Airborne Ground Obstacle Detection Using Digital Beam Forming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current obstacle detection systems, such as laser and millimeter wave radars, suffer from poor visibility in bad weather and limited operational range, while scanning radars have low update rates and pulse radars struggle with low-altitude detection, making them unsuitable for detecting fixed low-height obstacles from long ranges.
Innovation Solution
A method and system using electromagnetic waves in the 0.1 to 100 GHz range for illuminating a wide field of view, employing multiple antenna elements for digital signal transformation, spatial processing to form multiple beams, and applying range and velocity filtering to detect and discriminate ground obstacles based on their specific signature in a range-velocity diagram, without requiring mechanical scanning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If laser and millimeter wave radars are used for obstacle detection, then detection precision is improved, but visibility deteriorates in bad weather
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the electromagnetic wave frequency parameter from millimeter wave (higher frequency) to X-band (lower frequency, 9-10 GHz), which improves penetration capability in bad weather conditions while maintaining acceptable detection precision for ground obstacles
2Area of stationary object
If scanning radar is used to cover wide fields of observation, then field of view is improved, but update rate deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wide field of view into multiple simultaneous beams using digital beam forming with multiple antenna elements, allowing parallel processing of different spatial regions and achieving both wide coverage and high update rates
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical scanning with electronic beam steering through digital signal processing, eliminating mechanical movement limitations and enabling simultaneous multi-beam operation for high update rates across wide fields
3Length of stationary object
If pulse radar is used for obstacle detection, then operational range is improved, but detection capability deteriorates at low altitude
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using multiple antenna elements with different radiation patterns, where each antenna provides optimized performance for specific angular regions, improving low-altitude detection in particular sectors while maintaining overall long-range capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds the spatial dimension through multiple antenna elements and digital beam forming, creating three-dimensional detection capability that resolves the two-dimensional trade-off between range and low-altitude detection by observing targets from multiple spatial perspectives
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables effective detection of small and low-height obstacles with high refresh rates and long integration times, providing all-weather capability and improved detection performance by distinguishing obstacles based on their unique velocity and range signatures.
Implementation Method 1
a step of illuminating the whole field of view of interest with an electromagnetic wave in the range of 0.1 to 100 GHz
Implementation Method 2
multiple antenna elements for receiving the echoes from the whole field of interest and means for transforming said echoes into a digital signal per antenna element
Implementation Method 3
a step of combining said digital signals simultaneously in order to obtain simultaneously multiple beams covering the whole field of interest using spatial transformation processing
Implementation Method 4
a step of Range and Velocity filtering each beam in parallel; said range and velocity filtering being applied during a long integration time so that a given obstacle is observed at different distances during this time
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
This method for detecting ground obstacles from an airborne platform comprises: - a step (E10) of illuminating the whole field of view of interest with an electromagnetic wave in the range of 0.1 to 100 GHz ; - a step (E20) of receiving the echoes with multiple antenna elements from the whole field of interest and of transforming said echoes into a digital signal per antenna element; - a step (E30) of combining said digital signals simultaneously using spatial transformation processing for forming multiple beams ; - a step (E40) of Range and Velocity filtering each beam in parallel ; - a step (E60) of applying on each filtered beam a detection process using a threshold on amplitude to detect potential ground obstacles; and - a step (E70) of discriminating said ground obstacles from said potential ground obstacles due to their specific signature in terms of both relative velocity and distance using velocity of the airborne platform.