Patent ID: 6650360
Filing Date: 2003-11-18
Classification: G01S

Abstract:
A camera guidance system allowing to acquire video signals, irrespective of conditions of visibility, contrast and background, of at least one target, by means of at least one camera, and to transmit such video signals to a receiver station, characterized in that it comprisesa platform supporting said at least one camera, such camera being able to focus on the target, following its movement relative to the platform; at least one position determination means such as Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers is mounted on the target, and is able to determine the target's position in GNSS coordinate system, at least three position determination means such as Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers mounted on the platform to determine the position and attitude of said platform in GNSS coordinate system, said platform having a platform coordinate system fixed to it, and, the position of the target in platform coordinates is obtained by subtracting the platform's global position vector from the target's global position vector and projecting the resulting vector onto the platform coordinate system, the camera on the platform is pointable in a plurality of directions with respect to the platform coordinate system, processing means for computing positioning data and providing said data to said positionable camera to make the camera point at the target; means for transmitting the video signals to a receiver station; communication means between the said information, position determination and transmission means.