SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ASSESSING WEATHER IN PROXIMITY TO AN AIRBORNE AIRCRAFT

• US 20100245165A1
• Filed: 03/31/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Bunch, Brian P., Kauffman, Donald C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,982,658 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/26.B
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/953 mounted on aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/062 in which different colours are used
• 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

Dynamic weather model systems and methods are operable to assess weather in proximity to an airborne aircraft. An exemplary embodiment receives a radar return from the weather, determines reflectivity information from the received radar return, retrieves a weather model from a weather model data base, compares the weather with the retrieved weather model and the determined reflectivity information, predicts a characteristic of the weather based upon the comparison of the weather and the weather model, and determines if the predicted characteristic is potentially hazardous to the airborne aircraft. The weather model is defined by at least one weather modeling algorithm, and is defined by at least one of a parameter and a variable parameter range residing in a weather characteristics database.

Claims

1. A method for assessing weather in proximity to an airborne aircraft, the method comprising:

receiving a radar return from the weather;

determining reflectivity information from the received radar return;

retrieving a weather model from a weather model data base, wherein the weather model is defined by at least one weather modeling algorithm;

comparing the weather with the retrieved weather model and the determined reflectivity information;

predicting a characteristic of the weather based upon the comparison of the weather and the weather model; and

determining if the predicted characteristic is potentially hazardous to the airborne aircraft.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

periodically updating a parameter in a weather characteristics database with an updated parameter, wherein the updated parameter is based upon a plurality of weather analysis using the weather model and using a plurality of data observations collected at different times by a plurality of different airborne aircraft.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

periodically updating a variable parameter range in a weather characteristics database with an updated variable parameter range, wherein the updated variable parameter range is based upon a plurality of weather analyses using the weather model and using a plurality of data observations collected at different times by a plurality of different airborne aircraft.

4. The method of claim 1, where in response to determining that the predicted characteristic is potentially hazardous to the airborne aircraft, comprising:

displaying a predicted weather icon corresponding to the predicted characteristic.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining if the predicted characteristic is potentially hazardous to the airborne aircraft comprises:

predicting a turbulence level based upon the analysis of the weather model; and

determining if the predicted turbulence level is potentially hazardous to the airborne aircraft.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining if the predicted characteristic is potentially hazardous to the airborne aircraft comprises:

predicting at least one of a presence of hail, a presence of lightning, and a presence of icing based upon the analysis of the weather model; and

determining if the predicted presence of hail, the predicted presence of lightning, and the predicted presence of icing is potentially hazardous to the airborne aircraft.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a geographic location of the airborne aircraft; and

selecting the retrieved weather model from a plurality of weather models based upon the determined geographic location of the airborne aircraft.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a current season of the year; and

selecting the retrieved weather model from a plurality of weather models based upon the determined current season of the year.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a current time of day; and

selecting the retrieved weather model from a plurality of weather models based upon the determined current time of day.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the reflectivity information from the received radar return comprises:

determining a vertically integrated liquid (VIL) water content of the weather.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating a first time with the determined reflectivity information;

receiving additional radar returns from the weather at a second time;

determining additional reflectivity information from the received additional radar returns;

associating a second time with the determined additional reflectivity information; and

predicting a rate of change in the predicted characteristic based upon the determined reflectivity information for the first time and the determined additional reflectivity information for the second time.

12. A dynamic weather model system for assessing weather in proximity to an airborne aircraft, comprising:

an onboard weather radar system that detects radar returns from the weather;

an onboard memory that stores a plurality of weather models, wherein each of the weather models is defined by at least one algorithm modeling a characteristic of the weather, and is defined by at least one of a parameter and a variable range residing in a weather characteristics database; and

an onboard processing system communicatively coupled to the onboard weather radar system and the onboard memory, and configured to;

determine reflectivity information from the received detected radar returns;

retrieve a selected weather model from the plurality of weather models, wherein the selected weather model is defined by at least one weather algorithm, and wherein the selected weather model is defined by at least one of a parameter and a variable range residing in a weather characteristics database;

compare the weather with the retrieved weather model and the determined reflectivity information;

predict a characteristic of the weather based upon the comparison of the weather and the weather model; and

determine if the predicted characteristic is potentially hazardous to the airborne aircraft.

13. The dynamic weather model system of claim 12, further comprising:

an onboard global positioning system (GPS) communicatively coupled to the onboard processing system,

wherein the onboard processing system selects the weather model based upon a current location of the airborne aircraft determined by the onboard GPS.

14. The dynamic weather model system of claim 12, further comprising:

an onboard data interface communicatively coupled to the onboard memory,

wherein the onboard data interface receives an updated parameter that is stored in the onboard memory, and

wherein the updated parameter is based upon a plurality of weather analyses using the weather model and using a plurality of data observations collected at different times by a plurality of different airborne aircraft.

15. The dynamic weather model system of claim 12, further comprising:

an onboard data interface communicatively coupled to the onboard memory,

wherein the data interface receives an updated variable range that is stored in the onboard memory, and

wherein the updated variable parameter range is based upon a plurality of weather analyses using the weather model and using a plurality of data observations collected at different times by a plurality of different airborne aircraft.

16. The dynamic weather model system of claim 12, further comprising:

an onboard display system communicatively coupled to the onboard processing system,

wherein the onboard display system displays a predicted weather icon corresponding to the predicted characteristic in response to determining that the predicted characteristic is potentially hazardous to the airborne aircraft.

17. A dynamic weather model system for assessing weather in proximity to an airborne aircraft, comprising:

a means for receiving radar returns from the weather;

a means for storing a weather model in a weather model data base, wherein the weather model is defined by at least one weather modeling algorithm, and is defined by at least one of a parameter and a variable range residing in a weather characteristics database; and

a means for processing, wherein the means for processing determines reflectivity information from the received radar returns, compares the weather using the weather model and using the determined reflectivity information, predicts a characteristic of the weather based upon comparing the weather, and determines if the predicted characteristic is potentially hazardous to the airborne aircraft.

18. The dynamic weather model system of claim 17, further comprising:

a means for periodically updating the parameter with an updated parameter, wherein the updated parameter is based upon a plurality of weather analyses using the weather model and using a plurality of data observations collected at different times by a plurality of different airborne aircraft.

19. The dynamic weather model system of claim 17, further comprising:

a means for periodically updating the variable range with at an updated variable parameter range, wherein the updated variable parameter range is based upon a plurality of weather analyses using the weather model and using a plurality of data observations collected at different times by a plurality of different airborne aircraft.

20. The dynamic weather model system of claim 17, further comprising:

a means for displaying a predicted weather icon corresponding to the predicted characteristic,

wherein the predicted weather icon is displayed in response to determining that the predicted characteristic is potentially hazardous to the airborne aircraft.