Patent ID: 7233389

Claim:
A method for determining a flight characteristic of an object in a flight path, the flight characteristic being at least one of a position, a linear velocity, a rotational velocity, and an acceleration, the method comprising: arranging a radiation source in a plane, the plane being located to intersect the flight path of the object, the radiation source irradiating the object at least at the intersection with the flight path; providing at least first and second surface features on the object, the at least first and second surface features having a predetermined configuration; measuring, with a sensor, reflected radiation from the at least first and second surface features; and determining the flight characteristic based on the measured reflected radiation and the predetermined configuration; wherein at least one of: said first surface features comprise a plurality of equally spaced parallel measurement lines applied to a surface of said object oriented parallel to said flight path; said second surface features comprise a plurality of equally spaced parallel measurement lines applied to a surface of said object oriented perpendicular to said flight path; and said at least second surface features comprise a plurality of equally spaced parallel measurement lines applied to a surface of said object, said measurement lines oriented perpendicular to said flight path.