Rockwell Collins, Inc.

Kevin Michael Kronfeld

Arlen E Breiholz

Jeffery A Finley

Daniel L Woodell

Venkata A Sishtla

Roy E Robertson

Gregory J Koenigs

Karen L Walling

Roger A Dana

James B West

Geoffrey A Shapiro

Scott J Zogg

Brian R Wolford

Boe A Svatek

Nicholas Liberko

Kevin J Delaney

Kevin McElroy

Koji Katakura

Mathew S Chackalackal

Mary Beth Lapis

Gregory D Murray

James P Mitchell

David L Leedom

Kirschen A Seah

Jason C Wenger

Jaclyn A Hoke

Matthew Michael Lorch

Julianne R Crosmer

Terrence P Wey

Jennifer A Davis

David J Weiler

Daniel K Snodgrass

Robert J McCabe

Roberto Nicholas Cormack

Jeremy S Bredfeldt

Ryan C Fulton

Robert J Richard

Steven D Acheson

Brian E Planz

A system including a radar receiver and a processor onboard an aircraft. The processor may be configured to: receive or generate weather radar data; identify an end user computing device to receive the weather radar data; determine whether the end user computing device has a high priority or low priority need for the weather radar data; reduce a size and/or an amount of the weather radar data to be a portion of the weather radar data; and upon a determination that the end user computing device has the low priority need for the weather radar data, route, via a datalink, the portion of the weather radar data having the reduced size and/or reduced amount of the weather radar data to the end user computing device.

Radar system and method using priority based routing of radar data

A system and method for optimizing mission fulfillment via unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) within a mission space generates or receives atmospheric models forecasting weather and wind through the mission space, the atmospheric models having an uncertainty factor. Until the projected flight time, the controller may iterate through one or more simulations of a projected flight plan through the mission space, determining the probability of successful fulfillment of mission objectives based on the most current atmospheric models (including the ability of the UAS to navigate the flight plan within authorized airspace constraints). Based on conditions and behaviors observed during a simulated flight plan, the controller may revise flight plans, flight times, or atmospheric models for subsequent simulations. Based on multiple probabilities of fulfillment across multiple simulations, the controller selects an optimal flight plan and/or flight time for fulfillment of the assigned set of mission objectives.

System and method for optimizing mission fulfillment by unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) via dynamic atmospheric modeling

The hazard warning system includes processing system for detecting an HVB condition. The aircraft warning system can use at least two types of radar returns and can measure decorrelation time to detect the HVB condition. Warnings of HVB conditions can allow an aircraft to avoid threats posed by such conditions including damage to aircraft equipment and engines.

Radar system and method for detecting hazards associated with particles or bodies

A communication link analysis system is for analyzing communication link performance for an unmanned aviation system traveling over a route using a radio network comprising a plurality of radio nodes. The communication link analysis system includes a memory for storing quality parameters associated with communication links between the unmanned aviation system and the radio nodes. The communication link analysis system also includes a processor configured to map the quality parameters by location along the route or provide a bin chart of the quality parameter by radio node. The quality parameter is derived from radio link parameters provided by the unmanned aviation system.

System and method for historical radio performance analysis or visualization

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

A weather radar control system includes a processor configured to acquire first weather data for a first area extending from an aircraft from a weather radar system onboard the aircraft. The first weather data includes a first location of a weather event in the first area. The processor is further configured to receive second weather data for a second area with respect to the aircraft via the communication system from an external location where the second weather data includes a second location of a weather event in the second area, and correlate the first weather data and the second weather data. The processor is further configured to generate display data for display based on the correlated weather data where the display data is for a display area at least partially defined by the first and second areas, and provide the display data to a display system onboard the aircraft.

Enhancement of airborne weather radar performance using external weather data

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.

A system, device, and method for capturing avionics data are disclosed. The avionics data capturing system could include an indicating device(s), image capturing device(s), a processing unit (PU), and a user system(s). The PU may acquire image data captured by the image capturing device(s) such as a camera sensor and/or infrared sensor, where the image data may be representative of an image of an object image(s) of a vehicle component(s) being viewed by an occupant located in the vehicle; classify the object image(s) as a function of a contextual image classification algorithm; determine a location for each classified object image as a function of the classified reference scale image(s); generate output data representative of each classified object image; and provide the output data to the user system(s). When received, a user(s) of the user system(s) may be presented with information regarding the component(s) being viewed by the occupant.

Avionics data capturing system, device, and method

The hazard warning system that included processing system for detecting a high altitude ice crystal (HAIC) or HAIC cloud (HAIC) condition. The aircraft warning system can use an inferred detected process or a non-inferred detection process. Warnings of high altitude ice crystal conditions can allow an aircraft to avoid threats posed by HAIC or HAICconditions including damage to aircraft equipment and engines.

Weather radar system and method for detecting a high altitude crystal cloud condition

A system for determining a flight plan based on internet connectivity includes at least one processor coupled with a non-transitory processor-readable medium storing processor-executable code for causing the at least one processor to receive internet connectivity data for a plurality of airspace regions, where the internet connectivity data is indicative of an internet connectivity characteristic; and determine a flight plan for an aircraft through at least one region of the plurality of airspace regions based on the internet connectivity characteristic.

Flight plan optimization for maintaining internet connectivity

A hazard warning or weather radar system or method can be utilized to determine a location of ice. The system and method can be used in an aircraft. The aircraft weather radar system can include a radar antenna and an electronic processor. The radar antenna receives radar returns. The processor determines levels of icing conditions and causes the levels to be displayed on an electronic display.

System and method for ice detection

A distributed system for flight and route management (FARM) of one or more aircraft of the system may include onboard processing devices for combining sensor data local to an aircraft with cloud-based data received through the system from other aircraft or from ground-based processing devices, thereby generating situation models of each aircraft relative to its flight path and in the context of current and predictive conditions (weather, traffic, terrain, threats, etc.). The FARM system may evaluate situation models against prioritized constraint sets of business rules or policies associated with each aircraft's flight plan to determine, crosscheck, and implement possible modifications to the flight plan. Localized aircraft data and flight plan modifications may be propagated through the system via a variety of communications networks to provide synchronized, holistic airspace data portraits to aircraft and ground control alike.

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Cedar Rapids, IA, United States of America

Kevin Michael Kronfeld