On-Board Air Picture Recognition Across Mixed Aerial Protocols
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for automated aerial vehicles (AAVs) struggle to create a complete recognized air picture due to the use of different cooperative systems with varying protocols, leading to incomplete or non-trivial signal processing, especially when the link with ground control stations is broken.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using multiple on-board receivers to process signals from different cooperative systems, such as ADS-B, FLARM, and active transponder interrogation, to generate a comprehensive air picture by combining horizontal and vertical positional information through coordinated turn and white noise acceleration models, and assigning threat levels based on criticality values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If multiple receivers with different protocols are used to receive signals from various cooperative systems, then the completeness of the recognized air picture is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal signal processing architecture where a single processor handles multiple signal types from different cooperative systems (ADS-B, FLARM, transponders). The processor is designed to universally process positional data from various sources using a common coordinate transformation framework, eliminating the need for separate processing chains for each protocol and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary coordinate transformation layer that converts positional information from different cooperative systems into a unified reference frame. This intermediary processing step acts as a mediator between diverse signal sources and the final air picture generation, standardizing data from multiple protocols without requiring complex protocol-specific handling at each stage.
2Reliability
If signals from different cooperative systems are processed to obtain tracking information, then the reliability of collision avoidance is improved, but the computational load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential positional information (horizontal and vertical coordinates) from the received signals for tracking purposes. By taking out only the critical data elements needed for collision avoidance rather than processing all signal parameters, the system reduces computational load while maintaining reliability in threat detection and avoidance maneuvers.
3Extent of automation
If on-board processing is used to generate air picture without ground control station link, then the autonomy of the aerial vehicle is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the air picture generation function into distinct modular components: signal reception from multiple cooperative systems, positional information extraction, coordinate transformation, and threat level assignment. This segmentation allows the on-board processing system to be built from discrete, manageable modules rather than a monolithic complex system, reducing implementation complexity while maintaining full autonomy.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a method of obtaining a recognized air picture of an observation space surrounding an automated aerial vehicle. The method comprises the steps of receiving first signals of first cooperative systems of aerial vehicles within the observation space using a first receiver on board the automated aerial vehicle and receiving second signals of second cooperative systems of aerial vehicles within the observation space using a second receiver on board the automated aerial vehicle. The first receiver and the second receiver are adapted to receive signals according to different protocols. The first signals and the second signals are processed using a processor on board the automated aerial vehicle to obtain tracking information with respect to the aerial vehicles within the observation space.