Patent ID: 7617070
Filing Date: 2009-11-10
Classification: G01C,G01S,G06K

Abstract:
1. An angular position detection system for an object having a reference surface pattern, the angular position detection system comprising: at least one optical sensor configured to generate image signals of a reference surface pattern on a spherical inertial sensor assembly, the at least one optical sensor further configured to generate image signals of stars; a memory having maps of the reference surface pattern and of the stars stored therein; and a processor configured to determine the surface location of the object by comparing an image signal of the reference surface pattern from the at least one optical sensor with the map of the surface pattern in the memory, the processor further adapted to determine the attitude of the object based on a matched image signal of reference surface pattern and the stored reference pattern map, the processor further configured to determine absolute attitude of the assembly based on a comparison of star images and the stored star map and correlate the attitude of the assembly with the determine absolute attitude.