diagram. Between The map image projector and the map diagram also have a rotatable prism arranged with the aid of which the image can be rotated around its axis, which thus coincides with the fixed point on the map diagram. The computer now controls the turning of the prism so that the course line of the chart and the flight direction of the aircraft constant match. Only part of that through the map image projector The reproduced map area is then represented by the map diagram. Other parts will shielded. This arrangement allows a constant display of a correct map image on the map diagram, even if the aircraft in question, which for example can be a helicopter, is going in the opposite direction turns around without moving in relation to the ground =

In the device according to the present invention microelectronics and given the way, WL of the accounting

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ner technically to be set up and programmed in detail is not part of the present invention and is not described in detail in this context. The same applies to the map data that are entered into the computer to serve as a background for its calculations to serve. This data can be defined as card sizes. since they represent the same formulas as those used to prepare the maps used for the navigation system according to the present invention.

Further data entered into the computer which are of great importance for the end result, without being part of them themselves of the present invention are the available flight data regarding course, speed, altitude, etc. These data can vary compared to other available measurement data. The more dater available stand, the greater is the accuracy with which the present navigation system works, of course can.

An embodiment of the map navigation system according to FIG The present invention will now be explained with reference to the following figures

described. It shows:

Figure 1 is a simple block diagram for the map navigation system according to the present invention;

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FIG. 2 shows the functional sketch of the map image display device;

Figure 3 how the eccentrically arranged fixed point can be obtained by an optically centered system.

The structural units used in the block diagram are from FIG evident. Of course, these structural units can and must be divided into several sub-structural units during construction but from a conceptual point of view this block diagram gives a good picture of the general System structure.

The map display device shown in FIG. 2 has two image magazines A and B. For each of these magazines projection lamps 1 and 2 with capacitors are provided. The image area 3 of the used in the present case Cassette A is through the mirror 4, which is rotatable for changing the cassettes, into the lens 5 of the card image projector reflected. Instead of the rotatable mirror for changing the cassettes, there are also sliding cassettes containing multiple images arranged one by one. The essential factor is

in that the cassettes supply fixed image coordinates, that is, the image must not correspond to the image coordinate system used be moved after the image magazine has

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ben, the map scale has been calculated and the starting point has been set.

The computer unit (not shown in the figure) or the computer controls the image magazine via the displacement elements 6 i so that the calculated position of the aircraft on the map is always in the center of the illuminated area 3. Between the lens 5 of the map image projector and a projection lens system 8, which is briefly arranged with the map display device 7 of the map image display device, there is / is a rotatable prism system 9 which is controlled by the computing unit (computer) which rotates the image generated in the lens 5 so that the image generated on the map display device 7 always has a course axis which is identical to the course axis 10 of the map display device 7. The parts of the original image that are then outside the map display device are shielded o The fixed point of the map display device is indicated by the intersection of the course axis and position indicator line 11, which is at right angles to the course axis OK. Reference numeral 12 shows the end lens 12 of the map display device.

■ ο

From Figure 3 it can be seen how the position of the end image and the shielded part of the illuminated area

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Ches 3 according to Figure 2 vary with each other in two different flight directions.

The map navigation system according to the present invention can of course also be used for vehicles other than aircraft, but it is preferred for this Purpose intended.

The above described system for rotating the on the map display device 3ildes shown about an eccentrically arranged axis can by rotating the image about the Image center point, combined with a coordinate transformation (shifting the image along its X and Y axes), replaced so that the rotation appears to be about the eccentric point that represents the position of the Aircraft on the map. The background data for such a coordinate transformation can be found in Computer saved. The advantage of the last process described is that no part of the image is shielded must become. The image obtained will thus have a greater brilliance.

The present invention relates to a map navigation system for aircraft- The system has a map position indicator on, when on a map

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graph shows a continuously updated course and a position-oriented map image. The system furthermore has a computer unit (computer unit) which generates the keeping of the map image up to date and which also has an initial state
the map scale on the map display DiId is calculated based on the geographic coordinates of two or more map points. The transparencies of suitable navigational maps were made for the map position indicator
used. When preparing these images, no special consideration needs to be given to the scale of the images , as this occurs against the background of the map image
the map is calculated.

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Claims (10)

Claims IΛ Map navigation system for aircraft consisting of a map position display device which, via a built-in projector, shows on a map display device a map image that can be moved over the ground in relation to aircraft movement, in which the aircraft position and direction of movement is represented by a fixed point and a course line on the map display device, a computer ( Computer), which is connected to the map image display device and which takes into account the map scale used in the moving map image and on the basis of available flight data, such as aircraft course, airspeed relative to the ground, etc. _f which is continuously entered into the computer via a data input unit entered, this data in a corresponding movement f
on the map image and continuously changing a 1300U / 13S4 Speaking shifting of the map image from a set starting position caused, whereby fixed point and course line via one connected to the data input unit Control unit are set in relation to the map image and the course line always shows the actual position and the Representing the course of the aircraft, characterized in that it is represented by the map projector The map image shown comes from the transparency of a map with any scale, and the calculator (computer) so is programmed that its calculations for the shift of the map image on the map display device based on a calculation of the map scale, which he himself carried out after the calculation about the with the Data input unit connected control unit the data of the geographical position (longitude and latitude) to at least two points on the map image, the coordinates of which he himself determined, have been entered. 2. Map navigation system according to claim 1, characterized marked t "- that the calculator (computer) the information about the geographical coordinates of the points generated on the map image, which is required for the scale calculation for the map image shifted by the control unit so that the fixed point of the map position display device then lies above the corresponding point, and ™ <£. - 1300 U / 136 4 that the computer in connection with it via the control unit the information about the geographical coordinates of the Point simultaneously with its perception of the coordinates of the point iir. Map image generated. 3. Map navigation system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the computer (Computer) can be informed of a display error on the map display device in individual cases by the map image is moved into the correct position to the fixed point by means of the control unit and the computer is programmed in such a way that, from its subsequent calculations, the deviation or deviations which is or are caused by previous incorrect reports. 4. map navigation system according to claim 3, characterized in that the computer (computer) with a memory capable of returning to the card image position allowed, which existed before a correction of an assumed display error and at the same time the at Correction factors entered into the computer for an earlier correction are eliminated in the subsequent calculations can. 1300U / 13S4 5. map navigation system according to claim 4, characterized characterized in that the calculator (computer) is programmed to use different map scales Can take into account the direction of the X and Y axes of the map image. 6. Map navigation system. according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the Map projector can be loaded with several interchangeable banners with different scales, and the computer (computer) determines the scale of these images on the basis of at least two points per image, wherein the calculator (computer) is informed of the geographic coordinates when the corresponding point is below the fixed point of the map image display device is set. 7. map navigation system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the map diagram of the map image display device has a fixed point which represents the aircraft and which is used for the Center of the map diagram is shifted so that the map diagram covers a larger area of the map in the direction of flight than shows behind the fixed point. 8. map navigation system according to claim Ί, characterized 1300U / 1354 characterized in that the computer (computer) adjusts the map transparency in relation to the map projector so that the optical axis coincides with the calculated position of the aircraft on the image and the map projector with its optical axis as the center covers a larger area than the area covered by the map chart can reproduce, reproduced, and a rotatable prism system set by the computer (computer) in relation to the aircraft course _; which is arranged between the projector and the map display device, lets through the part of the image generated by the projector, in that the fixed point assumes its correct eccentric position to the map display, while the other parts of these images are shielded. 9. Navigation system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the picture magazine of the map image projector with rapidly developed The banners are loaded shortly before the start of a deployment card with all available data have been produced and the scale of these images by the calculator (computer) on the basis of the geographical Coordinates of at least two points per image are calculated, which are entered with the calculator (computer), if the said points are below the fixed point of the map 130014/1354 position indicator set sincL 10. map navigation system according to claim 7, characterized in that the map image when course changes of the aircraft is rotated by the computer (computer) around the center of the image and at the same time the Coordinate transformation (displacement along the X and Y axes of the image) is arranged, which is required so that the rotation appears to take place around the eccentrically arranged fixed point. 1300U / 13B4