Systems and methods for using radar-adaptive beam pattern for wingtip protection

Abstract

Systems and methods for adaptively steering radar beam patterns for coverage during aircraft turns. The radar sensor system is mechanically or electrically steered to alter the radar sensor's beam pattern in order to adapt the radar sensor's field of view (FOV) to cover the area of anticipated aircraft wingtip trajectory. The anticipated trajectory is derived, for example, from the aircraft groundspeed, acceleration, heading, turn rate, tiller position, attitude, taxi clearance, etc.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A device located on a vehicle, the device comprising:
 at least one electrically or mechanically steerable sensor;   a processor in signal communication with the sensor, the processor configured to
 receive information regarding at least one of a future position of the vehicle, an estimated trajectory of at least part of the vehicle or an estimate of location of a tracked target; 
 determine at least one area to sense based on the received information; and 
 generate at least one sensor steering signal based on the determined area, 
   wherein the at least one sensor is steered based on the generated at least one sensor steering signal.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is an aircraft located on the ground. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the at least part of the aircraft comprises at least one wingtip or engine nacelle. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the future position is based on taxi clearance information. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to estimate trajectory based on received position information. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a target is tracked, based on information actively communicated from the target. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to estimate trajectory based on received navigation information. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 generate an image based on information generated by the at least one steerable sensor; and   generate an indication that at least one steerable sensor is being steered, further comprising:
 a display device configured to
 present the generated image and the generated indication. 
 
   
     
     
         9 . A method performed by a device located on a vehicle, the method comprising:
 at a processor in signal communication with a sensor,
 receiving information regarding at least one of a future position of the vehicle, an estimated trajectory of at least part of the vehicle, or an estimate of location of a tracked target; 
 determining at least one area to sense, based on the received information; 
 generating at least one sensor steering signal based on the determined area, 
   at at least one steerable sensor and
 steering the vehicle based on the generated at least one sensor steering signal. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the vehicle is an aircraft located on the ground. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least part of the aircraft comprises at least one wingtip or engine nacelle. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the future position is based on taxi clearance information. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein estimating trajectory is based on received position information. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a target is tracked, based on information actively communicated from the target. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein estimating trajectory is based on received navigation information. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising, at the processor:
 generating an image based on information generated by the at least one steerable sensor; and   generating an indication that at least one steerable sensor is being steered; and
 at a display device
 presenting the generated image and the generated indication. 
 
   
     
     
         17 . A system located on a vehicle, the system comprising:
 a means for receiving information regarding at least one of a future position of the vehicle, an estimated trajectory of at least part of the vehicle, or an estimate of location of a tracked target, determining at least one area to sense, based on the received information, and generating at least one sensor steering signal based on the determined area;   a means for steering the vehicle based on the generated at least one sensor steering signal.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the vehicle is an aircraft located on the ground, wherein the at least part of the aircraft comprises at least one wingtip or engine nacelle. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein estimating trajectory is based on at least one of received position information, received navigation information, or taxi clearance information. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a means for generating an image based on information generated by the at least one steerable sensor;   a means for generating an indication that at least one steerable sensor is being steered; and   a means for presenting the generated image and the generated indication.