Prow Radar Obstacle Simulator for Indoor Aircraft Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft radar ground testing outdoors is challenging due to the need to simulate various weather and obstacle conditions, which are not consistently replicable and can lead to undetected issues until flight, requiring costly repairs and repeated tests.
Innovation Solution
A prow radar obstacle simulator system that uses a hood with RF absorbent material and signal processing means to simulate radar RF signals, allowing for indoor testing of aircraft radars by generating echo signals based on predefined patterns to mimic weather, obstacles, and targets, ensuring precise detection and reducing testing time and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If aircraft radar is tested outdoors to avoid RF safety hazards, then safety conditions are improved, but testing consistency and reliability deteriorate due to variable weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an RF absorbent hood as an intermediary structure that contains the radar system and provides a controlled testing environment. The hood absorbs RF emissions internally, allowing safe indoor testing while maintaining consistent testing conditions independent of external weather variables.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses signal processing means to generate synthetic echo signals that copy and simulate real radar returns from weather conditions, obstacles, and targets. This allows consistent reproduction of testing scenarios indoors without relying on actual external weather conditions.
2Ease of manufacture
If aircraft radar is tested outdoors with variable weather conditions, then testing setup simplicity is improved, but detection accuracy deteriorates due to inability to replicate specific weather patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs signal processing means that can dynamically change parameters of echo signals to simulate different weather conditions (rain, snow, fog, turbulence). This allows precise control of testing parameters to match specific detection scenarios while maintaining indoor testing simplicity.
3Device complexity
If aircraft radar testing is performed outdoors, then equipment complexity is reduced, but testing time increases due to need for repeated flight tests
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements comprehensive ground-based testing using the hood system that simulates all necessary operating conditions before flight. This preliminary action identifies and resolves issues during ground testing, eliminating the need for repeated flight tests and significantly reducing total testing time.
4Reliability
If aircraft radar is tested indoors with RF absorbent hood, then testing consistency is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional hood and signal processing equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the RF absorbent hood, multiple antennas, signal processing means, and control unit into an integrated testing system. This merging of components into a unified indoor testing platform achieves consistent and reliable radar testing while managing complexity through systematic integration.
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
Enables safe and efficient indoor testing of aircraft radars, reducing testing time by 95% and allowing for immediate identification and repair of issues without the need for outdoor testing, ensuring radar functionality before flight.
Implementation Method 1
a hood comprising a plurality of antennas configured to receive radar radio frequency (RF) signals from an aircraft radar, the hood being made of a RF absorbent material
Implementation Method 2
a signal processing means for processing the radar RF signals received by the plurality of antennas, the signal processing means being in data communication with the plurality of antennas and comprising first converting means for converting radar RF signals to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal and vice versa
Implementation Method 3
at least one antenna of the plurality of antennas is also configured to emit the generated echo signal to the aircraft radar
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a prow radar obstacle simulator system for testing on an aircraft, the system comprising: a hood comprising a plurality of antennas configured to receive radio frequency (RF) signals from an aircraft radar, the hood being made of a RF absorbent material; a signal processing means for processing the radar RF signals received by the plurality of antennas, the signal processing means being in data communication with the plurality of antennas and comprising first converting means for converting radar RF signals to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal and vice versa; and a control unit in data communication with the signal processing means and configured to process the IF signals for generating an echo signal based on at least one predefined echo pattern; wherein at least one antenna of the plurality of antennas is also configured to emit the generated echo signal to the aircraft radar.