Weather data aggregation and display system for airborne network of member aircraft

• US 7,633,428 B1
• Filed: 12/15/2004
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: McCusker, Patrick D., Anderson, Eric N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen; Shelley
• Application Number:
  US11/014,118
• Time in Patent Office: 1,826 Days
• Field of Search: 342/26.R, 342/26.B, 7317016-17028, 701/10
• US Class Current: 342/26.00B
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/953 mounted on aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/22 Producing cursor lines and indicia by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0008 with other 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 weather data aggregation and display system for displaying weather radar information to a pilot of a member aircraft of an airborne network of member aircraft. The weather data aggregation and display system includes an airborne network system (ANS) positioned on the member aircraft adapted to receive incoming geo-referenced weather data regarding Significant Meteorological Systems (SMS) from associated airborne network systems positioned on other member aircraft. A data processing system (DPS) is coupled to the airborne network system for generating the member aircraft'"'"'s perspective of the SMS, based on the incoming weather data and the member aircraft'"'"'s navigation and attitude information. The DPS provides DPS output weather data. An airborne display system (ADS) is positioned on the member aircraft and coupled to the data processing system. The airborne display system is adapted to receive the DPS output weather data and in response thereto display desired weather imagery of the Significant Meteorological Systems. The ANS is adapted to re-transmit the incoming geo-referenced weather data to associated airborne network systems positioned on other member aircraft.

Claims

1. A weather data aggregation and display system for integrating weather radar information from multiple aircraft and displaying the integrated weather radar information to a pilot of a member aircraft of an airborne network of member aircraft, said weather data aggregation and display system, comprising:

an airborne network system (ANS) positioned on the member aircraft configured to receive a continuous constant stream of incoming geo-referenced radar reflectivity information regarding a) Significant Meteorological Systems (SMS) and b) geographic regions with no threatening precipitation, from associated airborne network systems positioned on other member aircraft, said ANS comprising a high bandwidth ad hoc network;

a data processing system (DPS) coupled to said airborne network system for integrating said incoming radar reflectivity information and generating the member aircraft'"'"'s perspective of said SMS, based on the integrated radar reflectivity information and the member aircraft'"'"'s navigation and attitude information, said DPS providing DPS output radar reflectivity information comprising three-dimensional weather graphics; and

,

an airborne display system (ADS) positioned on the member aircraft and coupled to said data processing system, said airborne display system being adapted to receive said DPS output radar reflectivity information and in response thereto display desired weather imagery of said Significant Meteorological Systems,

wherein said ANS is adapted to re-transmit said incoming geo-referenced radar reflectivity information to associated airborne network systems positioned on other member aircraft.

2. The system of claim 1, further including a weather radar system (WRS) coupled to said ANS for providing WRS output data to said ANS, wherein said ANS is capable of transmitting said WRS output data to other associated airborne network systems positioned on other member aircraft.

3. The system of claim 1, further including a weather radar system (WRS) coupled to said DPS for providing WRS output data to said DPS.

4. The system of claim 1, further including a weather radar system (WRS) coupled to said DPS via said ANS, said WRS providing WRS output data to said ANS which is utilized by said ANS in providing DPS directed ANS output to said DPS.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said DPS comprises a graphics processing system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said DPS comprises a graphics processing system for providing composite weather graphics to said ADS.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said DPS comprises a graphics processing system for providing composite weather graphics to said ADS defined in ARINC 708.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said DPS comprises a graphics processing system for providing composite weather graphics to said ADS defined in ARINC 661.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said DPS comprises a graphics processing system for providing composite weather graphics to said ADS defined in a next generation of ARINC 661 or equivalent.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said DPS comprises a graphics processing system for providing composite weather graphics to said ADS defined in a standard commercial markup language.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said DPS provides advisories, alerts, and advanced weather graphics to said ADS.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said DPS provides ARINC 708 interface data and aircraft position and altitude data to said ADS.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said DPS provides ARINC 661 interface data and aircraft position and altitude data to said ADS.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising an airborne navigation and attitude system (ANAS) coupled to said DPS and ANS for sensing and distributing aircraft position and altitude ANAS output data to said DPS and said ANS.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said airborne network system (ANS) comprises a direct aircraft-to-aircraft communications network.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said airborne network system (ANS) comprises an indirect aircraft-to-aircraft communications network utilizing ground-based communications stations.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said airborne network system (ANS) utilizes an indirect aircraft-to-aircraft communications network utilizing a satellite-based network.

18. A weather data aggregation and display system for integrating weather radar information from multiple aircraft and displaying the integrated weather radar information to a pilot of a member aircraft of an airborne network of member aircraft, said weather data aggregation and display system, comprising:

an airborne network system (ANS) positioned on the member aircraft configured to receive a continuous constant stream of incoming geo-referenced radar reflectivity information regarding a) Significant Meteorological Systems (SMS) and b) geographic regions with no threatening precipitation, from associated airborne network systems positioned on other member aircraft, said ANS comprising a high bandwidth ad hoc network;

a data processing system (DPS) coupled to said airborne network system for integrating said incoming radar reflectivity information and generating the member aircraft'"'"'s perspective of said SMS, based on the integrated radar reflectivity information and the member aircraft'"'"'s navigation and attitude information, said DPS providing DPS output weather data comprising three-dimensional weather graphics;

an airborne display system (ADS) positioned on the member aircraft and coupled to said data processing system, said airborne display system being adapted to receive said DPS output radar reflectivity information and in response thereto display desired weather imagery of said Significant Meteorological Systems;

a weather radar system (WRS) coupled to said ANS for providing WRS output data to said ANS, wherein said ANS is capable of transmitting said WRS output data to other associated airborne network systems positioned on other member aircraft; and

,

an airborne navigation and attitude system (ANAS) coupled to said DPS and ANS for sensing and distributing aircraft position and altitude ANAS output data to said DPS and said ANS,

wherein said ANS is adapted to re-transmit said incoming geo-referenced radar reflectivity information to associated airborne network systems positioned on other member aircraft.

19. An airborne network of member aircraft capable of communicating with each other for aggregating and displaying weather data, each member aircraft in said airborne network having a weather data aggregation and display system for displaying weather radar information to a pilot of a member aircraft, each said weather data aggregation and display system, comprising:

an airborne network system (ANS) positioned on the member aircraft configured to receive a continuous constant stream of incoming geo-referenced radar reflectivity information regarding a) Significant Meteorological Systems (SMS) and b) geographic regions with no threatening precipitation, from associated airborne network systems positioned on other member aircraft, said ANS comprising a high bandwidth ad hoc network;

a data processing system (DPS) coupled to said airborne network system for integrating said incoming radar reflectivity information and generating the member aircraft'"'"'s perspective of said SMS, based on the integrated radar reflectivity information and the member aircraft'"'"'s navigation and attitude information, said DPS providing DPS output weather data comprising three-dimensional weather graphics; and

,

an airborne display system (ADS) positioned on the member aircraft and coupled to said data processing system, said airborne display system being adapted to receive said DPS output radar reflectivity information and in response thereto display desired weather imagery of said Significant Meteorological Systems,

wherein said ANS is adapted to re-transmit said incoming geo-referenced radar reflectivity information to associated airborne network systems positioned on other member aircraft.