Collision alert system for warning of collision-critical objects, in particular for warning of debris and / or birds, in the flight path of an aircraft, aircraft fleet and collision warning method

Abstract

The invention relates to a collision alert system for warning of collision-critical objects, in particular for warning of debris and / or birds, in the flight area of an aircraft, having a collision warning device (31) which detects collision-critical elements (6, 7, 8) in the flight area of an aircraft (1, 2, 3), in particular of an aircraft, and emits a warning signal in the event of a collision-critical detection, the collision warning device comprising at least one monitoring sensor (9) arranged on the aircraft (1, 2, 3) and emits a warning signal in the event of a collision-critical detection, the collision warning device having at least one monitoring sensor (9, 16) which is arranged on the aircraft (1, 2, 3), detects a moving element (6, 7, 8) in a defined spatial area around the aircraft (1, 2, 3) and generates a movement profile on the basis of the collision-critical detection, 3) and records and forwards a movement profile. According to a preferred aspect of the invention, an aircraft fleet with a plurality of aircraft is provided, in which a predetermined number of the fleet aircraft is eguipped with a collision warning device (31), in which a warning signal determined by an aircraft with a collision warning device can also be transmitted directly to other aircraft and / or to at least one monitoring station and from there to other aircraft in the fleet.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Collision alert system for warning of collision-critical objects, in particular for warning of debris and / or birds, in the flight path of an aircraft, aircraft fleet and collision warning method

[0003] The invention relates to a collision alert system for warning of collision-critical objects, in particular for warning of debris and / or birds, in the flight path of an aircraft. The invention also relates to a fleet of aircraft and a collision warning method.

[0004] Collision-critical objects or elements in the flight area of an aircraft can be birds and flocks of birds in particular, which can cause major damage to aircraft in the event of collisions, especially during the take-off and landing phases. This leads to high repair costs, flight delays and flight cancellations worldwide.

[0005] It is already known to install bird warning devices at ground stations at airports, which use search devices, in particular telescopes, to scan the sky in the airport area for flying large birds and / or flocks of birds. In the event of possible collisions between birds and an aircraft landing or taking off, a warning signal is sent to a pilot or cockpit team. As a collision-avoidance measure, a take-off can then be postponed, or an alternative route can be flown during the approach. The disadvantage is that not many airports are equipped with such bird warning systems, so that no warning is possible there. In addition, the detection of birds with existing bird warning devices at airports is often uncertain, especially in adverse weather conditions, and can lead to warning failures or false warnings. In particular, the identification of birds in the air at distances greater than 1 to 2 km and at altitudes between 150 m and 1 ,500 m is difficult and uncertain. In addition, ground-based devices to drive away detected birds or flocks of birds are known to generate sound signals, including the use of drones. Such solutions are only successful in the immediate airport area and cannot prevent bird collisions with distant aircraft.

[0006] Other particularly collision-critical elements in the flight path of an aircraft are scrap elements from space debris. In space, especially in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) below an altitude of 2,000 km, there is a large number of satellites in orbit. The number of satellites is expected to increase 10 to 15 times over the next decade. Around 100 tons of space debris are already falling back to earth from space today and the amount of space debris will continue to increase significantly in the future. Space debris is generated, for example, by the reentry of disused satellites into the atmosphere, where part of the mass usually burns up, but some of the debris reaches the earth at high speed and thus can enter the flight path of aircraft. In the case of a controlled satellite re-entries, especially of large satellites or even space stations, the controllers try to carry out a the re-entry over the South Pacific which is a large uninhabited area with little air traffic. Smaller pieces of space debris, for example in the size of a few millimetres to a few centimetres, on the other hand, fall uncontrolled to earth everywhere and will likely cross the flight path of airplanes.

[0007] The number of flights and the number of air passengers is expected to increase by around 50% over the next decade, with a corresponding increase in passenger aircraft and aircraft movements. The expected increase in air traffic combined with the proliferation of satellites in space and the associated space debris will greatly increase the probability of aircraft collisions with space debris. Without countermeasures, the damage to aircraft in connection with high repair costs, flight cancellations, etc. could rise sharply, as could the risk of aircraft crashes and the loss of human life.

[0008] It is therefore an object of the invention to propose a functional and / or optimized collision warning alert system for warning of collision-critical objects, in particular for warning of debris and / or birds, in the flight path of an aircraft, as well as a corresponding collision warning method.

[0009] This object is solved with the features of the independent claims.

[0010] The invention relates to a collision alert system for aircraft, in particular for warning of debris and / or birds, with a collision warning device which is suitable and designed to detect collision-critical elements in the flight area of an aircraft, in particular an airplane, and to emit a warning signal (the alert) in the event of a collision-critical detection. The collision warning device has at least one monitoring sensor arranged on the aircraft, which is suitable and designed to detect at least one moving element in a defined spatial area around the aircraft and to record a movement profile, preferably in the form of element movement data, and to forward it for further processing, preferably to forward it for further processing to an assessment device to determine whether a warning signal should be emitted or not. Such element movement data can be, for example, an element position with an element flight altitude and / or an element flight direction and / or an element flight speed and / or an element size.

[0011] The collision warning device preferably also has an assessment device connected downstream of the at least one monitoring sensor, which is suitable and designed to calculate a collision probability of an imminent element collision of a detected element without countermeasures from the movement profile and aircraft data available in the aircraft and to output it as a probability signal. The collision warning device can be arranged in the aircraft in the same way as the at least one monitoring sensor, so that the entire collision warning device is arranged in the aircraft autonomously and independently of the ground. Depending on the circumstances, the assessment device can also be arranged completely or partially on the ground, so that the at least one monitoring sensor for recording the movement profile or for recording element movement data is mounted in the aircraft and the data is sent wirelessly to a ground station for evaluation and determination of a warning signal.

[0012] The aircraft data, such as an aircraft position with aircraft altitude and / or aircraft flight direction and / or aircraft flight speed, are already present in the aircraft and can be used for the evaluation according to the invention in the evaluation device. In particular for a bird collision warning, an aircraft stationary position and / or an aircraft take-off time and / or an aircraft take-off direction and / or an aircraft take-off speed and / or aircraft landing approach data can also be used in the evaluation.

[0013] Preferably, the assessment device also has a probability-evaluation device to which the calculated probability signal for a collision with a detected element can be fed, the probability-evaluation device being suitable and designed to emit a warning signal if a predetermined probability value is exceeded, preferably to a pilot and / or a cockpit team of the aircraft and / or to at least one other aircraft and / or to at least one autonomously controlled aircraft and / or at least one ground station.

[0014] According to another particularly preferred embodiment, it is provided that the collision warning device is designed and suitable to take a collision-preventing measure in or on the aircraft in response to a warning signal, preferably as an automatically controlled evasive manoeuvre, or to have it taken, preferably as a pilot-controlled evasive manoeuvre. In this way, cost-intensive damage to aircraft, in particular passenger aircraft, cargo aircraft, reconnaissance aircraft and drones, as well as the resulting repairs or crashes can be avoided or at least greatly reduced.

[0015] It is also preferable if the assessment device is suitable and designed to calculate the time period until a possible collision without a collision-preventing countermeasure in addition to the collision probability during flight operation and to output this together with the warning signal, in particular as pilot information. This allows a pilot or cockpit crew, for example, or possibly also an aircraftindependent monitoring unit, to decide whether and how a controlled evasive manoeuvre is possible and feasible.

[0016] According to a first particularly preferred embodiment, the collision warning device can form or have an aircraft-based bird collision warning device which is suitable and designed to warn of a collision of the aircraft with at least one flying obstacle, preferably a bird or a flock of birds, in a defined bird flight space area close to the ground, preferably up to a height of about 1 ,000 m or at about 3,300 feet, in particular to warn during a take-off or landing of the aircraft. Alternatively or additionally, the collision warning device can form or have an aircraft- based space debris collision warning device which is suitable and designed to warn of a collision of the aircraft with debris falling from space to the earth and enter the atmosphere at defined flight operating altitudes away from the ground (preferably at cruising altitudes of over 7,600 m or 25,000 feet). Each of the warning devices takes into account the special conditions of bird / bird flock detection (relatively slow object movement at close range) and space debris detection (rapid object movement at great distances). However, a bird collision warning device and a space debris collision warning device are implemented together on the aircraft in a particularly practical and advantageous manner, whereby components, in particular sensors and / or evaluation units with adapted evaluation algorithms may be used both for the bird collision warning and for the space debris collision warning. Specifically, the bird collision warning device (both as an individual warning device and possibly in conjunction with a space debris collision warning device) can have at least one top monitoring sensor, which can preferably be arranged on an upper side or upper wall of the aircraft, for example in the longitudinal centre of the aircraft. The detection space area of the at least one top monitoring sensor is directed at least upwards, preferably with a detection space area of preferably 360° upwards and at least partially directed into a side space area around the aircraft. Alternatively, or additionally, the bird collision warning device can have at least one ground monitoring sensor, preferably on an underside or ground wall of the aircraft, whose detection space area is directed at least downwards, preferably with a detection space area of preferably 360° downwards and at least partially directed into a side space area around the aircraft. This allows an aircraft to be covered by sensors throughout the entire surrounding area as required for the detection of birds / flocks of birds.

[0017] The bird collision warning device is particularly preferably suitable and designed to be active before and during take-off of the aircraft and in the climb phase or a landing phase in a defined altitude range, preferably up to 3,300 feet or 1 ,000 m, and to be switched off above this if necessary. However, the bird collision warning device is particularly preferably suitable and designed to first activate the at least one top monitoring sensor during take-off and only then activate the at least one ground monitoring sensor during the climb phase. During the landing approach, both sensors are also preferably activated.

[0018] Furthermore, it can be preferably provided that the collision warning device is suitable and designed to carry out at least one of the following measures as a collision-preventing measure when a warning signal is present:

[0019] - to postpone the start before a start, - during flight operations to a pilot or cockpit crew, preferably with a notified collision time interval of 10 seconds to 60 seconds, to execute an evasive manoeuvre,

[0020] - to direct and emit a laser beam at a bird / flock of birds during flight operations, in particular to drive a bird / flock of birds away from the direction of flight.

[0021] The collision warning device can also have a separate space debris collision warning device, or possibly one combined with the bird collision warning device, with at least one top monitoring sensor, preferably on an upper side or upper wall of the aircraft, for example on the front and / or approximately in the longitudinal centre of the aircraft, whose detection area is directed upwards, preferably with a free hemispherical detection area of preferably 360° directed upwards. For the space debris collision warning device, a downward-facing ground monitoring sensor is not absolutely necessary and a ground monitoring sensor of the bird collision warning device, if fitted, therefore no longer needs to be activated above certain flight altitudes. Accordingly, according to a particularly preferred concrete embodiment, it is provided that the space debris collision warning device is suitable and designed to be activated at least from a defined flight altitude, preferably from a flight altitude of 25,000 feet or 7,600 m and / or in a defined altitude corridor.

[0022] According to a further particularly preferred embodiment, it is provided that the top monitoring sensor of the space debris collision warning device has a range up to an altitude of at least 500 km, preferably up to an altitude of 2,000 km or even higher, most preferably in conjunction with a resolution for the detection, identification and trajectory detection of debris elements with a defined dimension. According to a preferred example the space debris collision warning device has for example a range for monitoring a space area in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) up to an altitude of 500 km. The top monitoring sensor of the space debris collision warning device can, for example, be dimensioned such that it has a very long range in conjunction with a high resolution for the detection, identification and trajectory detection of even very small debris elements of for example 3 cm or 1 inch in size.

[0023] A sensor with a shorter range of up to approx. 1 ,500 m or 4,900 feet can be used as the top monitoring sensor of a separate bird collision warning device in contrast to the top monitoring sensor of the space collision device, which has a long range of up to approx. 40 km. If necessary, however, this long-range top monitoring sensor can be used for both monitoring with an adapted evaluation algorithm for bird monitoring and space debris monitoring.

[0024] The collision warning device, in particular the space debris collision warning device with at least one monitoring sensor and an assessment device, should be suitable and designed to work so quickly that, taking into account the flight speed of an aircraft, a defined period of time remains until a possible collision when a debris element is detected at a defined distance, for example a period of time of 20 seconds remains until a possible collision at a distance of 5 km, 40 seconds at a distance of 10 km and 60 seconds at a distance of 15 km. Collision avoidance measures can still be carried out in a controlled manner within these time periods.

[0025] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the at least one monitoring sensor, preferably the at least one top monitoring sensor and / or the at least one ground monitoring sensor, is formed by a hyperspectral sensor. A hyperspectral sensor functions by capturing light across a wide range of wavelengths, typically from the visible to the near-infrared spectrum. Unlike traditional imaging sensors which capture light in three broad bands (red, green, and blue), hyperspectral sensors break down the spectrum into hundreds or even thousands of narrow bands. In more detail: The sensor collects light reflected or emitted from the target area. This light may come from natural sources like the sun or artificial sources. The collected light is then passed through a dispersive element such as a prism or diffraction grating. This element spreads the light out spatially according to its wavelength. The dispersed light is captured by an array of detectors, each measuring the intensity of light at a specific wavelength. This array effectively creates a spectrum for each pixel in the image. The raw data collected by the detectors is processed to remove noise and correct for distortions. Algorithms are often applied to enhance the quality of the data and extract useful information. Finally, the hyperspectral data is analysed to identify patterns, classify materials, or detect specific substances based on their unique spectral signatures across the captured wavelengths.

[0026] In a specific embodiment, the at least one top monitoring sensor, in particular of the space debris collision warning device, has at least one rotatable telescope, preferably several (for example four) telescopes offset from one another, which image(s) an observation ring with an observation frame, which traverse collision- critical debris elements with their trajectories, and which are detected there.

[0027] Such a telescope is preferably designed as an anastigmat telescope with several (for example three) mirrors, preferably with a semi-transparent mirror that transmits the infrared rays in the ultra-red range and in the short-wave range and reflects visible light for a separate evaluation of the beam ranges. With a telescope of this type, particularly high-resolution detection of scrap parts is possible even at great distances.

[0028] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, in a fleet comprising a plurality of aircraft, in particular passenger aircraft, reconnaissance aircraft and / or transport aircraft of one airline or several airlines, a predetermined number of the fleet aircraft, for example more than 50%, preferably more than 70%, is equipped with a collision warning device. A warning signal detected by an aircraft with a collision warning device can be emitted in this aircraft itself in any suitable manner, for example acoustically, optically and / or haptically and / or as a control impulse for automatic collision avoidance measures, and is also transmitted directly to other aircraft in the fleet (regardless of whether they are equipped with a collision warning device or not), in particular to potentially endangered aircraft in the fleet (regardless of whether they are equipped with a collision warning device or not), and / or to at least one, preferably aircraftindependent, monitoring station, which may also be a ground station, for example, and from there, possibly with a further evaluation and / or information, to other aircraft in the fleet (regardless of whether they are equipped with a collision warning device or not), in particular to potentially endangered aircraft in the fleet (regardless of whether they are equipped with a collision warning device or not). This creates a functional network of aircraft which, due to the global flight movements within a fleet and in conjunction with a plurality, in particular a multitude of aircraft equipped with collision warning devices, enables almost comprehensive monitoring of the global airspace, in particular with regard to space debris. This enables a globally effective and functionally reliable warning of space debris in a simple way, simply by using existing aircraft as carriers of collision warning devices.

[0029] According to a further aspect of the invention, an aircraft fleet with a plurality of aircraft, in particular passenger aircraft, reconnaissance aircraft and / or transport aircraft of one or more airlines, in which a predetermined number of the fleet aircraft is equipped with a collision warning device of a collision alert system, preferably with a collision warning device of a collision alert system as described above, is therefore also explicitly claimed, in which a warning signal determined by an aircraft with a collision warning device can also be transmitted directly to other aircraft in the fleet (regardless of whether they are equipped with a collision warning device or not), in particular to potentially endangered aircraft in the fleet (regardless of whether they are equipped with a collision warning device or not), and / or can be transmitted to at least one monitoring station, preferably independent of the aircraft, and from there can be forwarded, possibly with a further evaluation and / or information, to other aircraft in the fleet (regardless of whether they are equipped with a collision warning device or not), in particular to potentially endangered aircraft in the fleet (regardless of whether they are equipped with a collision warning device or not).

[0030] In a further aspect, the object described above is solved by a corresponding collision warning method with a collision warning device described above.

[0031] The invention is further explained in more detail and by way of example only with reference to a drawing. These drawings show:

[0032] Figure 1 is a highly schematized representation of three aircraft in a high flight position in a hail of space debris,

[0033] Figure 2 a passenger aircraft with a top monitoring sensor,

[0034] Figure 3 a top monitoring sensor with a space hemisphere shown schematically above it,

[0035] Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the principle of a dual sensor in a top monitoring sensor,

[0036] Figure 5 is a schematic representation of the possibilities of data flow within an aircraft fleet in which at least some of the aircraft are equipped with a collision warning device of a collision alert system, Figure 6 is a schematic representation of global flight movements within a fleet that enables comprehensive monitoring of the global airspace.

[0037] Figure 1 schematically shows an example of three aircraft, a passenger aircraft 1 , a reconnaissance aircraft 2 and a military aircraft 3 in flight at an altitude just below 35,000 feet, corresponding to at about 10,600 m.

[0038] Above this, space 4 is open to space and filled with space debris 5, which flies on potentially collision-critical trajectories in the vicinity of the aircraft 1 , 2, 3 and can damage the aircraft 1 , 2, 3 when it crashes to earth.

[0039] For example, an accumulation of space debris 5 consisting of screws 6 (just by example) is shown above the passenger aircraft 1. An accumulation of space debris consisting of small steel plates 7 (also just by example) is shown above the reconnaissance aircraft 2 and space debris 5 consisting of undefinable unknown elements 8 is shown above the military aircraft 3 (also just by example).

[0040] All three aircraft 1 , 2, 3 are equipped with a collision warning device of a collision alert system according to the invention, in particular a space debris collision warning device, the essential component of which is at least one top monitoring sensor 9, which is exemplarily arranged in the central longitudinal area of the aircraft 1 , 2, 3. For the military aircraft 3, a top monitoring sensor 9 is shown enlarged as an example in the upper right part of Figure 1 .

[0041] The top monitoring sensors 9 are used to detect elements 6, 7, 8 of the space debris 5 with their element movement data, which are evaluated in at least one assessment device respectively evaluation unit in the aircraft 1 , 2, 3 to determine whether collision-critical space debris elements 6, 7, 8 are present in the flight area of the aircraft 1 , 2, 3. The assessment device is suitable and designed to calculate from the movement profile and aircraft data present in the aircraft 1 , 2, 3 a collision probability of an imminent element collision of a detected element 6, 7, 8 without countermeasures and to output it as a probability signal, with the assessment device having a probability-evaluation device to which the probability signal is feedable and which is suitable and designed to emit a warning signal when a predetermined probability value is exceeded, preferably to a pilot and / or a cockpit team of the aircraft 1 , 2, 3 and / or to at least one other aircraft and / or to at least one autonomously controlled aircraft and / or to at least one ground station. The collision warning device 31 is furthermore designed and suitable for taking a collision-preventing measure in or on the aircraft 1 , 2, 3 in response to a warning signal, preferably as an automatically controlled evasive manoeuvre, or for having it taken, preferably as a pilot-controlled evasive manoeuvre.

[0042] The schematically drawn rays 10 emanating from the top monitoring sensors 9 are intended to represent the possible cone-shaped detection area covered by the top monitoring sensors 9. This creates, as shown in Figure 1 a safety bubble 35 around flying aircraft 1 , 2, 3.

[0043] The aircraft 1 , 2 and 3 shown in Figure 1 are preferably part of a fleet with a large number of other aircraft, a predetermined number of which (e.g. part or all of it) are equipped with a collision warning device 31 , as shown very schematically in Figure 5. The collision warning devices 31 together with their connected devices and / or units form a collision warning system according to another preferred embodiment of the invention, which is described below by way of example and in more detail:

[0044] A warning signal 32 detected by an aircraft 1 with a collision warning device 31 can then be emitted in this aircraft 1 itself in any suitable manner, for example acoustically, optically and / or haptically and / or as a control impulse for automatic collision avoidance measures, and is also transmitted directly to other aircraft 2 in the fleet and / or to at least one, preferably aircraft-independent, monitoring station 33, which can also be, as shown by example in Figure 5, a ground station, for example, and from there, if necessary with a further evaluation and / or information (see for example evaluated warning signal 34), is forwarded to other aircraft 2 in the fleet, in particular to aircraft in the fleet that may be in an imminent debris risk. This creates a functional network of aircraft which, due to the worldwide flight movements within a fleet and in conjunction with a plurality, in particular a multitude of aircraft equipped with collision warning devices, enables almost comprehensive monitoring of the worldwide airspace, in particular with regard to space debris. This enables a globally effective and functionally reliable warning of space debris in a simple way, simply by using existing aircraft as carriers of collision warning devices. Figure 6 is an exemplary schematic representation of global flight movements within a fleet, which enables comprehensive monitoring of global airspace.

[0045] Figure 2 shows the passenger aircraft 1 with its top monitoring sensor 9 enlarged once again. The top monitoring sensor 9 is also arranged here approximately in the central longitudinal area of the passenger aircraft 1. The top monitoring sensor 9 has a hemispherical, convex shape with several viewing openings through which four optical sensor elements act as telescopes to monitor four associated spatial respectively space areas 12, 13, 14, 15 and, if necessary, cover further spatial areas by means of rotations.

[0046] Furthermore, in Figure 2, a downward-facing ground monitoring sensor 16 is arranged on the passenger aircraft 1 in the front nose area, which is activated in particular after an aircraft take-off and during a landing approach to detect collision-critical birds and / or flocks of birds. Figure 3 illustrates the function of the top monitoring sensor 9 in conjunction with a monitored space area 12. From a viewing aperture 11 , a telescope located behind it in the top monitoring sensor 9 picks up the beams from the space area 12, whereby the detectable space area is shown as an observation ring 17 on a schematized space hemisphere 18. Any collision-critical elements of the space debris cross this observation ring 17 and are detected. Other objects with non- critical orbits can also be detected, such as the satellites 19 and 20 shown as examples with their dashed orbits 21 , 22.

[0047] The satellites produce oblique stripes 23, 24 in the observation ring 17, which are recognized as uncritical by an evaluation unit connected downstream of the top monitoring sensor 9, possibly in conjunction with known orbital data, and do not trigger a warning signal.

[0048] Several, for example four rotating telescopes are arranged in one station of the top monitoring sensor 9, with the rotation arrow 25 schematically indicating such a rotation.

[0049] Figure 4 schematically shows the beam path in a compact telescope 26 with three mirrors in this example. In a semi-transparent mirror, the beam is split into a visible light component and an infrared light component, each of which is directed to assigned measuring sensors 27 and 28. The centre for the telescope rotation and the path 30 of a space debris particle are also shown.

[0050] List of reference symbols

[0051] 1 Passenger aircraft 25 Rotating arrow

[0052] 2 Reconnaissance aircraft 26 Telescope

[0053] 3 Military aircraft 27 Measuring sensor

[0054] 4 Space 28 Measuring sensor

[0055] 5 Space debris 29 Center

[0056] 6 Screws 30 Path

[0057] 7 Steel plates 31 Collision warning device

[0058] 8 Elements 32 Warning signal

[0059] 9 Top monitoring sensor 33 Monitoring device

[0060] 10 Rays 34 Evaluated warning signal

[0061] 11 Viewing aperture 35 Safety bubble

[0062] 12 Spatial area

[0063] 13 Spatial area

[0064] 14 Spatial area

[0065] 15 Spatial area

[0066] 16 Ground monitoring sensor

[0067] 17 Observation ring

[0068] 18 Space hemisphere

[0069] 19 Satellite

[0070] 20 Satellite

[0071] 21 Orbit

[0072] 22 Orbit

[0073] 23 Oblique stripe

[0074] 24 Oblique stripe

Claims

Claims1 . Collision alert system for warning of collision-critical objects, in particular for warning of debris and / or birds, in the flight path of an aircraft, with a collision warning device (31) which is suitable and designed to detect collision-critical elements (6, 7, 8) in the flight area of an aircraft (1 , 2, 3), in particular an airplane, and to emit a warning signal in the event of a collision-critical detection, wherein the collision warning device (31) has at least one monitoring sensor (9, 16) arranged on the aircraft (1 , 2, 3), which is suitable and designed to detect at least one moving element (6, 7, 8) in a defined spatial area around the aircraft (1 , 2, 3) and to record a movement profile, preferably in the form of element movement data, and to forward it for further processing, preferably to forward it for further processing to an assessment device to determine whether a warning signal should be emitted or not.

2. Collision alert system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the collision warning device (31) has an assessment device connected downstream of the at least one monitoring sensor (9, 16), which is suitable and designed to calculate from the movement profile and aircraft data present in the aircraft (1 , 2, 3) a collision probability of an imminent element collision of a detected element (6, 7, 8) without countermeasures and to output it as a probability signal, with the assessment device having a probability-evaluation device to which the probability signal is feedable and which is suitable and designed to emita warning signal when a predetermined probability value is exceeded, preferably to a pilot and / or a cockpit team of the aircraft (1 , 2, 3) and / or to at least one other aircraft and / or to at least one autonomously controlled aircraft and / or to at least one ground station.

3. Collision alert system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the collision warning device (31) is designed and suitable for taking a collision-preventing measure in or on the aircraft (1 , 2, 3) in response to a warning signal, preferably as an automatically controlled evasive manoeuvre, or for having it taken, preferably as a pilot-controlled evasive manoeuvre.

4. Collision alert system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the assessment device is suitable and designed to calculate, in addition to the collision probability, the time period until a possible collision without a collision-preventing countermeasure during flight operation and to output it together with the warning signal, in particular as pilot information.

5. Collision alert system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collision warning device (31) forms or comprises an aircraft- based bird collision warning device which is suitable and designed to warn of a collision of the aircraft (1 , 2, 3) with at least one flying obstacle, preferably a bird or a flock of birds, in a defined bird flight space area close to the ground, preferably up to a height of approximately 1 ,000 m or 3,300 feet, in particular to warn during a take-off or landing of the aircraft (1 , 2, 3), and / orthe collision warning device (31) forms or comprises an aircraft- based space debris collision warning device which is suitable and designed to warn of a collision of the aircraft (1 , 2, 3) with debris parts which descend from space to earth and plunge into the atmosphere at defined flight operating altitudes away from the ground, preferably at cruising altitudes of more than 7,600 m or 25,000 feet.

6. Collision alert system according to claim 5, characterized in that, the bird collision warning device has at least one top monitoring sensor (9), preferably on an upper side or upper wall of the aircraft (1 , 2, 3), the detection space area (18) of which is directed at least upwards, preferably with a detection space area (18) of preferably 360° upwards and at least partially directed into a side space area around the aircraft (1 , 2, 3), and / or the bird collision warning device has at least one ground monitoring sensor (16), preferably on an underside or ground wall of the aircraft (1 , 2, 3), the detection space area of which is directed at least downwards, preferably with a detection space area of preferably 360° downwards and at least partially in a side space area around the aircraft (1 , 2, 3).

7. Collision alert system according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the bird collision warning device is suitable and designed to be active before and during take-off of the aircraft (1 , 2, 3) and in the climb phase or a landing phase in a defined altitude range, preferably up to 3,300 feet or 1 ,000 m, wherein the bird collision warning device is preferably suitableand designed to first activate the at least one top monitoring sensor (9) during take-off and only subsequently activate the at least one ground monitoring sensor (16) during the climb phase and / or to activate both sensors (9, 16) during the landing approach .

8. Collision alert system according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that, the collision warning device is suitable and designed to carry out at least one of the following measures as a collision-preventing measure in the presence of a warning signal:- to postpone the start before a start,- during flight operations to a pilot or cockpit crew, preferably with a notified collision time interval of 10 seconds to 60 seconds, to execute an evasive manoeuvre,- to direct and emit a laser beam at a bird / flock of birds during flight operations, in particular to drive a bird / flock of birds away from the direction of flight.

9. Collision alert system according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the space debris collision warning device comprises at least one top monitoring sensor (9), preferably on a top side or top wall of the aircraft (1 , 2, 3), the detection space area (18) of which is directed upwards, preferably with a detection space area (18) of preferably 360° upwards.

10. Collision alert system according to claim 9, characterized in that the space debris collision warning device is suitable and designed to be activated at least from a defined flight altitude, preferably from a flight altitude of 25,000 feet or 7,600 m and / or in a defined altitude corridor.

11. Collision alert system according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the top monitoring sensor (9) of the space debris collision warning device has a range up to an altitude of at least 500 km, preferably up to an altitude of 2,000 km or even higher, most preferably in conjunction with a resolution for detection, identification and trajectory detection of debris elements with a defined dimension.

12. Collision alert system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sensor with a range of up to approximately 1 ,500 m or 4,900 feet is used as the top monitoring sensor (9) of the bird collision warning device and / or in that a sensor with a range of up to approximately 40 km is used as the top monitoring sensor (9) of the space debris collision warning device.

13. Collision alert system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collision warning device (31), in particular the space debris collision warning device with at least one monitoring sensor (9) and an assessment device, is suitable and designed to operate so quickly that, taking into account an airspeed of an aircraft (1 , 2, 3), a defined period of time remains until a possible collision when a debris element (6, 7, 8) is detected at a defined distance.

14. Collision alert system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one monitoring sensor (9) is formed by a hyperspectral sensor.

15. Collision alert system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one monitoring sensor (9), in particular the at least one top monitoring sensor (9) and / or the at least one ground monitoring sensor, preferably the at least one top monitoring sensor (9) of the space debris collision warning device, has at least one rotatable telescope (26), preferably a plurality of rotatable telescopes (24) which are offset relative to one another and which image an observation ring (17) with an observation frame, which traverse collision-critical debris elements (6, 7, 8) with their trajectories and which are detected there.

16. Collision alert system according to claim 15, characterized in that a telescope (24) is designed as an anastigmat telescope with several mirrors, preferably with a semi-transparent mirror which transmits infrared rays in the ultra-red range and in the short-wave range and reflects visible light for a separate evaluation of the ray ranges.

17. Collision alert system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in a fleet with a plurality of aircraft, in particular passenger aircraft (1), reconnaissance aircraft (2) and / or transport aircraft (3) of one airline or several airlines, a predetermined number of the fleet aircraft is equipped with a collision warning device (31), wherein a warning signal detected by an aircraft (1 , 2, 3) with a collision warning device (31) is also transmittable directly to other aircraft in the fleet, in particular to potentially endangered aircraft in the fleet and / or is transmittable to at least one, preferably aircraft-independent, monitoring station (33) and from there, possibly with a further evaluation and / or information, is forwardable to other aircraft in the fleet, in particular to potentially endangered aircraft in the fleet.

18. Aircraft fleet with a plurality of aircraft, in particular passenger aircraft (1 ), reconnaissance aircraft (2) and / or transport aircraft (3) of one airline or several airlines, in which a predetermined number of the fleet aircraft is equipped with a collision warning device (31) of a collision alert system, preferably with a collision warning device (31) of a collision alert system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a warning signal determined by an aircraft (1 , 2, 3) with a collision warning device (31) is also transmittable directly to other aircraft in the fleet, in particular to potentially endangered aircraft in the fleet, and / or is transmittable to at least one, preferably aircraft-independent, monitoring station (33) and from there, possibly with a further evaluation and / or information, is forwardable to other aircraft in the fleet, in particular to potentially endangered aircraft in the fleet.

19. Collision warning method with a collision alert system, in particular with a collision alert system according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 17 and / or for a fleet of aircraft according to claim 18.

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