Airborne Radar Parameter Control via Electro-Optical Sensor Data
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional airborne weather radar systems have limitations in detecting weather phenomena without precipitation and are affected by ground clutter, making it difficult to reliably avoid hazardous weather situations, especially for unmanned aircrafts that need to comply with visual flight rules.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that utilize an airborne electro-optical sensor to provide optical sensor data for identifying regions of interest, which are used to control radar system parameters such as waveform, beam width, and transmission power, allowing the radar system to operate in a weather radar mode only when needed, thereby improving detection performance and reducing resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional weather radar systems operate continuously to detect weather phenomena, then detection coverage is improved, but resource consumption increases and detection of areas without precipitation remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The radar system dynamically adjusts its operational mode based on real-time sensor data. When electro-optical sensors detect weather phenomena, the radar switches to weather radar mode with appropriate parameters; otherwise, it operates in default mode (e.g., intruder detection). This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making resource consumption variable rather than constant, maintaining detection reliability only when weather phenomena are present.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses electro-optical sensors to perform preliminary detection of weather phenomena before activating the radar in weather radar mode. This preliminary action allows the system to anticipate when radar resources are needed, switching to weather radar mode in advance to confirm hazardous conditions, thereby maintaining detection reliability while reducing unnecessary resource consumption during normal operation.
2Measurement precision
If radar parameters are adjusted to improve detection of weather phenomena without precipitation, then detection precision is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes radar parameters (waveform, beam width, transmission power) based on characteristics detected by electro-optical sensors. When weather phenomena are detected, parameters are adjusted to optimize detection precision for those specific conditions. This parameter adaptation allows the system to achieve high detection precision without permanently increasing system complexity, as the complexity is only activated when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The radar system applies different parameter settings to different regions of interest identified by electro-optical sensors. Instead of uniformly adjusting all radar parameters, the system selectively modifies parameters only for the specific beam directions and ranges where weather phenomena are detected. This localized parameter adjustment improves detection precision while minimizing the overall system complexity burden.
3Reliability
If the radar system operates in weather radar mode continuously, then detection of hazardous weather is improved, but resource availability for other functions decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The radar system is designed to operate in multiple modes (weather radar mode, intruder detection mode, and other default modes) and dynamically switches between them based on electro-optical sensor data. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by allowing the single radar system to serve multiple purposes, maintaining weather detection reliability when needed while preserving resource availability for other functions during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system periodically checks electro-optical sensor data and switches radar operational modes accordingly, rather than maintaining a single mode continuously. This periodic reassessment allows the radar to alternate between weather radar mode and other default modes, ensuring weather detection reliability when hazardous conditions are present while preserving multi-functionality and resource availability during periods without weather threats.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
An apparatus (100) for improving an airborne radar system (30) based on sensor data of an airborne electro-optical sensor (50) is disclosed. The electro-optical sensor (50) is configured to provide optical sensor data for at least a partial surround view. The apparatus (100) comprises a processing module (110) configured to identify in the optical sensor data one or more regions of interest, ROI (70), and to determine at least one characteristic of the ROI (70); and a control module (120) configured to control at least one parameter of the radar system (30) based on the at least one characteristic.