Method and apparatus for aligning equipment on board a carrier vehicle and particularly on board an aircraft

摘要

A method for aligning pieces of equipment on board a vehicle, particularly on board an aircraft is disclosed. The method assumes the use of at least one computer on board the vehicle working in connection with the pieces of equipment. Under this method: a reference pattern assembly representative of the reference axis system of the vehicle is disposed on board the vehicle; a specific pattern assembly representative of a specific piece of equipment is disposed on board the vehicle at the position deemed most desirable for placing the particular piece of equipment; the position parameters reflecting the relative positions of the reference pattern assembly and specific pattern assembly are measured through the use of a distance measuring system which preferably uses a pair of theodolyte distance measuring devices which are preferably of the data processing type; the position parameters are stored in a memory; the memory is associated with the computer on board the vehicle; the specific pattern assembly is removed and the piece of equipment is substituted into the position previously occupied by the specific pattern assembly. An assembly of devices necessary for performing the method of the invention is also disclosed.