SPAD Camera Airborne Navigation in Degraded Visibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing airborne measurement systems struggle to navigate in degraded visibility conditions, requiring extensive aircraft equipment or ground aids, and offer only marginal improvements without significant operational gains, especially during take-off, approach, and landing phases.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) camera with high detection sensitivity and frame rate into an airborne measurement system, allowing for enhanced image processing and generation of reinforced navigation information, including a protection radius and 3D depth images, to improve navigation accuracy and integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional cameras are used in enhanced vision systems, then the system can provide visual assistance, but the detection sensitivity and usability in degraded flight conditions remain limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveusability in degraded flight conditionsVSAvoiddetection sensitivity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the detection parameter from conventional camera sensors to SPAD (single-photon avalanche diode) sensors, which operate at the quantum level of light detection. This parameter change enables detection of single photons, providing markedly higher detection sensitivity and enabling operation in degraded visibility conditions where conventional cameras fail.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If aircraft are highly equipped with navigational aids to navigate in degraded visibility conditions, then navigation capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation capability in degraded visibilityVSAvoidequipment quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The SPAD camera system serves multiple functions: it provides enhanced vision for degraded visibility conditions, enables all-weather landing capability, and can operate independently of ground-based navigational aids. This multi-functionality allows a single system to replace or supplement multiple specialized equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If existing vision systems are used, then marginal improvements are achieved, but real operational gain such as reducing decision altitude is not obtained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual reference qualityVSAvoidoperational gain

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional optical-mechanical camera systems with quantum-level photon detection using SPAD sensors. This substitution enables detection of extremely low light levels, providing the measurement precision needed to reduce decision altitude and achieve real operational gains in all-weather operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

The system provides improved navigation capabilities in degraded visibility conditions by leveraging SPAD camera data to enhance conventional sensors' performance, ensuring integrity and accuracy through enhanced image processing and 3D imaging, enabling all-weather operations.

Implementation Method 1

at least one SPAD camera comprising a single-photon avalanche diode matrix-array detector

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

single-photon avalanche diode matrix-array detector

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAvalanche breakdown: Avalanche Breakdown

Data Source

PatentUS12487088B2Airborne measurement system comprising a SPAD camera

Publication Date: 2025.12.02 THALES SA

AI summary

An airborne measurement system borne by an aircraft, and comprising a plurality of conventional navigational-aid sensors generating data referred to as conventional data, at least one SPAD camera comprising a single-photon avalanche diode matrix-array detector and generating SPAD data comprising a first image and a second image of a scene to be observed, the system comprising a processing unit connected to the conventional sensors and to the at least one SPAD camera, the processing unit being adapted to: choose, in accordance with a predetermined criterion and on the basis of the conventional data and/or of the SPAD data, a use of the conventional data which is referred to as the conventional mode, or a use of the SPAD data, and possibly comprising conventional data, which is referred to as the SPAD mode, and for the conventional mode, generate measurement information referred to as conventional information on the basis of conventional data, for the SPAD mode: determine, on the basis of the first image and of the second image, an error band for the measurement of the horizontal position of the aircraft, called the protection radius, generate measurement information referred to as reinforced information on the basis of at least SPAD data.