SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING IRIDIUM SATELLITE SIGNALS FOR METEOROLOGICAL MEASUREMENTS

• US 20090189802A1
• Filed: 01/25/2008
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Tillotson, Brian J., Whelan, David A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,728,759 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/26.B
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/02 Instruments for indicating weather conditions by measuring two or more variables, e.g. humidity, pressure, temperature, cloud cover or wind speed G01W1/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/08 Adaptations of balloons, missiles, or aircraft for meteorological purposes; Radiosondes transmission of measurements G01D; transmitting circuits H04B; balloons in general B64B; aeroplanes in general B64D; missiles in general F42B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• 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

A method for obtaining weather related information for a portion of the Earth'"'"'s atmosphere between a mobile platform traversing over a predetermined surface portion of the Earth, and at least one Iridium satellite from the Iridium satellite constellation. The method involves modifying at least one Iridium satellite from a constellation of Iridium satellites to include time and location information in wireless signals that are transmitted in real time by the one satellite. The mobile platform receives the wireless signals from the one Iridium satellite. An occultation system carried on the mobile platform analyzes the time and position information, in addition to location information pertaining to a real time location of the mobile platform, and to derive real time atmospheric weather related information for a geographic area between the mobile platform and the one Iridium satellite.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining weather related information for a portion of the Earth'"'"'s atmosphere between a mobile platform traversing over a surface portion of the Earth, and at least one Iridium satellite from the Iridium satellite constellation, the method comprising:

modifying at least one Iridium satellite from a constellation of Iridium satellites to include time and location information in wireless signals that are transmitted in real time by said one satellite;

using said mobile platform to receive said wireless signals from said one Iridium satellite; and

using an occultation system carried on said mobile platform to analyze said time and position information to derive real time atmospheric weather related information for a geographic area between said airborne mobile platform and said one Iridium satellite.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising using said mobile platform to transmit said real time atmospheric weather related information to a terrestrial based weather station.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said modifying at least one Iridium satellite comprises using a satellite control system to transmit wireless signals to said one Iridium satellite to modify operation of an onboard computer of said one Iridium satellite.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein using said mobile platform comprises using one of a jet aircraft and a marine vessel.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein deriving real time atmospheric weather information comprises deriving at least one of precipitable water vapor (PWV), temperature and wave height.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said using an occultation system comprises using a receiver to receive said wireless signals from said one Iridium satellite and to determine a time delay relating to a time of travel of said wireless signals from said one Iridium satellite to said mobile platform.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising using a processor to receive said time delay and performing signal occultation calculations to obtain said atmospheric weather related information.

8. A method for obtaining weather related information for a portion of the Earth'"'"'s atmosphere between an airborne mobile platform traversing over a body of water on the Earth, and at least one Iridium satellite from the Iridium satellite constellation, the method comprising:

modifying a plurality of Iridium satellites from a constellation of orbiting Iridium satellites to include time and location information in wireless signals that are transmitted in real time by said plurality of Iridium satellites;

transmitting said wireless signals from said plurality of Iridium satellites;

using said airborne mobile platform to receive said wireless signals from said plurality of Iridium satellites;

using an occultation system carried on said airborne mobile platform to analyze said time and position information, in addition to location information pertaining to a real time location of said airborne mobile platform, and to derive real time atmospheric weather related information for a geographic area between said airborne mobile platform and a given one of said plurality of Iridium satellites.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein using said airborne mobile platform comprises using a jet aircraft flying at a cruise altitude over said body of water.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising using said airborne mobile platform to transmit said real time atmospheric weather related information to a terrestrial weather station.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising using said airborne mobile platform to transmit said real time atmospheric weather related information to a sea based vessel.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said using an occultation system comprises using a receiver on said airborne mobile platform to receive said wireless signals and to compute time delay information therefrom relating to a time of travel of said wireless signals from a designated one of said Iridium satellites to said airborne mobile platform.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said using an occultation system further comprises using a processor in communication with said receiver to receive said time delay information and to calculate therefrom said real time atmospheric weather related information.

14. A system for determining atmospheric weather related information using at least one Iridium satellite of an Iridium satellite constellation, the system including:

at least one Iridium satellite modified to transmit time and location data;

a mobile platform having an antenna tuned to receive wireless signals transmitted by said one Iridium satellite, said wireless signals including said time and location data;

an occultation system carried by said mobile platform including;

a receiver adapted to receive said wireless signals transmitted from said one Iridium satellite and for using said time and location data to determine time delay information relating to a time of travel of said wireless signals from said one Iridium satellite to said mobile platform, and location information concerning said one Iridium satellite; and

a processor adapted to perform occultation calculations using said location information and said time delay information, and to generate therefrom atmospheric weather related information.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said mobile platform comprises one of an airborne mobile platform and a sea going vessel.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein said atmospheric weather information comprises information relating to at least one of precipitable water vapor (PWV), temperature and wave height.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein said mobile platform comprises a sea going vessel.

18. The system of claim 14, further comprising a transmitter carried on said mobile platform for transmitting said atmospheric weather related information to a remote site.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein said antenna is mounted on an underside of a fuselage portion of said mobile platform.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein said antenna is mounted on a crown of a fuselage portion of said mobile platform.

21. The system of claim 17, further comprising a weather monitoring station located remote from said mobile platform, and responsive to signals transmitted from said transmitter on said mobile platform.