Aircraft Location Validation with Radar and Inertial Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aircraft location systems, relying on inertial sensors and radio navigation, suffer from precision issues and environmental dependencies, leading to potential interference and failure during reduced visibility conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method combining inertial and radio navigation with radar-based location using millimeter wave radar to detect characteristic elements on the ground, such as light beacons or radar reflectors, to enhance position determination and validate or correct conventional location data, ensuring higher precision and integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional inertial sensors and radio navigation sensors are used for aircraft location, then the equipment can assist piloting in reduced visibility conditions, but the location precision is insufficient and the system is susceptible to interference or failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple location determination methods (inertial sensors, radio navigation sensors, and radar-based detection of characteristic elements) into a unified system. The processor compares results from different methods to validate and correct location data, thereby improving both reliability and precision by leveraging the strengths of each individual method while compensating for their weaknesses
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously comparing location data from conventional sensors with location data derived from radar detection of characteristic elements. When discrepancies are detected, the system uses the comparison to validate or correct the conventional location data, creating a self-correcting mechanism that improves measurement precision while maintaining system reliability
2Ease of operation
If radio navigation sensors are used for location, then navigation assistance is provided, but the system is highly dependent on environment and susceptible to interference or failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces radar-based detection of characteristic elements as an intermediary validation mechanism. Instead of relying solely on radio navigation sensors that are vulnerable to environmental interference, the system uses radar to detect known characteristic elements (such as runway lights or reflectors) as an intermediate step to verify and correct location data, thereby reducing susceptibility to interference while maintaining ease of navigation assistance
3Duration of action of moving object
If inertial sensors are used for location, then continuous location data is provided, but the location data is not sufficiently precise
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-storing geographic coordinates of characteristic elements (such as runway lights, reflectors, or other fixed ground features) in a database. Before needing to validate inertial sensor data, the system has already prepared the reference information needed for comparison, enabling continuous validation without interrupting the flow of location data while improving precision through periodic correction against known positions
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 method improves the reliability and security of aircraft location by validating conventional methods, allowing safer approaches and landings even in low visibility conditions, meeting stringent safety standards for aircraft guidance.
Implementation Method 1
A method combining inertial and radio navigation with radar-based location using millimeter wave radar to detect characteristic elements on the ground
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for locating an aircraft (12) in flight by means of a locating device (24) comprising at least one sensor and a radar (32), the method comprising: a. a first phase of determining a position of the aircraft (12), referred to as the first position, by means of the at least one sensor according to a signal supplied by the at least one sensor, b. a second phase of determining, at the same time as the first determination phase, a position of the aircraft (12), referred to as the second position, by means of the radar, and c. a phase of comparing data associated with the first position and data associated with the second position, at the end of which the first position is validated or invalidated.