Alliedsignal Inc.

Honeywell International Inc.

Martin M Morici

Kevin J Conner

Daryal Kuntman

Stephen D Hammack

Jim Joyce

James R Brinsley

A method and apparatus which perform efficient projection of 4-dimensional data (3 spatial and 1 time dimension) onto planar grids are described. Multiple frames of data are drawn from a limited time history data buffer and projected onto a planar grid, which need not be flat, defined in its own coordinate system. Higher dimensional data structures can also be formed from multiple projection grids. Measurement data from multiple data frames is projected into the planar grid such that distance out of plane is the z-dimension. Computational efficiency is achieved by processing only those data samples that are relevant to the planar grid. To be considered relevant, the impulse response of the sensor's measurement rays must cross the planar grid. Samples of relevant rays must also map onto the planar grid's coordinate mesh to be relevant. Multiple data measurements may determine the planar grid's final amplitude result. Amplitudes at the planar grid coordinates are determined by the most relevant measurement(s) of those within the extent of the measurement system's impulse response.

Projection of multi-sensor ray based data histories onto planar grids

A method and apparatus for automatically controlling the tilt of a radar antenna to avoid ground clutter returns while scanning the weather formations of most interest. In one embodiment a terrain database is utilized to determine tilt angles for different terrain cells. The tilt angle is determined starting at the aircraft position and working out to the radar range. If a tilt angle for a more distant cell is less than for a nearer cell it is ignored taking shadowing into account. In another embodiment the weighted tilt angle frequencies are entered into a histogram and the histogram is scanned to obtain a tilt angle resulting in an acceptable amount of ground clutter.

Method and apparatus for implementing automatic tilt control of a radar antenna on an aircraft

A radar gathers terrain data which is compared to a stored terrain data base using a test statistic. The test statistic can be used to validate the terrain data base information and/or the aircraft position data.

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Timonium, MD, United States of America

Martin M Morici