Integrated airborne transponder and collision avoidance system

• US 6,789,016 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2002
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc), Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Inventors: Murphy, Michael, Wolff, David, Esbin, Scott, Purdy, Randolph, Drobnicki, Paul F., Bayh, Carl Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US10/167,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20030233192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 701/301, 701/302, 701/9, 701/8, 701/4, 701/3, 701/122, 701/207, 701/120, 701/14, 340/961, 340/973, 340/975, 340/945, 342/29, 342/32, 342/30, 342/36, 342/37, 342/42, 342/51, 342/455, 342/362, 342/360, 342/179, 342/176
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/765 with exchange of information between interrogator and responder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/767 Responders; Transponders teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying using reflecting targets or active targets F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/933 of aircraft or spacecraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0008 with other aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0052 for cruising combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value G01C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0078 for monitoring traffic from the aircraft radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91

Abstract

An airborne collision avoidance system includes a receiver stage constructed and arranged to detect (a) at a first radio frequency, first interrogation signals, and first collision resolution advisory (RA) signals transmitted from other nearby aircraft, and (b) at a second radio frequency, first acquisition signals including position information with respect to the nearby aircraft, and first reply signals from the nearby aircraft. A transmitter stage is constructed to produce (a) at the first radio frequency, second interrogation signals and second collision RA signals, and (b) at the second radio frequency, second acquisition signals including position information with respect to the given aircraft, and second reply signals from the given aircraft in response to the first interrogation signals. Tracking and collision avoidance information derived by a system processor from the detected first acquisition and first RA signals is shown on a cockpit display. The receiver and the transmitter stages are coupled to a single pair of upper and lower fuselage antennas through a T/R switch module.

Claims

1. An integrated transponder and collision avoidance system for deployment on a given aircraft, comprising:

an antenna array constructed and arranged for emitting and receiving signals within a certain range of the given aircraft at one or more defined radio frequencies;

a receiver stage arranged to be coupled to the antenna array, wherein the receiver stage is constructed and arranged to detect,

(i) first interrogation signals transmitted to the given aircraft,

(ii) first resolution advisory (RA) signals directed to the given aircraft from nearby aircraft having certain collision avoidance systems on board, the first RA signals containing information relating to a collision avoidance maneuver that is determined by the nearby aircraft,

(iii) first acquisition signals emitted from nearby aircraft and containing certain information with respect to the nearby aircraft, and

(iv) first reply signals transmitted from nearby aircraft in response to interrogation signals transmitted to the nearby aircraft;

a transmitter stage arranged to be operatively coupled to the antenna array, wherein the transmitter stage is constructed and arranged to produce,

(i) second interrogation signals for transmission to nearby aircraft,

(ii) second RA signals for transmission to the nearby aircraft that have the collision avoidance systems on board, the second RA signals containing information relating to a collision avoidance maneuver that is determined by the given aircraft,

(iii) second acquisition signals containing certain information with respect to the given aircraft, and

(iv) second reply signals in response to received first interrogation signals;

a system processor coupled to the receiver stage and to the transmitter stage for controlling operations of the receiver stage and the transmitter stage, wherein the processor is configured to produce (a) tracking and collision avoidance information according to information contained in signals detected by the receiver stage, and (b) waveforms for use in defining signals for transmission by the transmitter stage;

a control unit coupled to the system processor, wherein the control unit and the processor are constructed and arranged to enable a pilot of the given aircraft to select and to control operating modes of the system including a collision avoidance mode of operation that interoperates with the collision avoidance systems on board the nearby aircraft, wherein the system processor is configured always to await detection by the receiver stage of the first RA signals from the nearby aircraft, and then to produce the second RA signals in a form representing collision avoidance maneuver information that is coordinated with the information contained in the detected first RA signals, so that the nearby aircraft is always allowed to resolve a potential collision conflict in a manner having least impact on an intended flight path of the nearby aircraft; and

a display unit coupled to the system processor, wherein the display unit is configured to produce a graphic representation of the tracking and collision avoidance information produced by the system processor.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the radio frequencies include at least one of 1030 MHz and 1090 MHz.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the antenna array comprises an omni-directional antenna mounted on an upper portion of a fuselage of the given aircraft, and an omni-directional antenna mounted on a lower portion of said fuselage.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the receiver stage is operative to detect first acquisition signals that contain information relating to a position of the nearby aircraft, and the system processor is configured to determine said position.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the first acquisition signals are in the form of Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) squitter signals.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the system processor is configured to enable the system to function in a transponder mode of operation.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the control unit is constructed and arranged to enable a code corresponding to a selected transponder mode to be entered manually by the pilot of the given aircraft.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the system processor is configured to process certain information concerning squadron aircraft, and wherein the control unit is arranged to enable said information to be entered manually by the pilot of the given aircraft.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the information concerning squadron aircraft corresponds to a squadron'"'"'s transponder code or Mode S address.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit and the system processor are constructed and arranged to enable a pilot of the given aircraft to select an intercept mode of operation in which second RA signals when transmitted to a target aircraft by the transmitter stage, contain information corresponding to a command for the target aircraft to maintain level flight.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the system processor is configured not to respond to first RA signals transmitted from the target aircraft to the given aircraft when in the intercept mode of operation, and to continue to produce the second RA signals commanding the target aircraft to maintain level flight.

12. A system according to claim 1, including a transmit/receive (T/R) switch module coupled to the antenna array and to the system processor, and wherein an input of the receiver stage and an output of the transmitter stage are coupled to the T/R switch module.

13. An integrated transponder and collision avoidance system for deployment on a given aircraft, comprising:

an antenna array constructed and arranged for emitting and receiving signals within a certain range of the given aircraft at one or more defined radio frequencies;

a receiver stage arranged to be coupled to the antenna array, wherein the receiver stage is constructed and arranged to detect,

(i) first interrogation signals transmitted to the given aircraft,

(ii) first resolution advisory (RA) signals directed to the given aircraft from nearby aircraft having certain collision avoidance systems on board, the first RA signals containing information relating to a collision avoidance maneuver that is determined by the nearby aircraft,

(iii) first acquisition signals emitted from and containing certain information with respect to the nearby aircraft, and

(iv) first reply signals transmitted from the nearby aircraft in response to interrogation signals transmitted to the nearby aircraft;

a transmitter stage arranged to be operatively coupled to the antenna array, wherein the transmitter stage is constructed and arranged to produce,

(i) second interrogation signals for transmission to the nearby aircraft,

(ii) second RA signals for transmission to the nearby aircraft that have the collision avoidance systems on board, the second RA signals containing information relating to a maneuver that is determined by the given aircraft,

(iii) second acquisition signals containing certain information with respect to the given aircraft, and

(iv) second reply signals in response to received first interrogation signals;

a system processor coupled to the receiver stage and to the transmitter stage for controlling operations of the receiver stage and the transmitter stage, wherein the processor is configured to produce (a) tracking and collision avoidance information according to information contained in signals detected by the receiver stage, and (b) waveforms for use in defining signals for transmission by the transmitter stage;

a control unit coupled to the system processor, wherein the control unit and the processor are constructed and arranged to enable a pilot of the given aircraft to select and to control operating modes of the system, including an intercept mode of operation that interoperates with the collision avoidance system on board a nearby target aircraft, wherein the processor is configured to produce the second RA signals in a form that commands the system aboard the target aircraft to maintain level flight and does not respond to any detected first RA signals from the target aircraft; and

a display unit coupled to the system processor, wherein the display unit is configured to produce a graphic representation of the tracking and collision avoidance information produced by the system processor.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the radio frequencies include at least one of 1030 MHz and 1090 MHz.

15. A system according to claim 13, wherein the antenna array comprises an omni-directional antenna mounted on an upper portion of a fuselage of the given aircraft, and an omni-directional antenna mounted on a lower portion of said fuselage.

16. A system according to claim 13, wherein the receiver stage is operative to detect first acquisition signals that contain information relating to a position of the target aircraft, and the system processor is configured to determine said position.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the first acquisition signals are in the form of Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) squitter signals.

18. A system according to claim 13, wherein the system processor is configured to enable the system to function in a transponder mode of operation.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein the control unit is constructed and arranged to enable a code corresponding to a selected transponder mode to be entered manually by the pilot of the given aircraft.

20. A system according to claim 13, wherein the system processor is configured to process certain information concerning squadron aircraft, and wherein the control unit is arranged to enable said information to be entered manually by the pilot of the given aircraft.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein the information concerning squadron aircraft corresponds to a squadron'"'"'s transponder code or Mode S address.

22. A system according to claim 13, including a transmit/receive (T/R) switch module coupled to the antenna array and to the system processor, and wherein an input of the receiver stage and an output of the transmitter stage are coupled to the T/R switch module.

23. An integrated transponder and collision avoidance system for deployment on a given aircraft, comprising:

an antenna array constructed and arranged for emitting and receiving signals within a certain range of the given aircraft at one or more defined radio frequencies;

a receiver stage arranged to be coupled to the antenna array, wherein the receiver stage is constructed and arranged to detect,

(i) first interrogation signals transmitted to the given aircraft,

(ii) first resolution advisory (RA) signals directed to the given aircraft from nearby aircraft having certain collision avoidance systems on board, the first RA signals containing information relating to a collision avoidance maneuver that is determined by the nearby aircraft,

(iii) first acquisition signals emitted from and containing certain information with respect to the nearby aircraft, and

(iv) first reply signals transmitted from the nearby aircraft in response to interrogation signals transmitted to the nearby aircraft;

a transmitter stage arranged to be operatively coupled to the antenna array, wherein the transmitter stage is constructed and arranged to produce,

(i) second interrogation signals for transmission to the nearby aircraft,

(ii) second RA signals for transmission to the nearby aircraft that have the collision avoidance systems on board, the second RA signals containing information relating to a maneuver that is determined by the given aircraft,

(iii) second acquisition signals containing certain information with respect to the given aircraft, and

(iv) second reply signals in response to received first interrogation signals;

a system processor coupled to the receiver stage and to the transmitter stage for controlling operations of the receiver stage and the transmitter stage, wherein the processor is configured to produce (a) tracking and collision avoidance information according to information contained in signals detected by the receiver stage, and (b) waveforms for use in defining signals for transmission by the transmitter stage;

a control unit coupled to the system processor, wherein the control unit and the processor are constructed and arranged to enable a pilot of the given aircraft to select and to control operating modes of the system, including

(i) a collision avoidance mode that interoperates with the collision avoidance systems on board the nearby aircraft, wherein the system processor is configured always to await detection by the receiver stage of the first RA signals from the nearby aircraft, and then to produce the second RA signals in a form representing collision avoidance maneuver information that is coordinated with the information contained in the detected first RA signals, so that the nearby aircraft is always allowed to resolve a potential collision conflict in a manner having least impact on an intended flight path of the nearby aircraft, and

(ii) an intercept mode of operation wherein the processor is configured to produce the second RA signals in a form that commands the system aboard the target aircraft to maintain level flight and does not respond to any first RA signals detected from the target aircraft; and

a display unit coupled to the system processor, wherein the display unit is configured to produce a graphic representation of the tracking and collision avoidance information produced by the system processor.

24. A system according to claim 23, wherein the antenna array comprises an omni-directional antenna mounted on an upper portion of a fuselage of the given aircraft, and an omni-directional antenna mounted on a lower portion of said fuselage.

25. A system according to claim 23, wherein the receiver stage is operative to detect first acquisition signals that contain information relating to a position of the nearby aircraft, and the system processor is configured to determine said position.

26. A system according to claim 25, wherein the first acquisition signals are in the form of Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) squitter signals.

27. A system according to claim 23, wherein the system processor is configured to enable the system to function in a transponder mode of operation.

28. A system according to claim 27, wherein the control unit is constructed and arranged to enable a code corresponding to a selected transponder mode to be entered manually by the pilot of the given aircraft.

29. A system according to claim 23, wherein the system processor is configured to process certain information concerning squadron aircraft, and wherein the control unit is arranged to enable said information to be entered manually by the pilot of the given aircraft.

30. A system according to claim 29, wherein the information concerning squadron aircraft corresponds to a squadron'"'"'s transponder code or Mode S address.