Airborne weather profiler network

• US 7,365,674 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2005
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Whelan, David A., Tillotson, Brian J., Pearlman, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): PIHULIC, DANIEL T
• Application Number:
  US11/235,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20070073486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 342/26.B, 342/115, 342/195
• US Class Current: 342/26.00B
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/00 Meteorology
• 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: G01W 1/10 Devices for predicting weather conditions computers per se G06; display devices G09

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for remotely sensing meteorological conditions and for building models from the sensed conditions. More particularly, networks and systems are provided for gathering remotely sensed profiles of the meteorological conditions and for building the meteorological model. The networks and systems can also predict the weather. Also, various remote profilers are provided including LIDAR, RADAR, nano-sondes, microwave, and even GPS (Global Positioning System) related instruments.

Claims

1. A network comprising:

a plurality of independent mobile sensing nodes each including a profiler, each said profiler adapted to sense a profile of an atmospheric property over a swept arc portion of the atmosphere;

a network for interfacing the sensing nodes with an operator; and

a modeling node including a processor, the processor in communication with the profiler to receive data from the profiler regarding the sensed profile, the processor being adapted to determine a model of the weather from the sensed profiles and to communicate the sensed profiles to the operator via said network.

2. The network of claim 1, wherein the network comprises an airborne wide area network, the processor being further adapted to communicate the model over the airborne wide area network.

3. The network of claim 2 further comprising a publish-subscribe architecture.

4. The network of claim 1, wherein the processor is further adapted to determine a forecast of the weather.

5. The network of claim 1, wherein the mobile sensing node is a first mobile sensing node, the profiler is a first profiler, and the profile being a first profile, the network further comprising a second mobile sensing node including a second profiler to sense a second profile of an atmospheric property, the processor in communication with the second profiler to receive data from the second profiler regarding the second profile, the processor being further adapted to determine the model of the weather from the second profile.

6. The network of claim 5 wherein the first and the second mobile sensing nodes are moving relative to the Earth.

7. The network of claim 6 wherein the swept first and second profiles intersect.

8. The network of claim 1 wherein the mobile sensing node is over a remote area.

9. The network of claim 1 wherein the modeling node is the mobile sensing node.

10. The network of claim 1 wherein the mobile sensing node further comprises an aircraft.

11. A method comprising:

sensing a plurality of profiles of an atmosphere, the sensing being performed from a plurality of sensing nodes, with one of said sensing nodes forming a mobile sensing node;

communicating the sensed profile to a modeling node;

determining a model of the weather using the sensed profiles, the determining of the model being by a processor of the modeling node; and

using a network in communication with said modeling node to communicate the model to a user.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein using a network to communicate the model comprises communicating over an airborne wide area network.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising using a publish-subscribe architecture to communicate the model over the airborne wide area network.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining a forecast of the atmospheric property.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the mobile sensing node is a first mobile sensing node, one of the profiles is a first profiler, and the profiles being a first profile, the method further comprising sensing a second profile of the atmospheric property, the sensing of the second profile being from a second mobile sensing node, the method further including communicating the second sensed profile to the modeling node and further determining the model using the second sensed profile.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising operating the mobile sensing node over a remote area.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising the sensing of the profile being while the sensing platform is moving whereby the sensed profile sweeps through the atmosphere.