Secure Database Generation for Low-Altitude Aircraft Flight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current obstacle detection systems for aircraft, particularly radar and LIDAR, are limited in detecting wired obstacles at certain incidence angles, leading to incomplete terrain elevation databases and forcing pilots to maintain a safe altitude, thereby restricting low-altitude flight operations.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that generate a secure database by constructing a main volume around detected summit points and unsecured terrain relief using a primary database, with a mobile segment of predetermined length, to create a secure relief that includes both non-wired and wired obstacles, ensuring safe low-altitude flight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If radar or LIDAR detection is used to detect obstacles, then obstacle detection capability is improved, but detection fails at incidence angles greater than 15° for radar and 60° for LIDAR due to specular reflection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from 2D planar obstacle detection to 3D volumetric detection by constructing main volumes extending from summit points. This dimensional expansion allows the system to account for obstacles at various incidence angles by creating three-dimensional protective volumes that encompass potential obstacle locations, thereby overcoming the limitation of specular reflection at high angles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of summit points and constructs main volumes in advance before actual flight operations. By pre-identifying potential obstacle locations and creating protective volumes around them, the system prepares a comprehensive spatial model that accounts for obstacles regardless of their detection angle during actual flight, thus mitigating the specular reflection problem.
2Reliability
If pilots fly above terrain with safety margin, then collision avoidance is improved, but low-altitude flight capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-processes terrain and obstacle data to construct a secure relief database before flight operations. By performing obstacle detection and main volume construction in advance, the system creates a comprehensive spatial model that enables safe low-altitude flight without requiring pilots to maintain excessive safety margins, thus resolving the contradiction between collision avoidance and low-altitude flight capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the flight space into distinct zones: unsecured relief, main volumes around summit points, and secure relief. This segmentation allows the system to identify precise areas requiring avoidance while permitting flight in other zones, enabling low-altitude operation without compromising collision avoidance by providing granular spatial awareness.
3Loss of information
If terrain elevation database is constructed from detection means, then terrain mapping is improved, but wired obstacles such as cables are not detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the obstacle detection process into two distinct phases: detection of non-wired obstacles (terrain, buildings) using traditional radar/LIDAR to identify summit points, and detection of wired obstacles by constructing main volumes around these summit points. This segmentation allows the system to address each obstacle type with appropriate methods, ensuring both terrain mapping completeness and wired obstacle detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The main volume acts as an intermediary construct that bridges the gap between detected summit points and potential wired obstacles. By creating these volumetric zones around summit points, the system indirectly detects wired obstacles that would otherwise be invisible to direct radar/LIDAR detection, thus compensating for the detection gap without requiring additional specialized sensors.
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 approach enhances the accuracy of obstacle detection, allowing for safe low-altitude flight by constructing a secure relief that accounts for all potential hazards, including wired obstacles, thereby expanding the operational range of aircraft near the ground.
Implementation Method 1
The detection of an object is carried out by measuring the delay between the emission of a signal and the detection of the reflected signal, the signal being made up of electric radio waves in the case of a radar
Implementation Method 2
the detection means is of the radar or laser telemeter or stereoscopic telemetry type. It is recalled that remote sensing by laser called 'LIDAR' or 'Light Detection and Ranging' in English uses laser light sent back to its transmitter.
Data Source
Figure 1~5
AI summary
The method involves determining unsafe relief of a terrain, and determining the position of a high point representing an obstacle overlying the unsafe relief by applying a primary database (10) of the terrain containing the unsafe relief and the obstacle. The main volume defined between a main volume base placed on the unsafe relief and an envelope is added to the unsafe relief for obtaining safe relief for overflying that contains the unsafe relief. An independent claim is also included for a device for preparing a safe database to fly safely at low altitude in an aircraft.