Rockwell Collins, Inc.

Arlen E Breiholz

Kevin Michael Kronfeld

Karen L Walling

Venkata A Sishtla

James P Mitchell

Michael James Krenz

Matthew J Carrico

Timothy J Etherington

Peter J Morgan

John W Borghese

Robert J McCabe

Gregory D Murray

Stefan Koczo, Jr

Steven M Zellers

Brian E Planz

Ryan C Fulton

Thomas A Potts

Kenneth W Mc Elreath

An avionic weather radar system and method can sense a path attenuation condition using radar returns of received via a radar antenna onboard the aircraft. Images of weather can be displayed using an outside source and the radar returns. The images are displayed using information from the outside source when the path attenuation condition is sensed. The images can be displayed using speckled areas, cross hatched areas or other symbols to represent the information from the outside source. The images of the weather can be provided on an avionic display.

Weather radar system and method with path attenuation shadowing

A method of providing convective weather data includes accessing lightning data, accessing statistical data representing a relationship between lightning flash rate data and at least one of reflectivity data and weather threat data, and accessing at least one of time of year data, geographic location data, temperature data, and altitude data. The method includes generating a lightning flash map based on the accessed lightning data, the accessed statistical data, and the at least one of time of year data, geographic location data, temperature data, and altitude data. The lightning flash map indicates at least one of reflectivity and a weather threat. The method provides the lightning flash map to an output port.

System and method of integrating global convective weather

Systems and methods can provide an indication of a weather condition. The system can utilize a processor that determines the weather condition from data associated with at least one camera at a remote location. The data can be compared to calibration data for the remote location to determine the weather condition. The indication can be provided to an aircraft. The camera can be a web camera, a traffic camera, infrared camera or other observation device.

Automated weather sensing system and method using cameras

Systems and methods for controlling a weather radar system are provided. A system for controlling a weather radar system includes a communications system including a transmitter-receiver and a processor. The transmitter-receiver is configured to receive first weather data from an external location. The first weather data includes a first weather condition, a location of the first weather condition, and a time of sensing the first weather condition. The processor includes a control module coupled with the communications system and configured to determine a point of interest based on the first weather data; acquire, by controlling an onboard weather radar system, second weather data at the point of interest; provide data representative of weather near the point of interest based at least in part on the second weather data; and transmit, by the transmitter-receiver, the data representative of weather near the point of interest to an external weather radar system.

Enhancement of airborne weather radar performance using external weather data

An apparatus and method can provide a warning of a drone or unmanned aerial vehicle in the vicinity of an airport. The apparatus can include at least one antenna directionally disposed at an along the approach or departure path and a detector configured to provide a warning of a presence of sense an unmanned aerial or drone. The warning can be provided in response to a radio frequency signal received by the at least one of the antenna being in a frequency band associated with a transmission frequency for the unmanned aerial vehicle or drone or in a frequency band associated with interaction from receive circuitry of the unmanned aerial vehicle or drone.

System for and method of detecting drones

The present invention is directed to a system and related method providing high speed wireless data connectivity between a vehicle and a temporary stationary location for the vehicle. The system comprises at least three steerable antennas configured for transmission and reception of a broadband RF signal. A first antenna is mounted to the temporary stationary location to send and receive data from one data source available to the system. A second steerable antenna mounted near the temporary location and third steerable antenna mounted to the vehicle provides a communication link between the temporary location and the vehicle. The systems disclosed herein may enable a RF node capable of accepting fiber, cable and satellite modem inputs and communicating wireless gigabit data to a transceiver on the vehicle.

Programmable data network for mobile parking area system and related method

A method of displaying a weather condition indicator with respect to an aircraft includes receiving weather data from a weather radar system. The weather data includes data indicative of a first location of the weather condition. The method also includes determining a second location of the weather condition based on data indicative of a movement of the weather condition, and displaying the weather condition indicator with reference to the second location.

Weather radar system and method with latency compensation for data link weather information

A hazard warning system includes a processing system. The processing system determines a vertically integrated liquid (VIL) parameter. The processing system receives radar reflectivity data associated with an aircraft radar antenna and determines the VIL parameter by determining a first reflectivity value at a first altitude and a second reflectivity value at a second altitude using the radar reflectivity data. The processing system determines the VIL parameter using a base storm altitude and a top storm altitude.

Weather radar system and method for estimating vertically integrated liquid content

One embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a method of simulating a weather pattern for use in a simulator environment. The method includes receiving an input corresponding to a desired weather event and determining a set of weather parameters pertaining to the desired weather event. The method further includes searching a weather event database for a matching weather event. The weather event database includes weather data for a plurality of weather events. The method includes identifying the matching weather event. The matching weather event includes at least a portion of the set of weather parameters pertaining to the desired weather event. The method includes receiving weather data corresponding to the matching weather event. The method further includes creating a model of the matching weather event.

Simulator system for simulating weather

A method of displaying an image representative of a weather condition near an aircraft includes receiving weather data representative of the weather condition from a plurality of weather data sources. The weather data includes location data for the weather condition. The method also includes mapping the weather data received from each source to a common locational reference frame based on the location data, adjusting the weather data received from each source to a common hazard scale, determining a hazard level associated with the weather condition for a reference point in the reference frame based on the adjusted weather data for each source, and displaying the image representative of the weather condition near the aircraft based on the hazard level for the reference point.

Weather radar system and method with fusion of multiple weather information sources

The present disclosure describes an apparatus including a composite panel. The apparatus includes a first composite panel including a first optical fiber embedded therein, the first optical fiber being arranged in a pattern, and a first input port connected to a first end of the first optical fiber, the first input port configured to receive an optical signal from an optical time domain reflectometer. The optical time domain reflectometer is configured to send the optical signal through the first input port and measure a strength of a reflected optical signal that is reflected back from the first optical fiber, wherein the strength indicates a measured optical impedance of the first optical fiber. A measured optical impedance that is substantially the same as a baseline optical impedance for the fiber indicates no damage, while a measured optical impedance that differs from the baseline optical impedance by a predetermined threshold indicates damage.

Means to detect damage in composite material panels

The laser range finding system includes a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor unit (SU) and a LIDAR processor unit (PU). The LIDAR SU is for transmitting light pulses and receiving resulting input light signals reflected from objects within the field of view of the SU. The LIDAR SU includes a flash LIDAR illuminating laser source for transmitting light pulses. The LIDAR illuminating laser source includes an illuminating laser and zoom optics operatively associated with the laser. A LIDAR receiver receives resulting input light signals reflected from the objects. The LIDAR receiver includes a sensor; and, a flash readout integrated circuit (IC). The flash readout IC measures the transit time of the light pulses. The LIDAR processor unit (PU) is operatively associated with the LIDAR SU and it utilizes flash LIDAR ranging. A power source is operatively coupled to the LIDAR PU. Zooming of the transmitted light pulses results in the received resulting input light signals illuminating a relatively reduced area of the frame. Thus, a flash LIDAR image of relatively reduced resolution but enhanced range is provided by utilization of the transit time measurements.

Laser range finding system using variable field of illumination flash lidar

An aircraft landing and/or taxiing system has a plurality of landing zone, runway, and/or taxiway lights capable of receiving information signals and transmitting optically signals representative of the information signals. A processing system for providing the information signals to the plurality of lights is also used. The system also comprises a sensor tuned to receive light of a specific range of wavelengths, the light being emitted from the lights. Also, a processing system coupled to the sensor and configured with software to interpret signals received by the sensor is used. Program code runs on the processing system. The program code is configured to determine the location of an aircraft on the taxiway based on the light signal received from one or more of the taxiway lights. Also, the aircraft landing and/or taxiing system utilizes modulated lights to provide information pertinent to aircraft landing and/or taxiing operations.

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Cedar Rapids, IA, United States of America

Arlen E Breiholz