Virtual Aperture Radar Layout for BVLOS Aircraft Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous and remotely piloted aircraft face challenges in detecting and avoiding non-cooperative aircraft without a functioning communications link, as existing surveillance systems rely on external sources that fail in such scenarios, limiting their ability to operate safely beyond visual line of sight.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a virtual aperture radar system with multiple antennas positioned on the aircraft to scan and combine volumes, forming an ellipsoidal field of regard, allowing for independent detection and tracking of objects within this field, enabling safe autonomous operation even without external communications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If external surveillance systems are used to detect nearby aircraft, then detection capability is improved, but reliability deteriorates when communications link is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The aircraft is equipped with its own radar system that operates independently without requiring external communications infrastructure. The onboard radar actively emits electromagnetic waves and processes returned signals to detect other aircraft, making the system self-sufficient and reliable even when communications links are lost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an onboard radar system as an intermediary detection mechanism between the aircraft and the environment. This radar acts as a self-contained mediator that provides detection capability without relying on external cooperative systems or communications infrastructure.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple antennas are positioned on aircraft surfaces to scan volumes, then field of regard coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radar system is divided into multiple antenna segments positioned at different locations on the aircraft surfaces. Each antenna scans a specific volume, and the combined coverage creates comprehensive ellipsoidal field of regard. This segmentation allows coverage of areas that would be inaccessible to a single antenna while maintaining manageable individual component complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-point detection approach to a multi-dimensional coverage approach by positioning antennas at multiple spatial locations on the aircraft. This creates volumetric scanning capability in three dimensions, forming an ellipsoidal field of regard that encompasses all directions around the aircraft.
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 provides the aircraft with a robust, internal capability to detect and avoid nearby aircraft and obstacles, including non-cooperative ones, allowing for safe operation beyond visual line of sight and during vertical takeoff and landing, without reliance on external radar or communications.
Implementation Method 1
a virtual aperture radar system including a plurality of antennas relationally positioned on one or more surfaces of the aircraft such that individual beams from each of the plurality of antennas scan respective volumes around the aircraft
Data Source
AI summary
An example autonomous or remotely piloted aircraft includes a virtual aperture radar system including a plurality of antennas relationally positioned on one or more surfaces of the aircraft such that individual beams from each of the plurality of antennas scan respective volumes around the aircraft and the respective volumes together substantially form an ellipsoidal field of regard around the aircraft, and a computing device having one or more processors configured to execute instructions stored in memory for performing functions of: combining the respective volumes together to form an image representative of the ellipsoidal field of regard around the aircraft, and identifying one or more objects within the image.