Gaze-Steered Radar Beam Control for Avionic Energy Efficiency
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Scanning radars in avionic systems often waste energy by directing it towards fixed regions of space, rather than focusing on regions of interest, leading to inefficiencies in time-on-target and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A system that utilizes a head tracker or eye tracker to sense the operator's gaze, a remote object sensor to steer transmission beams towards the gazed object, and a controller to process reflection data and generate object position data, thereby directing radar energy efficiently towards regions of interest.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If scanning radar directs energy to fixed regions in space with equal time allocation, then all regions receive uniform attention, but energy is wasted on regions not of interest and time-on-target for true regions of interest is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic beam steering that adapts the radar scan pattern based on operator gaze data. The transmission beam is dynamically redirected to follow the operator's line of sight, allowing the system to concentrate energy on regions of interest rather than using fixed static scan patterns. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making energy allocation flexible and responsive to actual operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback from head trackers and eye trackers that monitor operator gaze direction. This feedback loop enables the radar system to continuously adjust its beam steering based on where the operator is looking, ensuring that energy is directed to relevant regions. The feedback mechanism transforms the system from a static fixed-pattern scanner to an adaptive system that optimizes energy distribution based on real-time operator attention.
2Productivity
If radar uses fixed scan patterns, then system operation is simple, but energy is directed to regions not of interest resulting in loss of time-on-target
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediary devices (head trackers and eye trackers) that mediate between the operator's natural gaze and the radar beam direction. These intermediaries translate operator intent into radar control commands without requiring the operator to manually control the radar. This intermediary layer adds functionality for optimizing time-on-target while maintaining operational simplicity through automatic gaze-based control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service operation where the radar automatically adjusts its scan pattern based on operator gaze without requiring manual intervention. The gaze-tracking system and beam-steering mechanism work together to autonomously optimize energy distribution, allowing the system to improve productivity while keeping the operator's workload minimal and the interface simple.
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
This system enhances time-on-target and reduces energy consumption by focusing radar energy on specific regions of interest, improving operational efficiency and situational awareness.
Implementation Method 1
the remote object sensor comprises a radar sensor
Implementation Method 2
wherein a reflection of the steered transmission beams from the object is received by the receiver
Implementation Method 3
at least one head tracker or eye tracker configured to sense at least one gaze target in an environment corresponding to a gaze of an eye or head
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
A system and method for determining a position of viewed object is disclosed. The system includes a head/eye tracker (108) configured to sense at least one gaze target in an environment corresponding to a gaze of an eye or head of a first operator and at least one remote object sensor (112) configured to sense an object corresponding to the gaze target. The system further includes at least one controller (116) in communication with the head/eye tracker and the remote object sensor configured to receive gaze target data, transmit commands to the remote object sensor to steer transmission beams toward the viewed object based on the gaze target data, wherein a reflection of the steered transmission beams from the object is received by a receiver (136), receive reflection data from the receiver, generate object position data based on the reflection data, and transmit the object position data.