초록 ▼

A mobile tracking and positioning system includes a plurality of mobile transmit and receive stations that track a mobile target which emits a radio signal in response to the occurrence of a tracking effort initiation event. The tracking stations have a GPS receiver or like means for determining the

A mobile tracking and positioning system includes a plurality of mobile transmit and receive stations that track a mobile target which emits a radio signal in response to the occurrence of a tracking effort initiation event. The tracking stations have a GPS receiver or like means for determining their position, a radio direction finder responsive to the radio signal that determines the vector to the mobile target, a two-way communications system and a computer. The mobile transmit and receive stations exchange their position and direction to target information via the two-way communications systems, enabling the stations to triangulate the location of the target with their computers.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] A method of locating a target by triangulation in a region lacking a fixed positioning reference for participating in the triangulation wherein the target includes a transmission unit adapted to broadcast a radio signal in response to an initiation event, said method comprising the

[ I claim:] [1.] A method of locating a target by triangulation in a region lacking a fixed positioning reference for participating in the triangulation wherein the target includes a transmission unit adapted to broadcast a radio signal in response to an initiation event, said method comprising the steps of:providing first and second mobile tracking stations that transit the region of the target;initiating a broadcast of a radio signal from said target in response to the occurrence of said initiation event;determining the direction of origin of said radio signal relative to said first station;substantially simultaneously with the determination of the direction of origin of said signal relative to said first station;a) determining the position of said first station at or above the surface of the earth;b) transmitting said position and said direction of origin from said first station to said second station;c) determining the position of said second station;d) determining the direction of origin of said signal at said second station; andsubsequently triangulating said position of said target at said second station from said positions of said first and second stations and said directions of origin of said radio signal from said target to said first and second stations.