Weather Radar Wake Vortex Prediction from Aircraft Echo Strength
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft radar systems lack the capability to reliably and accurately predict wake vortices from nearby aircraft, relying on external systems like TCAS or ADS-B, which may not be available or reliable.
Innovation Solution
An onboard weather radar system configured to operate in different modes for detecting large weather formations and smaller airborne objects, determining the size and characteristics of nearby aircraft to predict wake vortices, and provide this information to the flight crew without additional size, weight, power, or cost penalties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an onboard weather radar system is configured to detect wake vortices, then wake vortex detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The weather radar system is configured to perform multiple functions: traditional weather detection and wake vortex detection. By making the radar system multi-functional, the patent avoids adding a separate dedicated wake vortex detection system, thereby improving detection capability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The radar system changes its operating parameters (waveform configuration, pulse width, frequency) to optimize detection for different targets. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the same radar hardware can effectively detect both weather formations and wake vortices, avoiding the need for additional specialized hardware.
2Reliability
If the radar system operates in weather mode for detecting large objects, then weather detection capability is improved, but detection of smaller airborne objects deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The radar system dynamically switches between different operating modes (weather mode and wake vortex mode) based on the detection requirements. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to optimize its performance for the current task, whether detecting large weather formations or smaller airborne objects like aircraft and wake vortices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes radar parameters such as pulse width, frequency, and waveform configuration to match the size and characteristics of the target. For weather detection, longer pulse widths are used, while for wake vortex detection, shorter pulse widths and different frequency settings are employed, enabling the same hardware to excel at both detection types.
3Reliability
If external systems like TCAS or ADS-B are used for wake vortex detection, then system reliability is improved, but dependency on external systems increases
Solution Approach 1:
The aircraft equips itself with the capability to detect wake vortices using its own onboard weather radar system. This self-service approach eliminates dependency on external systems like TCAS or ADS-B, allowing the aircraft to independently detect wake vortices and provide alerts to the flight crew without requiring other aircraft or ground systems to cooperate.
4Area of stationary object
If the radar system uses longer pulse widths for weather detection, then weather detection range is improved, but response time for smaller objects deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The radar system dynamically adjusts pulse width and other parameters based on the detection task. When detecting weather formations, longer pulse widths are used to maximize detection range. When detecting wake vortices or smaller airborne objects, the system switches to shorter pulse widths to improve response time and detection accuracy, thus optimizing performance for the current operational requirement.
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
Enhances flight safety by providing real-time wake vortex detection and prediction, improving responsivity and accuracy, and reducing reliance on external systems for turbulence detection.
Implementation Method 1
Radar systems may, in some examples, emit one or more radar signals. These radar signals may reflect and/or scatter off one or more objects and return to the radar system as radar return signals.
Implementation Method 2
These radar signals may reflect and/or scatter off one or more objects and return to the radar system as radar return signals.
Data Source
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AI summary
An example weather radar system includes one or more antennae configured to transmit a radar signal and receive a radar return signal and processing circuitry configured to detect an aircraft based on the radar return signal. The processing circuitry is further configured to, in response to detecting the aircraft, determine, based on a strength of the radar return signal, a size of the aircraft and predict, based on the size of the aircraft, a wake vortex of the aircraft including a predicted position of the predicted wake vortex.