초록

A radar based terrain and obstacle detection device for aircraft detects obstacles and terrain ahead of the aircraft. An alert is sounded if the obstacle or terrain is above a clearance plane positioned ahead of the aircraft.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of detecting terrain and obstacles using an aircraft radar comprising the steps of:providing an airborne radar system configured for transmitting a waveform having parameters for detecting weather data during azimuthal and vertical scans and for processing weathe

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of detecting terrain and obstacles using an aircraft radar comprising the steps of:providing an airborne radar system configured for transmitting a waveform having parameters for detecting weather data during azimuthal and vertical scans and for processing weather data using a weather detecting algorithm;interleaving an azimuthal terrain and obstacle detection scan into an azimuthal weather scan by:interrupting the azimuthal weather scan to switch to a transmitted waveform having parameters suitable for terrain mapping,collecting a first elevation radar data in a predetermined azimuth sector and centered on an aircraft velocity vector; andprocessing said first elevation radar data utilizing a terrain and obstacle detection algorithm;interleaving a vertical terrain and obstacle detection scan into a vertical weather scan by:interrupting the vertical weather scan to switch to a transmitted waveform having parameters suitable for terrain mapping;collecting a second elevation radar data in a predetermined vertical sector and centered on an aircraft velocity vector; andprocessing said second elevation radar data utilizing a terrain and obstacle detection algorithm;defining a clearance plane ahead of said aircraft; andproviding an alert if an obstacle detected in said step of collecting a first and second radar data is located above said clearance plane.