Aircraft Ground Collision Avoidance Radar Sensor System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft crew members and ground crew face difficulties in detecting potential collisions with ground obstacles due to limited visibility and distractions, leading to inadvertent collisions with objects such as hangars, lighting poles, or vehicles during aircraft movement.
Innovation Solution
A ground obstacle collision-avoidance system utilizing radar sensor modules on the aircraft to detect and transmit radar return signals, a gateway unit for processing, and a display to present a plan view indicating the location of detected obstacles, with visual and audible alerts to aid in evasive maneuvers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If aircraft crew and ground crew rely on visual observation to detect ground obstacles, then the system remains simple and cost-effective, but collision detection capability is insufficient due to limited visibility and distractions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/visual observation system with an electromagnetic radar detection system. Radar sensor modules emit electromagnetic signals that reflect off ground obstacles, providing automated detection without relying on human visual observation. This substitution dramatically improves collision detection capability while accepting increased system complexity through integration of radar hardware and processing systems.
2Loss of information
If radar sensor modules are installed on aircraft surfaces at risk for collision, then real-time obstacle detection is achieved, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the aircraft into multiple segments or zones, each equipped with dedicated radar sensor modules at locations most at risk for collision (wingtips, tail, fuselage sides). This segmentation allows targeted detection at critical points rather than requiring comprehensive coverage of the entire aircraft, optimizing the balance between information quality and system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a gateway unit and processing system as intermediaries between the distributed radar sensor modules and the display interface. These intermediaries collect data from multiple sensors, process the information to determine obstacle locations and distances, and present processed results to the crew. This intermediary layer manages the complexity of multiple sensors while delivering simplified, actionable information.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple radar sensor modules are distributed across the aircraft, then coverage of collision-risk areas is improved, but system integration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple distributed radar sensor modules through a centralized gateway unit that collects and processes data from all sensors. This combining approach consolidates the complexity of managing multiple independent systems into a unified processing architecture, maintaining comprehensive detection coverage while simplifying system integration and data management.
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
The system effectively reduces the number and severity of collisions by providing real-time visual and auditory warnings of potential hazards, enabling crew members to operate the aircraft safely and avoid ground obstacles.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of radar sensor modules that each receive at a radar detector radar return signals corresponding to reflections of the emitted signal from a ground obstacle
Implementation Method 2
radar return signals corresponding to reflections of the emitted signal from a ground obstacle
Data Source
AI summary
A ground obstacle collision-avoidance system includes a plurality of radar sensor modules that each receive at a radar detector radar return signals corresponding to reflections of the emitted signal from a ground obstacle, and transmits radar information associated with the received radar signal reflections reflected from the ground obstacle, wherein each of the plurality of radar sensor modules are uniquely located on a surface of an aircraft that is at risk for collision with a ground obstacle if the aircraft is moving; a gateway unit that receives the radar information transmitted from the radar sensor module and transmits information associated with the received radar information; a processing system configured to determine a distance from the installation aircraft to a detected ground object detected; and a display configured to present a plan view indicating an aircraft icon and a graphical ground obstacle icon that is associated with the detected ground obstacle.