Common Reference Frame for Multi-platform Operations

With the Boeing Phantom Works as a subcontractor, Integrity Systems is leading the Common Reference Frame for Multi-platform Operations (CORF) Phase II SBIR program. The goal of CORF is to provide the methodology, algorithms, and prototype software needed to ensure that target location data from different sources are provided to the battlefield user in a consistent and readily usable form, with negligible errors due to datum, coordinate frame and message-format conversions.

Under CORF, Integrity Systems has studied the effects of both horizontal and vertical position datums on information fusion. In particular, the vertical datum used in mapping and cartography (the geoid surface, approximately mean sea level) and the vertical datum used in satelite navigation and remote sensing systems (the WGS84 ellipsoid) must be correctly reconciled when combining information from different sources. Integrity Systems has devised novel data compression techniques tailored to the geoid/ellipsoid conversion problem.

In addition to developing datum conversion algorithms, Integrity Systems has extended and improved its fast geodetic conversion algorithms as part of the CORF effort. These algorithms allow a navigation system to use a simple coordinate system internally, converting to and from geodetic coordinates in a computationally efficient way. As part of CORF, the datum conversion algorithms and coordinate transformation algorithms are being packaged into a sofware library, CRFPAK, for reuse by others.

Working with Boeing Phantom Works, Integrity Systems has identified tactical mission scenarios for use in evaluating the consequences of errors in datum and coordinate system transformations. In addition, our association with Boeing provides a means for quickly transitioning the new technology to operational systems.