Teresa J Morrison

US Patent:

57347360, Mar 31, 1998

Filed:

Jun 17, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/261729

Inventors:

Leon G. Palmer - Rancho Palos Verdes CA
Timothy J. Murphy - Redondo Beach CA
John A. Morrison - Rancho Palos Verdes CA
Teresa M. Morrison - Rancho Palos Verdes CA

Assignee:

TRW Inc. - Redondo Beach CA

International Classification:

G06K 900
G06K 948
G01S 1300
G01N 2186

US Classification:

382103

Abstract:

Disclosed is an autonomous rendezvous and docking system and method therefor used for the rendezvous and docking of spacecraft. The autonomous rendezvous and docking system allows spacecraft rendezvous, proximity maneuvering, and docking between a chase spacecraft and a target spacecraft by determining the relative position between the two spacecrafts. The relative position is determined based on the location of target reflections from a reflective target positioned on the target spacecraft. The target reflections are identified by intensity, shape, size and location from various other spurious reflections. This ultimately allows the autonomous rendezvous and docking system to determine the x, y, z, roll, pitch and yaw positions of the target spacecraft in relation to the chase spacecraft.