Patent ID: 8386098
Filing Date: 2013-02-26
Classification: B64G,G01C,G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method for determining a pointing path of a satellite for imaging a group of targets, each target having a value, the method comprising: determining by a computer system an estimated cost of reorienting the satellite between two targets in the group, wherein the estimated cost comprises an estimated maneuver time for reorienting the satellite between the two targets; generating by the computer system an ordered subset of the targets that maximizes a total sum of the values of the targets in the subset and minimizes a total sum of the estimated costs of reorienting the satellite between ordered pairs of targets in the subset; calculating by the computer system an actual maneuver time for reorienting the satellite between the ordered pairs of targets in the subset; modifying by the computer system the ordered subset based on the calculated actual maneuver times; and generating by the computer system a pointing path for passing to the satellite for imaging the targets in the modified ordered subset, wherein determining the estimated cost of reorienting comprises obtaining the estimated maneuver time from a curve fit for maneuver time-angle data.