Patent ID: 6014814
Filing Date: 2000-01-18
Classification: G01C

Abstract:
A method for determining on a vehicle (V), especially an aircraft, the harmonization error between an item of on board equipment (1) and a system of reference axes of said vehicle (V) forming a vehicle reference frame (Rv), which method has the following steps:a) a first reference element (4) that represents said vehicle reference frame (Rv) and is optically accessible from the outside is placed on board said vehicle (V) sitting on the ground;b) a second reference element (5) that represents said item of equipment (1) and is optically accessible from the outside is placed on board said vehicle (V) at the site of said item of equipment (1); andc) using a theodolite-type measurement system (SM) arranged at least partially outside the vehicle (V) and taking measurements of said first and second reference elements (4, 5), the harmonization error of said second reference element (5) that represents the item of equipment (1) with respect to said first reference element (4) which represents the vehicle reference frame (Rv) is determined,wherein, in step c):the harmonization error in terms of yaw and in terms of roll is determined using measurements made by a single theodolite (6) placed on the ground in such a way that it can take measurements by being capable of sighting both said first reference element (4) and said second reference element (5), one of said sightings being made directly while the other sighting is made through a prism system (7); andthe harmonization error in terms of pitch is determined using measurements made on said first and second reference elements (4, 5) by the theodolite (6) and by an inclination meter (8) respectively.