Probability of Collusion Topology

US Patent Issued Inventors
10,558,320 B2 2.11.2020 Salvatore Alfano and Daniel Oltrogge

Systems, methods, devices, and non-transitory media of the various embodiments provide for a three dimensional tool for depicting the variability of probability of collision (P.sub.c) inputs to P.sub.c estimates. The depictions generated by the various embodiments may be used to quantify the quality of P.sub.c input data required to yield actionable P.sub.c estimates. Various embodiments may provide a graphical user interface (GUI) for a computing device that may display a three dimensional depiction of the variability of P.sub.c inputs to P.sub.c estimates.

Probability of Collusion Bounding Surfaces

US Patent Issued Inventors
10,551,994 B2 2.4.2020 Salvatore Alfano and Daniel Oltrogge

Systems, methods, devices, and non-transitory media of the various embodiments provide for a three dimensional tool for depicting the variability of probability of collision (P.sub.c) inputs to P.sub.c estimates. The depictions generated by the various embodiments may be used to quantify the quality of P.sub.c input data required to yield actionable P.sub.c estimates. Various embodiments may provide tools for depicting P.sub.c validation results. Various embodiments may provide a GUI for a computing device that may depict P.sub.c validation results.

Formalized Execution of Model Integrated Descriptive Architecture Languages

US Patent Issued Inventors
10,540,189 B2 1.21.2020 Gregory Alan Haun

Systems, methods, devices, and non-transitory media of the various embodiments may enable formalized execution of model integrated descriptive architecture languages, such as Unified Modeling Language (UML). In addition, the systems, methods, devices, and non-transitory media of the various embodiments may be used to generate a graphical representation of a simulation. In an embodiment, a Unifying Framework for Orchestration and Simulation (UFOS) environment may be implemented to generate an agent behavior model using abstract objects from an ontological model.

Probability and Frequency of Orbital Encounters

US Patent Issued Inventors
10,293,959 B2 5.21.2019 Salvatore Alfano and Daniel Oltrogge

Systems, methods, devices, and non-transitory media of the various embodiments provide for a volumetric approach to determining orbital encounters that may determine the number of encounters over a specified length of time. Such information may be used to determine how often during an orbit or period of time an object might trigger a conjunction warning for a neighboring satellite. The various embodiments may be used as a planning and characterization tool to estimate satellite encounter rates for a prospective orbit regime and may provide an efficient, in-line approach to assess the number of encounters occurring within a user-specified span of time.

System and method for determining earth-fixed trajectory launching from within a specified area

US Patent Issued Inventor
8,718,920 B2 5.6.2014 Dr. Sergei Tanygin

This patent discloses a method and apparatus for minimizing close approaches between spacecraft being launched from anywhere within a specified area and other objects in space during the launch and early deployment phase of their lifetime. The method defines a launch window and utilizes and identifies launch window blackout times to avoid close approaches of launch trajectories from anywhere within an area with remaining objects in space as noted in a space object catalog.

System and Method for Detection of Anti-Satellite Vulnerability of an Orbiting Platform

US Patent Issued Inventor
8,494,688 B2 7.23.2013 Salvatore Alfano

A system and method for detection of anti-satellite vulnerability of an orbiting platform. An engagement volume processing unit receives a maximum impulse velocity of an SBI launched from a carrier platform of interest, a maximum time of flight (TOF) until intercept, and orbital data of the carrier platform of interest. A family of interceptor imparted velocities in a VNC frame is determined. The engagement volume processing unit applies the family of velocities over "N" release points using a carrier platform propagator to determine an engagement volume. A display and alert processing unit generates a visual representation of the engagement volume and sends the visual representation to the display device for display.

Nonlinear Variable Lag Smoother

US Patent Issued Inventors
8,433,544 4.30.2013 James Wright and James Woodburn

An extended Kalman filter (EKF) is combined with a fixed epoch smoother (FES) to produce a new variable lag smoother (VLS). The fixed epoch lags EKF measurement time-tags with variable time lag. The combination of EKF and FES is referred to herein as a variable lag smoother (VLS).

System and Method for Assessing the Risk of Conjunction of a Rocket Body with Orbiting and Non-Orbiting Platforms

US Patent Issued Inventor
8,275,498 9.25.2012 Salvatore Alfano

This patent explains how to create and depict a vulnerability volume (a.k.a. kill basket) for a ground-, sea- or air-launched interceptor.

System and Method for Aircraft Mission Modeling

US Patent Issued Inventor
8,221,122 7.17.2012 Tom Neely

This patent covers technology used in AGI’s Aviator product.

Addressing Nonlinear Relative Motion for Collision Probability Using Parellelepipeds

US Patent Issued Inventor
8,041,509 10.18.2011 Salvatore Alfano

This patent addresses a method for collision probability analysis using parallelepipeds.

Method for Visualizing Data Clouds Using Color and Opacity Blending

US Patent Issued Inventors
7,928,980 B2 4.19.2011 Paul Graziani, Edward Mackey, and David Massa

This patent covers a method developed for AGI software to analyze and visualize large data sets.

Method for Determing Maximum Conjunction Probability of Rectagular-shaped Objects

US Patent Issued Inventors
7,383,153 B2 6.3.2008 Salvatore Alfano

Maximum conjunction probability calculations are refined by addressing rectangular object shapes, even though their orientation may not be known. Object dimensions and relative miss distance, coupled with the aspect ratio of the projected combined covariance, are used to determine the size and orientation of the covariance as well as the object orientation that produces the maximum probability. In treating the objects as rectangles instead of spheres, the probability calculation becomes more realistic by accounting for object shape. In the absence of object attitude information, a footprint is created that completely defines the region where the two objects might touch. This footprint can then be rotated to determine the orientation that produces the largest probability, making it the most conservative estimate for the given conjunction conditions. Sufficiency of the positional data is accessed to meaningfully support the calculations by using the associated standard deviation to demarcate a probability dilution region.

Visualization of Field-of-View Constraints

US Patent Issued Inventor
7,609,907 10.27.2009 Dr. Sergei Tanygin

This patent covers a method used in AGI software to compute one or more directional contours or horizons that encompass regions of space visible to the sensor. AGI's core COTS software offering, STK, uses this invention to determine and visualize complex visibility conditions that arise when sensor field-of-view is further limited by additional constraints, for example, the ground sample distance. With this method, STK leverages its comprehensive system of visibility computations to produce accurate and informative visualizations of complex time-dynamic geometries on 2D maps and in 3D scenes.

Method for Refining State Estimates of a Global Positioning System (GPS) Receiver Based Upon Sequential GPS Carrier Phase Measurements

US Patent Issued Inventors
7,423,583 09.09.2008 Jim Wright, William Chuba, and Dick Hujsak

Sequential GPS Doppler carrier phase count measurements are used for precision sequential determination of position and velocity of a GPS receiver, such as for orbit determination and geolocation, with minimum throughput time. Real-time orbit determination and geolocation performance is enabled with an optimal sequential filter, and near-real-time performance is enabled with an optimal fixed-lag smoother. Many problems associated with prior art orbit determination are eliminated by addressing the "cycle slip" problem, the unknown initial range problem with RANGE.sup.CP measurement representations, the problem of serial correlation in the measurements due to reprocessing of overlapping thermal noise. Also, the present invention significantly attenuates the carrier signal phase variation due to rotation of receiver antenna relative to transmitter antenna because the sequential phase count time intervals are sufficiently short.

A System and Method for Visualization and Attitude/Position-Dependent Data

US Patent Issued Inventors
7,224,311 05.29.2007 Dr. Haroon Rashid and Dr. Sergei Tanygin

An attitude sphere is defined around an object of interest located at the center. Grid points are defined on the surface of the attitude sphere to represent directions. An attitude dependent FOM result is mapped onto the sphere, which is colorcoded on the associated point to visualize attitude dependency. When used to analyze signals arriving at a receiver, the method accounts for motion of the receiver, the transmitter, and the signal sources.

GPS Carrier Phase Measurement Representation and Method of Use

US Patent Issued Inventors
7,050,002 05.23.2006 Jim Wright, William Chuba, Dick Hujsak

This patent covers technology used in AGI's Orbit Determination Tool Kit, and discusses how real-time orbit determination and geolocation performance is enabled with an optimal sequential filter and how near-real-time performance is supported by an optimal fixed-lag smoother. Many problems associated with prior art orbit determination are eliminated by addressing the "cycle slip" problem, the unknown initial range problem with RANGE.sup.CP measurement representations, the problem of serial correlation in the measurements due to reprocessing of overlapping thermal noise. Also, the present invention significantly attenuates the carrier signal phase variation due to rotation of receiver antenna relative to transmitter antenna because the sequential phase count time intervals are sufficiently short