Relative Attitude and Position Estimation Program

Integrated Sensors, Inc.

Utica, NY 
 

A unique Kalman filter that enhances the ability to perform the proximity sensing phase of the Automated Rendezvous and Capture (AR&C) mission

• This technology enables a robot supply vehicle to automatically dock with and service Earth-orbiting satellites or the International Space Station
• Integrated Sensors, Inc. (ISI) successfully developed the system and then used the sensing/tracking technology as the basis of a commercial Object Position and Attitude Determination (OPAD) system that simultaneously tracks an object’s linear and angular movement in all six degrees of freedom
• ISI extended this technology as the basis for ImageExpress^TM Motion Analysis Workstation, simplifying the end-to-end process of video motion analysis

• ISI has been extremely successful in drawing upon the VGS/OPADS technology and transferring portions into a product called “ImageExpress” which is a Motion Analysis Workstation for the video non-destructive testing industry.  ISI has formed a separate commercial company - Sensors Applications, Inc. (SAI) for the expressed purpose of commercialization of the Image Express^TM Motion Analysis Workstation and related technologies. SAI’s total sales now equal that of ISI and is growing at a rate of 35% per year
• Through 1997 ISI has shipped over 100 systems internationally
• With a follow-on high end product for Automotive Air Bag analysis in 1996 and a 3-D Motion Analysis in 1998, an additional $2M in sales is projected 

• Filter can be used for any application that measures resolvable angle data from known targets that must estimate relative position and attitude
• Applications include automatic collision avoidance, automated supertanker docking, automated aircraft landing, robot control, machine vision, and others

 

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