US5488589A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Neural network based three dimensional ocean modeler
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1994-10-18
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Granted: 1996-01-30
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Expires: 2014-10-18
Abstract
Abstract A method is described for providing an estimate of the state of a moving tact in a three dimensional ocean. The method comprises the steps of providing a device for estimating the state of the contact, inputting into the device information about a location of an observer during a sequence of time, information from at least one sensor about the position of the contact relative to the observer during the time sequence, and a knowledge vector, transforming the inputted information into a series of three dimensional geographical grids, and analyzing the geographical grids to produce an estimate of the state of the contact with respect to the location of the observer. The device for providing the estimate of the state of the moving contact is a neurally inspired contact estimation device. The device includes a grid stimulation block for transforming the inputted information into the three dimensional geographical grids, a fusion block where grids corresponding to similar time intervals are combined or fused, a correlation block for providing constraints such as constant speed and heading and for producing a path likelihood vector, and an estimate block for providing the estimate of the state of the moving contact. The device further includes a controller for providing knowledge to the aforementioned blocks.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher M. DeAngelis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 04:30
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/02; G01S3/04; G01S3/043; G01S1/00; G01S1/02; G01S1/04; G01S1/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for providing an estimate of the state of a moving contact comprising the steps of: providing a device for estimating the state of said contact; inputting into said device information about a location of an observer during a sequence of time, information from at least one sensor about a position of said moving contact relative to said observer during said sequence of time, and a-priori knowledge; transforming the inputted information into a series of three dimensional geographical grids with each grid having a plurality of cells; and analyzing said geographical grids to produce an estimate of the state of the contact with respect to the location of the observer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for providing an estimate of the state of a moving contact comprising the steps of: providing a device for estimating the state of said contact; inputting into said device information about a location of an observer during a sequence of time, information from at least one sensor about a position of said moving contact relative to said observer during said sequence of time, and a-priori knowledge; transforming the inputted information into a series of three dimensional geographical grids with each grid having a plurality of cells; and analyzing said geographical grids to produce an estimate of the state of the contact with respect to the location of the observer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said inputting step comprises inputting knowledge including at least one of environmental data, sensor characteristics, contact kinematics and historical data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said inputting step comprises: inputting sensor data which includes at least one of location relative to the observer and contact measurements; and inputting knowledge data which includes at least one of measurement error and confidence in the sensor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: stimulating said cells in said geographical grids in proportion to the likelihood of a contact's presence; and said analyzing step comprises fusing said geographical grids with said stimulated cells so that grids corresponding to similar time intervals are combined into a series of consolidated grid representations.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said analyzing step further comprises: applying a constant speed and course constraint for contact motion to said consolidated grid representations; and producing a path likelihood vector containing a likelihood measure for each possible contact path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said analyzing step further comprises transforming said path likelihood vector into said estimate of the contact state.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising: providing a controller having access to said a-priori knowledge; and transferring said knowledge from said controller to various functional blocks for performing said information transformation step, said stimulating step, said fusing step, said constant speed and course constraint applying step, said path likelihood vector producing step, and said path likelihood vector transformation step.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising: monitoring said various functional blocks with said controller; and adjusting parameters within at least one of said blocks using said controller to improve the contact state estimate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
123 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said transforming step comprises: forming observation and location pairs for each sensor; transforming said pairs into three dimensional continuous probability density functions representing the likelihood of the contact's location over the respective time plane; incorporating at least one of three dimensional sound propagation characteristics, three dimensional sensor motion compensations, and measurement confidence into said probability density functions; transforming said three dimensional continuous probability density functions into discrete values corresponding to stimulation levels for the cells in said geographical grids; choosing at least one of a coordinate system and a cell resolution using a controller having access to said a-priori knowledge; and using said controller to analyze the grids and make adjustments to a set of controlling parameters.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
137 words
A system for providing an estimate of the state of a moving contact which comprises: a device for estimating the state of said contact; means for inputting into said device information about a location of an observer during a sequence of time, information from at least One sensor about a position of said contact relative to said observer, and a-priori knowledge; said device having means for transforming said knowledge and said observer and said location information into an estimate of the state of said contact with respect to the location of said observer; said device having controller means for providing said knowledge to said transforming means; and said transforming means having a stimulation block for transforming said observer and sensor information into a series of three dimensional geographic grids with each grid having a plurality of cells.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
137 words
A system for providing an estimate of the state of a moving contact which comprises: a device for estimating the state of said contact; means for inputting into said device information about a location of an observer during a sequence of time, information from at least One sensor about a position of said contact relative to said observer, and a-priori knowledge; said device having means for transforming said knowledge and said observer and said location information into an estimate of the state of said contact with respect to the location of said observer; said device having controller means for providing said knowledge to said transforming means; and said transforming means having a stimulation block for transforming said observer and sensor information into a series of three dimensional geographic grids with each grid having a plurality of cells.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system of claim 10 wherein said stimulation block comprises: first means for transforming pairs of said sensor observation information and said location information into three dimensional continuous probability density functions representing the likelihood of the contact's location over the respective time plane; and second means for transforming said probability density functions into discrete values corresponding to stimulation levels for the cells in said three dimensional geographical grids.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
69 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said controller means further comprises: means for providing knowledge about at least one of three dimensional sound propagation characteristics, three dimensional sensor motion compensations, and measurement confidence to said first means; means for advising said second means about at least one of a coordinate system and a cell resolution; and means for analyzing said grids and making adjustments to parameters controlling said grids.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 10 wherein said transforming means further comprises an information fusion block for combining ones of said grids corresponding to similar time intervals into a series of consolidated grid representations.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 13 wherein said information fusion block has a series of artificial neurons for combining like-regions from each geographical grid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 14 further comprising said controller affecting cell fusion according to a-priori knowledge and the formation of the consolidated grid representations.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 13 wherein said transforming means further comprises a correlation block for applying motion constraints to said consolidated grid representations and producing a path likelihood vector containing a likelihood measure for each possible contact path.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said correlation block has a series of artificial neurons for computing a measure of the likelihood that a particular path was taken by the contact, each said neuron receiving an input from each of said consolidated grid representations.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 17 further comprising said controller means affecting said neurons according to a-priori knowledge including at least one of maximum speed and depth and depth change characteristics.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said transforming means further comprises an estimation block for transforming the path likelihood vector to said estimate of said contact state.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 19 wherein said controller means further comprises: means for advising said estimation block on an averaging method; and means for providing constraints to be placed on said estimate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said controller means further comprises: means for monitoring each said block; and means for adjusting at least one of parameters and knowledge to improve the estimate of said contact state.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5307289A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-01-29 | 1999-07-31 | 2000-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-01-29 | 2003-07-31 | 2004-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-01-29 | 2007-07-31 | 2008-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |