Multilateration enhancements for noise and operations management

• US 7,576,695 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2006
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ERA Systems Corporation (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Inventors: Smith, Alexander E., Breen, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US11/342,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20060191326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,298 Days
• Field of Search: 342455-457, 342/463, 342/465, 701/117, 701/120
• US Class Current: 342/465
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 17/00 Measuring mechanical vibrations or ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves, not provided for in the preceding groups see provisionally also G01H1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0043 Traffic management of multiple aircrafts from the ground G08G5/003 takes precedence; data processing specially designed for resource management, e.g. scheduling or allocating time, human or machine resources G06Q10/06

Abstract

Multilateration techniques are used to provide accurate aircraft tracking data for aircraft on the ground and in the vicinity of an airport. From this data, aircraft noise and operations management may be enhanced. Aircraft noise may be calculated virtually using track data in real-time and provided to a user to determine noise violations. Tracking data may be used to control noise monitoring stations to gate out ambient noise. Aircraft emissions, both on the ground and in the air may be determined using tracking data. This and other data may be displayed in real time or generated in reports, and/or may be displayed on a website for viewing by airport operators and/or members of the public. The system may be readily installed in a compact package using a plurality of receivers and sensor packages located at shared wireless communication towers near an airport, and a central processing station located in or near the airport.

Claims

1. A method of performing real-time calculation of virtual acoustical noise levels caused by aircraft, comprising the steps of:

receiving, at a plurality of locations, radio signals from the aircraft;

time-stamping received radio signals from the aircraft with a time value indicating a time a radio signal is received at one of the plurality of locations to produce time stamps from the plurality of locations;

calculating aircraft position and track by measuring time difference of arrival of the radio signals from the aircraft at the plurality of locations from the time stamps from the plurality of locations;

identifying the aircraft from data in the radio signals; and

determining acoustical noise levels generated by the aircraft, from aircraft position and track in real time and outputting aircraft noise level data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of locations includes at least one shared wireless communication tower.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

storing aircraft position, identification, and track data and acoustical noise level data in a database;

receiving an aircraft acoustical noise query from a user;

searching the database; and

outputting at least one of aircraft identification information, aircraft position information, aircraft track information and acoustical noise level data in response to the aircraft noise query.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of

storing aircraft position, identification, and track data and acoustical noise level data in a database;

displaying, on a website, in at least one of real-time or delayed, at least one of aircraft identification information, aircraft position information, aircraft track information and acoustical noise level data.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

receiving, from a user of the website, acoustical noise complaint data including at least one of user location, user name, and time of complaint.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining acoustical noise levels comprises the step of virtually determining acoustical noise levels using one of a predetermined algorithm and computer model, based upon at least one of aircraft track, speed, climb rate, thrust, and one or more of aircraft type, aircraft weight, flap settings, configuration, and engine type.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

measuring aircraft acoustical noise using at least one physical acoustical noise monitor to measure actual aircraft acoustical noise at a predetermined location, and

comparing measured aircraft acoustical noise with virtually determined acoustical noise levels to validate the predetermined algorithm.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one physical noise monitor is located at at least one of the plurality of locations.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one of the plurality of locations is the shared wireless communication tower.

10. A method of performing real-time calculation of virtual acoustical noise levels caused by aircraft, comprising the steps of:

receiving radio signals from the aircraft;

calculating aircraft position and track from data in the radio signals;

identifying the aircraft from data in the radio signals; and

determining acoustical noise levels generated by the aircraft, from aircraft position and track in real time and outputting aircraft noise level data.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the radio signals comprise Automatic Dependent Surveillance, Mode B (ADS-B) signals from the aircraft.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

storing aircraft position, identification, and track data and acoustical noise level data in a database;

receiving an aircraft acoustical noise query from a user;

searching the database; and

outputting at least one of aircraft identification information, aircraft position information, aircraft track information and acoustical noise level data in response to the aircraft noise query.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of

storing aircraft position, identification, and track data and acoustical noise level data in a database;

displaying, on a website, in at least one of real-time or delayed, at least one of aircraft identification information, aircraft position information, aircraft track information and acoustical noise level data.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

receiving, from a user of the website, acoustical noise complaint data including at least one of user location, user name, and time of complaint.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of determining acoustical noise levels comprises the step of virtually determining acoustical noise levels using one of a predetermined algorithm and computer model, based upon at least one of aircraft track, speed, climb rate, thrust, and one or more of aircraft type, aircraft weight, flap settings, configuration, and engine type.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

measuring aircraft acoustical noise using at least one physical acoustical noise monitor to measure actual aircraft acoustical noise at a predetermined location, and

comparing measured aircraft acoustical noise with virtually determined acoustical noise levels to validate the predetermined algorithm.