Adaptive Collision Detection System for Aircraft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (TAWS) generate false alarms at low aircraft speeds and are ineffective in detecting collisions with non-inventoried temporary obstacles, as they rely on outdated databases and fixed safety margins, failing to account for wind influence and low-speed trajectory projections.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize sensors to detect obstacles and determine a detection mode based on aircraft speed and guiding mode, applying transformations to adjust detection points radially and calculate protective envelopes, reducing false alarms by considering actual environmental obstacles and wind effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If TAWS systems use a fixed safety margin to protect high-speed aircraft, then high-speed aircraft are protected from terrain collision, but low-speed aircraft generate many false alarms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the safety margin adaptive rather than fixed. The system dynamically adjusts the safety margin based on aircraft speed, using a larger margin for high-speed aircraft and a smaller margin for low-speed aircraft. This resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to maintain high reliability for high-speed aircraft while reducing false alarms for low-speed aircraft.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of safety margin from a fixed value to a variable that depends on aircraft speed. By modifying this key parameter based on operating conditions, the system achieves both high-speed protection and low-speed accuracy, eliminating the false alarm problem while maintaining collision detection reliability.
2Reliability
If TAWS systems rely on elevation databases with fixed geometry, then terrain collision risks are detected, but non-inventoried temporary obstacles like cables and towers cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by creating a collision detection system that works for all types of obstacles, not just terrain. The system processes both inventoried obstacles from databases and non-inventoried temporary obstacles detected by onboard sensors using the same geometric collision detection methodology, making the system versatile and adaptable to any obstacle type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a local obstacle database and sensor system that bridges the gap between fixed elevation databases and real-time obstacle detection. This intermediary layer allows the system to detect temporary obstacles while maintaining the benefits of database-driven terrain awareness.
3Quantity of substance
If TAWS systems use low-resolution terrain elevation cells, then database storage is reduced, but detection precision for obstacles decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the obstacle representation into discrete geometric primitives (cylinders, boxes, spheres) rather than using continuous terrain surfaces. This segmentation allows for precise obstacle modeling while maintaining efficient database storage, as each obstacle can be represented by a small number of geometric parameters rather than requiring fine-resolution elevation data.
4Reliability
If TAWS systems project trajectories at high speeds, then collision risks are accurately assessed, but low-speed aircraft trajectories cannot be projected due to wind influence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the trajectory projection system adaptive to aircraft speed and wind conditions. For low-speed aircraft, the system dynamically adjusts by incorporating wind field data and performing projections over shorter time horizons, while high-speed aircraft use traditional longer-range projections. This dynamic adaptation allows accurate trajectory assessment for both speed regimes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key trajectory projection parameters based on aircraft speed, including projection time horizon, wind field integration, and safety margin values. By modifying these parameters adaptively, the system achieves reliable collision assessment for both low-speed and high-speed operations, resolving the contradiction between trajectory projection accuracy and low-speed applicability.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for detecting potential collisions by an aircraft are disclosed. A set of points may be detected by one or more sensors of the aircraft. The set of points may be transformed based on the speed of the aircraft relative to a speed threshold. A potential collision may be detected based on whether a transformed point is within a protective envelope relative to the aircraft.