Aircraft Vision System Sensor Selection for Weather Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Enhanced vision systems for aircraft struggle to differentiate between various light sources, such as incandescent and LED lights, and perform poorly in adverse weather conditions like high-density fog and rain, leading to degraded sensor performance.
Innovation Solution
An aircraft optical display system that includes multiple imaging sensors and a weather-dependent imaging system, which selects and modifies sensor configurations based on current weather conditions to optimize image data generation and display, using sensors like CMOS and microbolometer sensors, and a HUD computer to adjust image output accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If thermal imagers are used for enhanced vision, then the system can detect incandescent light sources, but the system cannot differentiate colors or recognize cold light sources like LED and fluorescent lights
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the imaging function into multiple specialized sensors: thermal imagers for heat-based detection and visible light cameras for color and LED detection. Each sensor type handles specific portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, allowing the system to overcome the limitations of any single sensor type and recognize various light sources including LED and fluorescent lights.
2Reliability
If high cost imaging sensors are used, then the system can provide enhanced vision capability, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a multi-functional sensor array where each sensor type serves multiple purposes. The thermal imager detects heat signatures and incandescent lights, while the visible light camera captures color information and LED sources. This universal approach allows a single system to handle diverse imaging requirements without needing entirely separate systems for each function, thereby managing complexity while maintaining enhanced vision capability.
3Reliability
If imaging sensors operate in adverse weather conditions, then the system attempts to provide vision enhancement, but sensor performance degrades due to signal scattering and absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a composite sensor architecture combining different sensor types with complementary characteristics. Thermal sensors detect infrared radiation that can penetrate certain weather conditions, while visible light sensors capture reflected light. By fusing data from these composite sensor types, the system maintains enhanced vision capability in adverse weather where individual sensor types would otherwise fail due to scattering and absorption effects.
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft optical display system for implementing an enhanced vision system based on weather conditions is described. The display system includes a plurality of imaging sensors configured to receive imaging input data and generate image data, where each imaging sensor is associated with one or more weather conditions. The system further includes a weather conditions input device configured to receive current weather condition information and a weather dependent imaging system configured to receive the current weather conditions information and to select one or more of the plurality of imaging sensors to provide imaging input data in accordance with the current weather conditions information.