Aircraft-Mounted Radar for Airport Obstacle Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radar detection systems in airports often fail to detect obstacles due to blind spots in radar coverage, leading to frequent accidental contacts between aircraft and ground equipment or foreign objects, resulting in direct and indirect costs such as machinery repairs and delayed flights.
Innovation Solution
A radar detection system comprising a radar apparatus and a control apparatus that transmits and receives radar signals to detect obstacles, with the control apparatus switching the radar operation based on the aircraft's state, turning it off during takeoff and on during landing, and strategically installing the radar apparatus to avoid blind spots, ensuring comprehensive obstacle detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a radar detection apparatus is installed at the side of a runway or taxiway, then obstacle detection is provided, but blind spots in radar coverage occur leading to detection failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from ground-based radar detection to aircraft-mounted radar detection, changing the detection dimension from ground level to aerial level. This dimensional change eliminates blind spots by providing overhead surveillance coverage that ground-based systems cannot achieve, allowing the radar to detect obstacles in areas previously inaccessible to side-mounted radar apparatus.
Solution Approach 2:
The radar detection system is made dynamic by mounting it on the aircraft rather than fixing it on the ground. The radar apparatus moves with the aircraft, dynamically adjusting its position and coverage area based on the aircraft's location, speed, and orientation. This dynamic positioning eliminates static blind spots that plague fixed ground-based installations.
2Reliability
If the radar apparatus operates continuously, then obstacle detection is maintained, but energy consumption increases during takeoff when detection is less critical
Solution Approach 1:
The radar apparatus operates periodically rather than continuously, switching between active and inactive states based on flight phase. During takeoff and landing-critical phases, the radar is activated to detect obstacles. During cruise or other low-risk phases, the radar remains inactive. This periodic operation maintains necessary detection reliability while significantly reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The radar system dynamically adjusts its operational state based on real-time flight conditions and aircraft phase. The control system monitors flight parameters and automatically activates or deactivates the radar apparatus accordingly, optimizing the balance between detection reliability and energy consumption for each specific flight situation.
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 detects obstacles around aircraft, preventing collisions and reducing operational costs by enhancing radar coverage and adapting to aircraft states, thereby improving safety and efficiency in airport operations.
Implementation Method 1
The radar apparatus detects an obstacle by transmitting and receiving a radar signal
Data Source
AI summary
A radar detection system according to the present disclosure is a radar detection system that detects an obstacle to an aircraft in an airport. The radar detection system includes a radar apparatus, and a control apparatus. The radar apparatus detects an obstacle by transmitting and receiving a radar signal, and acquires obstacle information regarding the obstacle detected based on the received radar signal. The control apparatus switches the operation of the radar apparatus according to the aircraft state of the aircraft. The control apparatus turns off the radar apparatus when the aircraft takes off, and turns on the radar apparatus when the aircraft makes a landing.