Radar Measurement Time Sensor for Airspace Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surveillance radars in the National Airspace System lack the inclusion of radar measurement time in their target reports, leading to errors in aircraft location estimation and separation, making it difficult and costly to modify existing radar systems to include this information.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a radar measurement time sensor that provides universal time information to automation systems, allowing for accurate tagging and reporting of radar measurement times, which can be integrated with multilateration and ADS-B systems for enhanced position tracking and reduced aircraft separation intervals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing radar systems are modified to include radar measurement time in target reports, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
A radar measurement time sensor is introduced as an intermediary device between the radar system and automation systems. This sensor independently measures radar beam passage times and provides timestamped information to automation systems without requiring modifications to the radar itself. The sensor acts as a mediator that bridges the gap between legacy radar systems and modern automation requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of modifying the original radar systems to include time information, the invention creates a separate measurement system that copies and records the radar beam passage times. Multiple sensors positioned at known locations independently measure the same radar events, creating parallel time records that can be used for position calculation without altering the radar infrastructure.
2Productivity
If radar measurement time information is added to target reports, then aircraft separation can be reduced, but the cost and difficulty of implementation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The radar measurement time sensor serves as an intermediary that provides precise timing information to automation systems without requiring radar system modifications. This approach enables improved aircraft separation and airport utilization while avoiding the high costs and complexity of modifying existing radar infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the time measurement function from the radar system itself. Instead of integrating timekeeping into each radar unit, the invention uses separate, distributed time sensors that independently measure radar beam passage. This segmentation allows each sensor to be simple and inexpensive while collectively providing the precision needed for improved airspace management.
3Measurement precision
If multiple radar types are interfaced to real time clock sources, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and protocol modification requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The radar measurement time sensor acts as a universal intermediary that works with multiple radar types without requiring type-specific interface modifications. The sensor measures radar beam passage times directly and provides standardized timestamped information that can be consumed by various automation systems, eliminating the need for radar-type-specific protocol implementations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a universal time measurement solution that can be applied across different radar systems. The sensor design is independent of radar type and provides a standardized output format that works with existing automation systems, making the system adaptable to various radar configurations without requiring custom protocol development for each radar type.
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 solution enables more accurate aircraft position determination and reduced separation intervals without compromising safety, facilitating more efficient airport and runway utilization by providing precise timing information to automation systems.
Implementation Method 1
detecting and measuring energy transmission as a function of time at one or more known azimuth angles from a radar system
Implementation Method 2
receiving universal time information
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus to detect and measure energy transmission or azimuth angle information from a radar system at one or more known or measured azimuth angles, determine, for each azimuth angle, the time corresponding to the center of the beam of the energy transmission, receive universal time information, tag the time measurement for each azimuth angle with the universal time information to provide a report, transmit the report to a radar automation system, and determine the radar measurement time for each target report at any azimuth angle from that radar.