초록 ▼

A method and apparatus determines attitude of a satellite (52) or other communications device traveling in a determinable path. The method comprises determining orientation data describing directions of one or more narrow-beam RF or laser communications channels (223, 225, 231, 233, 241, 251, 253, a

A method and apparatus determines attitude of a satellite (52) or other communications device traveling in a determinable path. The method comprises determining orientation data describing directions of one or more narrow-beam RF or laser communications channels (223, 225, 231, 233, 241, 251, 253, and 261; FIG. 2) and using the orientation data and known position of the satellite to determine the attitude of the satellite. The apparatus comprises one or more directional transmitters and receivers (310, 312, 314, 316, 318, and 320; FIG. 3) coupled to controller (330), where controller (330) accepts orientation controller data from the one or more directional transmitters and receivers and determines the satellite's attitude based on the orientation controller data and the known positions of the transmitters and receivers.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A method for determining an attitude of a first communications node within a plurality of communications nodes, wherein the plurality of communications nodes have known positions and are coupled to each other by narrow beam communications links, the method comprising th

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A method for determining an attitude of a first communications node within a plurality of communications nodes, wherein the plurality of communications nodes have known positions and are coupled to each other by narrow beam communications links, the method comprising the steps of:a) establishing a first narrow beam communications link between the first communications node at a first known position and a second communications node at a second known position;b) determining, by the first communications node, a first line of sight (LOS) vector, the first LOS vector describing a pointing angle of the first narrow beam communications link relative to a first axis of the communications node;c) establishing a second narrow beam communications link between the first communications node at the first known position and a third communications node at a third known position;d) determining, by the first communications node, a second LOS vector, the second LOS vector describing a pointing angle of the second narrow beam communications link relative to a second axis of the first communications node, wherein the second LOS vector is substantially orthogonal to the first LOS vector; ande) determining a current attitude of the first communications node based on the first LOS vector, the first known position, the second known position, the second LOS vector, and the third known position, wherein step e) further comprises the step of applying weighting factors to the first and second LOS vectors.