Obstacle detection system notably for an anticollision system

• US 7,903,023 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2008
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beijing Voyager Technology Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Thales SA
• Inventors: Lacomme, Philippe, Audic, Yves, Le Bihan, Patrick, Cornic, Pascal
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brainard, Timothy A
• Application Number:
  US12/048,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20090174591A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 342/29
• US Class Current: 342/139
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/44 Monopulse radar, i.e. simultaneous lobing
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/584 adapted for simultaneous range and velocity measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/933 of aircraft or spacecraft

Abstract

The present invention relates to system for detecting obstacles (13, 55, 56, 57) on the ground (15) onboard a carrier (1). The detection system comprises at least two continuous-wave radars (2, 3, 4). The radars (2, 3, 4) are linked to a system (15) for utilizing the detection data arising from the radars (2, 3, 4). The detection system performs localization of an obstacle (13, 55, 56, 57): along a radial axis (12) between a radar (2, 3, 4) and the obstacle (13, 55, 56, 57), by calculating the distance between the radar (2, 3, 4) and the obstacle (13, 55, 56, 57); along a vertical axis (14) with respect to a radar (2, 3, 4), by calculating the elevation of the obstacle (13, 55, 56, 57) using monopulse deviation-measurement processing. The detection system performs localization of an obstacles along a horizontal axis (18) transverse with respect to a sighting axis (11) of a radar (2, 3, 4), by calculating the azimuthal position of the obstacle (13, 55, 56, 57). The invention applies notably in respect of the detection of obstacles on the ground so as to avoid any collision between a taxiing aircraft and these obstacles.

Claims

1. A system for detecting obstacles on the ground onboard a carrier, comprising:

at least two continuous-wave radars, linked to a system for utilizing the detection data arising from the radars, each radar configured to perform localization of an obstacle;

along a radial axis between the radar and the obstacle, by calculating the distance between the radar and the obstacle; and

along a horizontal axis transverse with respect to a sighting axis of the radar, by calculating the azimuthal position of the obstacle; and

wherein the system is configured to perform localization of an obstacle along a vertical axis by calculating the elevation of the obstacle using monopulse deviation measurement processing of data from the at least two continuous-wave radars.

2. The detection array as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radar is configured to measure the distance between the radar and the obstacle by frequency modulation of the wave emitted by the radar on a frequency band of 50 MHz to 300 MHz.

3. The detection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radar is configured to measure the azimuthal position of the obstacle by SAR processing.

4. The detection system as claimed claim 1, wherein the radar is configured to measure the azimuthal position of the obstacle by Doppler filtering.

5. The detection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detection system is configured to calculate the speed of the carrier by processing a Doppler spectrum obtained on the basis of at least two beams of at least two radars, the two beams being concurrent and illuminating one and the same part of the ground.

6. The detection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detection system is configured to calculate the speed of the carrier by processing a Doppler spectrum obtained on the basis of at least two beams of at least two radars, the two beams being directed towards the ground and having different sighting axes.

7. The detection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the focal length of at least one of the radars is adjusted as a function of a domain to be illuminated.

8. The detection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier is an aircraft.