Airborne Radar Threat Sharing for Dwell Time Conflicts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radar systems in aircraft face challenges with increased complexity and points of failure, leading to reduced safety and performance, especially in transoceanic flights, and require efficient coordination to minimize dwell time while maintaining threat detection capability.
Innovation Solution
A radar system that shares threat data among surrounding aircraft, configuring each system according to its priorities and capabilities, allowing longer dwell time on individual tasks and enabling continued operation through data sharing and coordination using an X-band datalink.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If radar systems perform multiple functions (weather detection, detect and avoid, etc.), then the functionality is improved, but the antenna dwell time required increases and performance reduction occurs if necessary antenna time is not allocated to each function
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the radar functionality across multiple aircraft, with each aircraft dedicated to specific radar functions. For example, one aircraft may be dedicated to weather detection while another handles threat detection. This segmentation allows each aircraft to allocate its antenna dwell time to its specific function without time conflicts, resolving the contradiction between multi-functionality and dwell time allocation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spatial dimension by distributing radar functions across multiple aircraft in different locations. Instead of one aircraft attempting to perform all functions sequentially (time dimension), the system uses multiple aircraft simultaneously (space dimension) to provide comprehensive coverage. This dimensional shift allows all radar functions to operate in parallel without competing for antenna time.
2Productivity
If radar systems are configured to specific tasks according to priorities and capabilities, then dwell time on individual tasks is improved, but coordination complexity among multiple aircraft increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal coordination framework that manages multiple specialized radar systems. Each aircraft is optimized for specific functions (specialization), but they all participate in a common network that handles task allocation, data sharing, and coordination (universality). This allows high dwell time efficiency for individual tasks while managing coordination complexity through a standardized multi-functional platform.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary coordination layer that manages task allocation and data sharing among aircraft. This intermediary handles the complexity of coordinating multiple specialized systems by providing standardized interfaces for task requests, capability declarations, and data exchange. The intermediary absorbs the coordination complexity, allowing individual aircraft to focus on their specialized functions with high efficiency.
3Reliability
If radar systems share threat data among surrounding aircraft, then situational awareness and safety are improved, but communication and data sharing infrastructure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the communication and data sharing functions with the existing radar infrastructure. Rather than creating separate complex communication systems, the system utilizes the radar's existing transmitters and receivers for data exchange. Radar signals serve dual purposes: traditional threat detection and inter-aircraft communication. This merging approach improves safety through data sharing while avoiding the complexity of building separate communication infrastructure.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a radar system and method for sharing threat data configured to communicate with other radar systems in surrounding aircraft (202, 204, 206, 302, 304) and share threat specific data. Each radar system may be configured to a specific task according to the priorities of the aircraft and the capabilities of the surrounding aircraft; the gathered data is then shared with the surrounding aircraft such that each aircraft may commit longer dwell time to individual tasks while still receiving data for all of the potential tasks. The radar system may identify a fault and send a request for radar threat data to nearby aircraft. The radar system may receive such data within the operating band of the radar and allow continued operation.