Aircraft Landing Guidance Using Vision and Radar Without GNSS
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft landing becomes challenging in GNSS denied environments due to the absence of critical parameters like distance, direction, and location, making safe landing difficult.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a GNSS sensor, monitor warning system, flight management system, vision sensors, radar velocity system, and inertial navigation system to calculate an optimal flight path for landing by processing image and positional data, providing 3D imaging and guidance to pilots or autopilot systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GNSS sensors are used for landing guidance, then navigation accuracy and landing precision are improved, but the system fails to operate in GNSS denied environments
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operational parameters by switching from GNSS-dependent navigation to sensor fusion-based navigation when GNSS signals are unavailable. The landing guidance module detects GNSS denial conditions and transitions to using vision sensors, radar velocity system, and inertial navigation system data to maintain navigation accuracy without GNSS
Solution Approach 2:
The landing guidance module acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between GNSS availability and landing guidance requirements. It processes data from multiple alternative sensors (vision sensors, RVS, INS) and synthesizes this information to provide continuous navigation accuracy whether GNSS is available or denied
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensor systems are integrated for GNSS denied operation, then adaptability to denied environments is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The landing guidance module is designed with multi-functionality to handle both GNSS-enabled and GNSS-denied operations. It can process and integrate data from vision sensors, radar velocity system, and inertial navigation system, making it a universal solution that works across different operational environments without requiring separate systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges multiple sensor inputs (vision sensors, RVS, INS) and combines them through the landing guidance module to create a unified navigation solution. This integration consolidates what would otherwise be separate systems into a coordinated multi-sensor approach, managing complexity through unified processing
Data Source
AI summary
A system comprises a GNSS sensor onboard an aerial vehicle; a monitor warning system (MWS) that determines whether the vehicle is in a GNSS denied environment; and a flight management system that includes a landing guidance module, and a database having location coordinates of landing sites. Onboard vision sensors and a radar velocity system (RVS) communicate with the guidance module. When the MWS determines that the vehicle is in a GNSS denied environment, the guidance module calculates an optimal flight path by receiving image data from the vision sensors; receiving position, velocity and altitude data from the RVS; receiving location coordinates of a landing site; processing the image data, and the position, velocity and altitude data, to determine a location of the vehicle and provide 3D imaging of a route to the landing site; and calculating a flight path angle to the landing site, using vehicle and landing site coordinates.