METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR AIRCRAFT TURBULENCE DETECTION

• US 20080255714A1
• Filed: 04/16/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Ross, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 8,209,071 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/95 for meteorological use
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/10 Devices for predicting weather conditions computers per se G06; display devices G09
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 2001/003 Clear air turbulence detection or forecasting, e.g. for aircrafts
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0039 Modification of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0091 for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for an in-flight air turbulence detection system. In one embodiment, a system includes an air turbulence detector and a transmitter to transmit turbulence information. In another embodiment, a system includes a receiver, a detection processing module, an aircraft ID module, and a route modification module.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an air turbulence detector to detect in-flight turbulence for an airborne aircraft;

a transmitter to transmit information on the detected turbulence to an air traffic control location.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the air turbulence detector includes a laser and a detection grid configured to be affixed to an aircraft wing to measure wing deflection due to the turbulence.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the air turbulence detector includes an accelerometer.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the detected turbulence information via a satellite.

5. The system according to claim 1, further including a turbulence processing module to derive characteristics of the detected turbulence.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the turbulence processing module includes one or more criteria to determine whether a turbulence alert should be generated.

7. A system, comprising:

a receiver to receive air turbulence information from aircraft, the air turbulence information including a location;

a detection processing module coupled to the receiver to process the air turbulence information;

an aircraft ID module to identify aircraft having a flight plan intersecting with the location of the air turbulence; and

a route modification module to evaluate modifications to the flight plans for the identified aircraft.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the system forms a part of an air traffic control station.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the route modification module automatically modifies flight plans.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein the route modification module generated proposed modifications to the flight plans for approval by a pilot of the aircraft.

11. The system according to claim 7, wherein the route modification module includes criteria to evaluate flight plan modifications including weather information, storm locations, air traffic, collision avoidance, arrival time impact, and fuel supply.

12. The system according to claim 11, further including weighting factors for the criteria.

13. A system, comprising:

a turbulence reporting system including

an interface module to communicate with satellites, aircraft, and/or an air traffic control station;

a control module coupled to the interface module; and

a database to store received turbulence information.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the system provides stored turbulence information in response to a request regarding a selected area.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein provided turbulence information includes location and magnitude.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein the stored turbulence information includes at least the contiguous 48 states of the United States.

17. A method, comprising:

receiving air turbulence information from a turbulence detector on a first aircraft;

processing the received air turbulence information;

modifying a flight plan for a second aircraft based upon the processed air turbulence information.

18. The method according to claim 17, further including automatically modifying the flight plan for the second aircraft automatically based upon selected criteria.

19. The method according to claim 17, further including providing the modified flight plan for transmission to a pilot of the second aircraft for approval.