A guidance assembly and method for guiding an ordnance to a target. The assembly can operated in navigation and targeting modes and has an imager/seeker including an objective lens assembly and an imaging sensor array which provide image data for mapping and terminal seeker performance. The imager/seeker is pivotally mounted on the ordnance. An actuator is coupled to the imager/seeker and can be actuated to pivot the imager/seeker relative to a longitudinal axis of the ordnance from a navigation position to a targeting position. A flight control unit communicates with the imager/seeker and the actuator, and has a processor which analyses the image data to provide navigation flight control signals for guiding the ordnance in the navigation mode of operation and determining a target direction via automatic target recognition or aimpoint algorithms for directing the ordnance to the target in the targeting mode of operation.

A trajectory estimation device that includes a waveform generation unit that generates, by using signals based on waves detected by at least three sensors, peak waveforms consisting of time series data of peak frequencies of the signals, a parameter estimation unit that estimates, from the peak waveforms relating to the waves detected by the at least three sensors, a trajectory parameter relating to a trajectory of a moving body having a wave source of the waves, and a trajectory estimation unit that estimates, for all combinations of two of the peak waveforms selected from among combinations of at least three of the peak waveforms, a wave source direction candidate for each of the waves by using the trajectory parameter, and estimate, as a trajectory of the moving body, overlapping trajectory candidates from among trajectory candidates estimated based on the wave source direction candidates.

A system and method for feeding back and incorporating the uncertainty distribution of the state estimate output by the INS in the image geo-registration process to handle larger navigation errors, provide a full six degree of freedom position and attitude absolute navigation update for the navigation system and provide a more accurate update for autonomous aerial, underwater or ground vehicles. Generating the update simultaneously for multiple images may provide a more robust solution to address any observability issues that may be present, the ability to fuse different sensor modalities and in general more accurate updates. Key frames may be used to improve the computational efficiency of the method.

Systems and methods for tracking a target depression angle relative to a reference location. In accordance with some embodiments, the system comprises a set of algorithms and pilot displays that use data from an onboard navigation system to calculate an asset's location relative to a reference location, allowing for precise control of relative geometry for the purposes of system measurement and performance assessment. The system provides a pilot with tracking error and steering cues along a flight profile, allowing for closed-loop tracking of target depression angle (body axis elevation) while sweeping look angle (body axis azimuth) relative to a static or dynamic reference location.

In a guiding device, a communication device receives a signal containing detection data of a target, and a processing unit. In the processing unit, a course setting section sets a flight course for a lofted flight based on the detection data, and a guiding section determines a progressing direction based on the flight course and outputs a guidance signal containing the progressing direction. The course setting section sets a first flight course when the flying object is launched. Also, the course setting section changes the first flight course to a second flight course based on the detection data after launching of the flying object.

A system and method for feeding back and incorporating the uncertainty distribution of the state estimate output by the INS in the image geo-registration process to handle larger navigation errors, provide a full six degree of freedom position and attitude absolute navigation update for the navigation system and provide a more accurate update for autonomous aerial, underwater or ground vehicles. Generating the update simultaneously for multiple images may provide a more robust solution to address any observability issues that may be present, the ability to fuse different sensor modalities and in general more accurate updates. Key frames may be used to improve the computational efficiency of the method.

Systems and methods for tracking a target depression angle relative to a reference location. In accordance with some embodiments, the system comprises a set of algorithms and pilot displays that use data from an onboard navigation system to calculate an asset's location relative to a reference location, allowing for precise control of relative geometry for the purposes of system measurement and performance assessment. The system provides a pilot with tracking error and steering cues along a flight profile, allowing for closed-loop tracking of target depression angle (body axis elevation) while sweeping look angle (body axis azimuth) relative to a static or dynamic reference location.

The present invention relates to electro-optic guided missile systems and, in particular, it concerns systems and methods providing enhanced navigation capabilities based on ego-motion processing of seeker images. The missile system comprising: a missile; a seeker located at a nose portion of said missile, said seeker comprising an electro-optic imaging sensor; and a control arrangement for steering the missile along a flight path to a target, characterized in that the missile system further comprises: a navigation subsystem receiving images from said imaging sensor, said navigation subsystem being configured to: co-process a plurality of said images from said imaging sensor to derive ego-motion of said missile relative to a region viewed by said imaging sensor; derive from said ego-motion a calculated target direction from said missile to a target.

A method for planning and launching two or more missiles, to be included in the same mission, and where this is done from one or more aircraft in such a way that the missiles arrive at same target approximately at the same time without interfering with each other on the way to the target. The planning of the mission is performed by sending a set of identical mission data to the missiles prior to launch; letting each missile be assigned a unique identity, letting each missile calculate identical trajectories and a unique offset to this, in one or more of four dimensions, where a resulting offset trajectory is unique for each missile and based on the identical mission data and unique identity, and launching the missiles included in the same mission.

A trajectory estimation device that includes a waveform generation unit that generates, by using signals based on waves detected by at least three sensors, peak waveforms consisting of time series data of peak frequencies of the signals, a parameter estimation unit that estimates, from the peak waveforms relating to the waves detected by the at least three sensors, a trajectory parameter relating to a trajectory of a moving body having a wave source of the waves, and a trajectory estimation unit that estimates, for all combinations of two of the peak waveforms selected from among combinations of at least three of the peak waveforms, a wave source direction candidate for each of the waves by using the trajectory parameter, and estimate, as a trajectory of the moving body, overlapping trajectory candidates from among trajectory candidates estimated based on the wave source direction candidates.