Sensing, display, and dissemination of detected turbulence

• US 8,629,788 B1
• Filed: 08/10/2010
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Greenleaf, William T., Seah, Kirschen A., Dove, Richard S., Bauler, Scott F., Jacobsen, Randy H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): OBINIYI, PAULSON IDOWU
• Application Number:
  US12/853,622
• Time in Patent Office: 1,253 Days
• Field of Search: 340/945, 340/946, 340/601, 340/602, 340/572.1, 340/539.13, 340/539.26, 340/539.28, 340/968, 340/963, 244/24, 244/116, 342/26.B, 342/26.R, 342/450, 455/431, 701/2, 701/3, 701/9, 701/10, 701/14, 701/409
• US Class Current: 340/968
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/953 mounted on aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• 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 system may include a sensor for coupling with a vehicle configured for atmospheric flight. The sensor may be configured for detecting a turbulence event, where the turbulence event is at least one of experienced by the vehicle or occurs proximal to the vehicle during atmospheric flight. The system may also include a transmitter coupled with the sensor. The transmitter may be configured for automatically remotely transmitting data regarding the turbulence event to a ground based entity.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a sensor for coupling with a vehicle configured for atmospheric flight, the sensor for detecting a turbulence event, where the turbulence event is at least one of experienced by the vehicle or occurs proximal to the vehicle during atmospheric flight,

control programming for distinguishing the turbulence event from a non-turbulence event and determining a severity of the turbulence event, wherein the severity of the turbulence event is determined at least partially based on a weight and acceleration of the vehicle; and

a transmitter coupled with the sensor, the transmitter for automatically remotely transmitting data regarding the turbulence event and data regarding the severity of the turbulence event to a ground based entity, and wherein the sensor includes an Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS) configured for measuring acceleration along three orthogonal axes of the vehicle, and the sensor reactively detects the turbulence event at least partially based on acceleration along three orthogonal axes of the vehicle measured utilizing the Attitude Heading Reference System.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured for transmitting additional data regarding at least one other event of meteorological significance.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured for transmitting additional data associated with the turbulence event, the additional data including at least one of time data, location data, or altitude data.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the transmitted data is encrypted.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitted data includes authentication data.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising control programming for identifying when the turbulence event is a statistical outlier.

7. A system, comprising:

a transmitter for coupling with a sensor, the transmitter for automatically remotely transmitting data regarding a turbulence event to a ground based entity, the sensor coupled with a vehicle configured for atmospheric flight, the sensor for detecting the turbulence event, where the turbulence event is at least one of experienced by the vehicle or occurs proximal to the vehicle during atmospheric flight, and wherein the turbulence event is detected reactively at least partially based on acceleration of the vehicle and weight; and

control programming for identifying whether the turbulence event is a statistical outlier, distinguishing the turbulence event from a non-turbulence event˜

and determining a severity of the turbulence event, wherein the severity of the turbulence event is determined at least partially based on the acceleration of the vehicle and a weight of the vehicle, and wherein the transmitter is further configured for transmitting data regarding the severity of the turbulence event to the ground based entity, and wherein the sensor includes an Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS) configured for measuring acceleration along three orthogonal axes of the vehicle, and the sensor reactively detects the turbulence event at least partially based on acceleration along three orthogonal axes of the vehicle measured utilizing the Attitude Heading Reference System.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the transmitter is configured for transmitting additional data regarding at least one other event of meteorological significance.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the transmitter is configured for transmitting additional data associated with the turbulence event, the additional data including at least one of time data, location data, or altitude data.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the transmitted data includes authentication data.

11. A method for sensing and dissemination of detected turbulence, comprising:

receiving notification of a turbulence event, where the turbulence event is at least one of experienced by a vehicle configured for atmospheric flight or occurs proximal to the vehicle during atmospheric flight, distinguishing the turbulence event from a non-turbulence event;

determining a severity of the turbulence event, wherein the severity of the turbulence event is determined at least partially based on a weight of the vehicle and acceleration of the vehicle; and

utilizing a transmitter to automatically remotely transmit transmitting data regarding the turbulence event and the severity of the turbulence event to a ground based entity; and

wherein the sensor includes an Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS) configured for measuring acceleration along three orthogonal axes of the vehicle, and the sensor reactively detects the turbulence event at least partially based on acceleration along three orthogonal axes of the vehicle measured utilizing the Attitude Heading Reference System.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

transmitting additional data regarding at least one other event of meteorological significance.

13. The method computer-readable device of claim 11, further comprising transmitting additional data associated with the turbulence event, the additional data including at least one of time data, location data, or attitude data.

14. The method computer-readable device of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the transmitted data is encrypted.

15. The method computer-readable device of claim 11, wherein the transmitted data includes authentication data.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

identifying when the turbulence event is a statistical outlier.