Aircraft Bird Congestion Indicator System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems lack the ability to provide a real-time, actionable, and integrated leading indicator of bird strike risk in critical airspace, as they are not designed to track birds and aircraft simultaneously, leading to ineffective risk management and safety protocols at airports.
Innovation Solution
A real-time aircraft bird congestion indicator system that uses radars to continuously survey airspace, process aircraft and bird tracks, and generate a congestion indicator based on proximity, density, and separation, which can be easily integrated into safety management systems and communicated to stakeholders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate avian radar and ATC radar systems are used to track birds and aircraft respectively, then each system can perform its specialized tracking function, but the systems are not integrated and cannot provide a combined view of bird-aircraft proximity and collision risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate avian radar and ATC radar systems into a unified congestion indicator system that processes both bird tracks and aircraft tracks together. The congestion processor integrates data from both radar sources to calculate proximity-based congestion indicators, enabling simultaneous tracking and integration of bird and aircraft positions without requiring separate independent systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The congestion indicator system is designed to perform multiple functions: it tracks birds, tracks aircraft, calculates proximity metrics, and generates congestion indicators all within a single integrated system. The processor handles diverse data types (bird tracks, aircraft tracks) and produces comprehensive safety information, making the system multi-functional rather than specialized for a single purpose.
2Loss of information
If detailed real-time tracking of both birds and aircraft is implemented, then collision risk can be accurately assessed, but the system becomes complex and difficult to understand for pilots and air traffic controllers
Solution Approach 1:
The system transforms complex raw tracking data into simplified congestion indicator values that represent collision risk levels. By changing the parameter representation from detailed coordinate data to aggregated congestion metrics, the system maintains comprehensive risk information while presenting it in an easily understandable format for end users.
Solution Approach 2:
The congestion indicator acts as an intermediary between the complex radar tracking systems and the end users (pilots, controllers). It mediates the information by processing detailed bird and aircraft track data into simplified proximity-based risk indicators that are easy to understand while still conveying the essential collision risk information.
3Reliability
If bird strike risk monitoring is added to airport safety systems, then leading indicators of collision risk can be provided, but the system requires integration with existing safety management systems which increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The congestion indicator system is designed to integrate with existing airport safety management systems by providing universal output formats that can be incorporated into various SMS platforms. The system performs multiple safety functions including real-time monitoring, risk assessment, and alert generation, making it a versatile addition that enhances existing safety infrastructure rather than requiring completely separate systems.
4Speed
If continuous real-time processing of bird and aircraft tracks is performed, then up-to-date congestion indicators are generated, but the computational requirements and system resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs continuous tracking of all birds and aircraft but applies selective processing to calculate congestion indicators only for relevant proximity cases. By focusing computational resources on calculating indicators when birds and aircraft are in close proximity rather than processing all possible combinations continuously, the system achieves timely updates while reducing unnecessary computational overhead.
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 provides a practical, automated, and actionable leading indicator of bird strike risk, enabling timely risk mitigation and enhancing aviation safety by quantifying congestion between aircraft and birds, thus reducing the likelihood of collisions.
Implementation Method 1
one or more radars configured to continuously survey said airspace and continuously generate aircraft tracks and bird tracks
Data Source
AI summary
A real-time aircraft bird congestion indicator system for measuring congestion in an airspace between aircraft and birds uses one or more radars to continuously survey an airspace around an airport or aerodrome and continuously generate aircraft tracks and bird tracks in the airspace. A congestion processor connected to the radar(s) receives the aircraft and bird tracks and processes them to periodically generate a congestion indicator that measures the congestion in the airspace. A display processor connected to the congestion processor receives the congestion indicator which is updated periodically by the congestion processor and displays the congestion indicator to a user, generates an alert if the congestion indicator falls outside set operating limits, and/or sends the congestion indicator or alert to another system.