Method and apparatus for hurricane surveillance from the eye

• US 8,210,467 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2007
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Hubbell, Wesley H., Nastasi, Victor G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Tien
• Assistant Examiner(s): Xavier, Valentina
• Application Number:
  US11/937,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20110004368A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,699 Days
• Field of Search: 244/31, 244/189, 244/190, 244/24, 244/33, 702/3, 731/701.6, 731/700.2
• US Class Current: 244/13
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/35 for science, e.g. 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

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to provide an aerial vehicle having an eyewall sensor to enable the aerial vehicle to stay within the eye of a hurricane and transmit weather information to a remote location. In one embodiment, the aerial vehicle is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launched into the eye of the hurricane.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting an eyewall for an eye of a hurricane with an eyewall sensor onboard an aerial vehicle;

receiving navigation directions from a remote user for the aerial vehicle;

using eyewall location information from the eyewall sensor to keep the aerial vehicle within the eye of the hurricane; and

transmitting information from onboard sensors for sensing hurricane parameters to a remote location, wherein the aerial vehicle is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the UAV is autonomous.

3. The method according to claim 1, further including launching a weather balloon in the eye from the aerial vehicle.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the eyewall sensor includes a radar system to detect the eyewall.

5. The method according to claim 1, further including launching the UAV from an aircraft into the eye.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the UAV is a lighter than air (LTA) vehicle and further including inflating the LTA after launch.

7. The method according to claim 1, further including launching the UAV from an ocean vessel.

8. The method according to claim 1, further including letting the UAV float on ocean surface and launching the UAV when within the eye.

9. The method according to claim 1, further including launching the UAV from land and flying to the eye.

10. The method according to claim 1, further including maintaining a selected distance from the eyewall.

11. A system, comprising:

a communication module to communicate with a remote station;

a navigation module to determine navigation information for an airborne vehicle;

an eyewall sensor to detect hurricane eyewalls, the eyewall sensor coupled to the navigation module to provide eyewall location information to the navigation module for enabling an airborne vehicle to stay within an eye of a hurricane, wherein the system is adapted for being onboard an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

12. The system according to claim 11, further including a sensor module for sensing hurricane parameters.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the eyewall sensor includes a radar system to detect the eyewall.

14. An aerial vehicle, comprising:

a communication module to communicate with a remote station;

a navigation module to determine navigation information for an airborne vehicle;

an eyewall sensor onboard the aerial vehicle to detect hurricane eyewalls, the eyewall sensor coupled to the navigation module to provide eyewall location information to the navigation module for enabling the airborne vehicle to stay within an eye of a hurricane, wherein the aerial vehicle is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

15. The vehicle according to claim 14, further including a sensor module for sensing hurricane parameters.

16. The vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the UAV is autonomous.

17. The vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the UAV is a lighter than air (LTA) vehicle.