POLARIZED TRACKER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRACKING MOVEMENT

摘要

A system and method are provided for leveraging emitted polarized electromagnetic radiation as a means to track relative orientation and position of an object with regard to another object. Six basic degrees of freedom including three angular and three translational are determined based on making multiple polarization-based measurements and then determining the corresponding geometry that would yield those measurements.

主权项

1. A method for tracking movement of an object in relation to a platform, comprising:
transmitting polarized electromagnetic radiation from a plurality of emitters, the emitters affixed to one of the object and the platform, the object configured to be pointed in at least one of a plurality of directions relative to the platform; receiving the polarized electromagnetic radiation by a plurality of polarized detectors affixed to the other of the object and the platform; measuring polarized electromagnetic radiation levels of the polarized electromagnetic radiation received by the plurality of polarized detectors; and analyzing the received polarized electromagnetic radiation levels to determine the at least one direction the object is pointed relative to the platform.