Method for recognizing and identifying objects

• US 20040145511A1
• Filed: 10/23/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Kaltschmidt, Horst, Klausing, Helmut
• Granted Patent: US 6,965,342 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/52
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/86 Combinations of radar systems with non-radar systems, e.g. sonar, direction finder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/9082 Rotating SAR [ROSAR]
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/935 for terrain-avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/15 Aircraft landing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/41 using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for recognizing and identifying objects by means of several sensors, particularly using imaging sensors (L, W, V) in the infrared and/or visible wavelength range and radar devices (R) which are based on the generation of a synthetic aperture. According to the invention, generation of the synthetic aperture occurs in accordance with the ROSAR principle, wherein a plurality of antenna elements (A), which the radar device (R) comprises, is placed on the aircraft (F) along its arched contour (K), controlled sequentially and scanned, and wherein the information acquired by the radar devices (R) and the imaging sensors (L, W, V) is subsequently processed, in such a way that optimal imaging of the surroundings of the aircraft (F) is made possible in every viewing direction.

Claims

1. Method for recognizing and identifying objects by means of several sensors, particularly using imaging sensors (L, W, V) in the infrared and/or visible wavelength range and radar devices (R) which are based on the generation of a synthetic aperture, characterized in that generation of the synthetic aperture occurs in accordance with the ROSAR principle, wherein a plurality of antenna elements (A), which the radar device (R) comprises, is placed on the aircraft (F) along its arched contour (K), controlled sequentially and scanned, and wherein the information acquired by the radar devices (R) and the imaging sensors (L, W, V) is subsequently processed, in such a way that optimal imaging of the surroundings of the aircraft (F) is made possible in every viewing direction.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the imaging sensors (L, W, V) are integrated into the nose of the aircraft and are, in particular, laser radar devices, heat imaging devices, or video cameras.

3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data acquired by the individual radar devices (R) and/or sensors (L, W, V) are collected by a first data processing unit (D1) and processed to produce a common image.

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the image generated in the first data processing unit (D1) is processed further in a second data processing unit (D2), with a corresponding terrain image from a database (DB), to produce a further image.

5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the pass-points symbolically arranged on the terrain image are transformed into a two-dimensional image signal in the second data processing unit (D2), which image signal is correlated with the image generated in the first data processing unit (D1).

6. Method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the image generated in the second processing unit (D2) is made visible in a display device (AG), particularly a display or a virtual cockpit.

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data relevant for data processing and/or image display are transmitted by means of communications networks (K), particularly GSM mobile radio, mobile communications via satellites, or an HFNHF network.

8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the relevant data come from the satellite navigation system (SN), particularly GPS or differential GPS and/or from other communications participants (KT), particularly external reception or evaluation stations and/or other aircrafts.