Correlation position determination

1. A location determination device, comprising:

a ranging device configured to measure ranges and associated angles to objects;

a scene database configured to store the ranges and associated angles to the objects, and orientation angles of pitch, roll, and yaw of a vehicle with regard to the objects, to create a map having sections including information on the ranges and associated angles to the objects, and measurement location information of the objects; and

a correlation system including a processor configured to correlate current measured ranges, associated angles to the objects, and orientation angles of pitch, roll, and yaw of the vehicle with regard to the objects, with the stored ranges, associated angles to the objects, and orientation angles of pitch, roll, and yaw of the vehicle with regard to the objects in at least one section of the map, to determine at least one of a location or heading.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an inertial sensor, and at least one of a heading sensor, a speed sensor, a global positioning sensor, or an altimeter sensor.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the correlation system further comprises:

a discriminator configured to output correlation data relating to measured and stored data; and

a normalization unit configured to adjust the output from the discriminator to adjust for quality factors in the measured and stored data.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the ranging device is further configured to scan a subset of 360 degrees.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the ranging device is one of a laser ranger, a radar rangefinder, a stereo rangefinder, a 360 degree LIDAR, or a flash LIDAR.

6. A method of determining a location within a select area, the method comprising:

conducting a range scan with a ranging device to determine ranges and associated angles to objects while a vehicle initially traverses throughout the select area;

storing data required to reconstruct the ranges, associated angles to the objects, and orientation angles of pitch, roll, and yaw of the vehicle with regard to the objects while the vehicle initially traverses throughout the select area;

measuring current ranges and associated angles to the objects with the ranging device during a subsequent traversal of the vehicle throughout the select area;

correlating the current ranges, associated angles to the objects, and orientation angles of pitch, roll, and yaw of the vehicle with regard to the objects to reconstructed ranges, associated angles to the objects, and orientation angles of pitch, roll, and yaw of the vehicle with regard to the objects from the stored data; and

determining at least one of a current location or heading within the select area based at least in part on correlation results.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the stored data required to reconstruct the ranges, associated angles to the objects, and associated orientation angles comprises a map identifying estimated locations of objects.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the current location includes a 3D location and the heading includes an attitude estimate.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the orientation angles of pitch, roll, and yaw are measured with an inertial sensor on the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the range scan is up to 360 degrees.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the ranging device is one of a laser ranger, a radar rangefinder, a stereo rangefinder, a 360 degree LIDAR, or a flash LIDAR.