Jan 6, 2026

US12516907 - Methods and apparatus for pointing logic in aircraft

Methods and apparatus for pointing logic in aircraft are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus to aim an aiming device carried by an aircraft includes at least one memory, machine readable instructions, and processor circuitry. The processor is to at least one of instantiate or execute the machine readable instructions to determine a position of a target, determine an orientation of the aircraft, determine aiming points based on the orientation and a movement range of the aiming device, and determine a movement of at least one of the aircraft or the aiming device based on the aiming points and the position to orient the aiming device toward the target.

Assignee: The Boeing Company
Inventors: Douglas Famularo, Jeffery Saunders
Filing date: 2024-10-04

This patent describes an apparatus for aiming devices on aircraft, utilizing processor circuitry and machine-readable instructions to determine target positions and aircraft orientation. The system aims to maintain the aircraft’s relative position and orientation to a target by adjusting the movement of either the aircraft or the aiming device.

Claim 1

1 . An apparatus carried by an aircraft, the apparatus comprising: an aiming device; machine readable instructions; and processor circuitry to at least one of instantiate or execute the machine readable instructions to: determine a position of a target, determine aiming points based on an orientation of the aircraft and a movement range of the aiming device, and cause, based on the aiming points and the position, movement of at least one of the aircraft or the aiming device to maintain the aircraft at a relative position and a relative orientation to the target. an aiming device; machine readable instructions; and processor circuitry to at least one of instantiate or execute the machine readable instructions to: determine a position of a target, determine aiming points based on an orientation of the aircraft and a movement range of the aiming device, and cause, based on the aiming points and the position, movement of at least one of the aircraft or the aiming device to maintain the aircraft at a relative position and a relative orientation to the target. determine a position of a target, determine aiming points based on an orientation of the aircraft and a movement range of the aiming device, and cause, based on the aiming points and the position, movement of at least one of the aircraft or the aiming device to maintain the aircraft at a relative position and a relative orientation to the target.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12516907

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12516907