Adaptive Aircraft Collision Warning System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft collision avoidance systems, such as TCAS, are inadequate for military and small aircraft due to their size constraints and generate false instructions for non-commercial flight patterns, and do not provide real-time collision awareness for civilian aircraft interacting with military aircraft.
Innovation Solution
A computerized collision warning system that uses aviation transponders to determine situation awareness data, including range and velocity, and generates collision warnings and maneuvering instructions tailored to unique flight profiles, capable of operating with ADS-B and various interrogation modes, and allowing data fusion from multiple aircraft for enriched situation awareness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If TCAS is used for collision avoidance, then collision warning capability is provided, but the system generates false instructions for non-commercial flight patterns and is inadequate for military and small aircraft
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts its collision assessment criteria based on the flight patterns and operational characteristics of different aircraft types. Instead of using fixed TCAS algorithms, the system adjusts its parameters and decision-making logic to match commercial, military, or small aircraft flight behaviors, eliminating false warnings while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key parameters such as collision threshold distances, velocity thresholds, and maneuver priorities based on the identified aircraft type and flight pattern. This allows the same system to provide accurate collision warnings for diverse aircraft without generating false instructions, as each aircraft type operates with optimized parameters.
2Loss of information
If TCAS interrogates nearby aircraft transponders, then location data is obtained, but real-time collision awareness is not provided for civilian aircraft interacting with military aircraft
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to universally interrogate and process data from any aircraft transponder regardless of whether it belongs to civilian or military aircraft. The multi-functional capability allows the system to adapt its interpretation and response generation for different aircraft types, ensuring complete situation awareness across all sectors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system acts as an intermediary that receives raw transponder data from any aircraft type, processes it through adaptive algorithms that understand both civilian and military flight patterns, and generates appropriate collision warnings. This intermediary processing layer enables cross-sector compatibility without requiring modification to the underlying transponder systems.
3Reliability
If standard collision avoidance maneuvers are provided, then collision risk is reduced, but the system does not account for unique flight characteristics of different aircraft types
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides localized, customized collision avoidance maneuvers tailored to each aircraft type's unique flight characteristics. Instead of applying uniform avoidance instructions, the system adjusts maneuver priorities, climb/descent rates, and turning radii based on the specific aircraft's performance capabilities and operational patterns, ensuring both effectiveness and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
The presently disclosed subject matter includes a collision warning and avoidance system and method for detecting a collision risk between an interrogating aircraft and at least one interrogated aircraft. Signals received from the at least one interrogated aircraft or by the at least one interrogated aircraft and at least one other interrogating aircraft are used for determining various situation awareness data which is used for determining whether the interrogating aircraft is in a risk of collision. If indeed a collision risk exists a collision warning is generated, the collision warning including data indicative of at least an estimated location of the at least one interrogated aircraft.