Patent ID: 8588998

Claim:
A range estimation device for use in an aerial platform, the aerial platform comprising at least one passive sensor and a trajectory determination unit, said range estimation device comprising: a control system configured to generate commands to maneuver the aerial platform; and a control unit arranged to indicate to said control system to perform own-ship maneuvering of said aerial platform such that characteristics of passive sensor measurements from said at least one passive sensor enable a range estimation to a target to be determined, wherein said control unit is further arranged to determine characteristics of said own-ship maneuvering based on range uncertainty estimations to said target, wherein the control system generates commands to perform own-ship maneuvering if the range uncertainty estimations are above a predetermined acceptance level and if an azimuth angular change rate and an elevation angular change rate of the target are below an angular rate limit set in view of a minimum estimated range to the target.