METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF GEOGRAPHIC POSITION OF OBSERVED AREA OF OBSERVATION EQUIPMENT BEING MOVED RELATIVE TO SPACECRAFT, SYSTEM FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND DEVICE FOR ARRANGING EMITTERS ON OBSERVATION EQUIPMENT Russian patent published in 2014 - IPC G01C11/00 

FIELD: transport.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to space engineering. Method for determination of geographic position of observed area of observation equipment being moved relative to SC includes navigational measurements of SC movement, determination of centre of mass position and SC orientation, determination of observation equipment spatial position. Additionally, control commands are generated for emitting pulse ultrasonic signals by at least three emitters located in spaced points on observation equipment freely moved relative to SC, emitted pulse ultrasonic signals are received by at least three ultrasonic receivers located in spaced points on SC. Ultrasonic signal delay time is measured on the basis of emitted and received ultrasonic signals. Synchronisation of pulse ultrasonic signal emission and receive times is performed via radio channel. Temperature measurement is performed at locations of ultrasonic emitters and at locations of ultrasonic receivers. On the basis of ultrasonic signal receive delay times and measured temperatures the distances form ultrasonic emitters to ultrasonic receivers are determined. Geographic position of observation area is determined on the basis of SC centre of mass position relative to planet, SC orientation relative to planet and spatial position of observation equipment relative to SC calculated from distances from ultrasonic emitters to ultrasonic receivers. System for determination of geographic position of observed area of observation equipment being moved relative to SC includes SC centre of mass position determination unit, SC orientation determination unit, observed area geographic position determination unit. Additionally, following devices are introduced: at least three ultrasonic emitters and at least one temperature sensor installed on observation equipment, at least three ultrasonic receivers and at least one temperature sensor installed on SC, emitter control command generation unit, controllers, radio transceivers, signal amplifier, automatic gain control unit, multichannel analogue-to-digital converter, signal delay time measurement unit, synchroniser, unit for determination of observation equipment spatial position relative to SC. Device for emitters arrangement on observation equipment contains detachable connection one of detachable parts of which is rigidly connected with observation equipment. Additionally, at least three pillars are introduced on each one of which ultrasonic emitters are installed. The pillars are rigidly connected with the other detachable part of detachable connection. Emission axes of ultrasonic emitters are parallel to observation equipment sensing axis. Distances from ultrasonic emitters to observation equipment sensing axis are selected by proposed formula depending on dimensions of observation equipment lens and SC window through which observations are performed and on minimum distance from observation equipment to the window.

EFFECT: highly precise determination of geographic position of area being observed through observation equipment freely moved in zero gravity conditions relative to SC and having no mechanical connection with SC, while providing possibility to use various exchangeable observation devices.

3 cl, 3 dwg