Aircraft location system for locating aircraft in water environments

• US 8,857,368 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2011
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Huskamp, Christopher Shane, Gorsic, Bonnie Louise
• Primary Examiner(s): Ratcliffe, Luke
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baghdasaryan, Hovhannes
• Application Number:
  US13/238,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20130070556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 367/101, 367/102, 367/6, 116/220, 310/322, 310/334, 310/335
• US Class Current: 116/210
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/26 the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0065 Black boxes, devices automatically broadcasting distress signals
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 41/00 Power installations for auxiliary purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/06 for indicating aircraft presence
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/86 Combinations of radar systems with non-radar systems, e.g. sonar, direction finder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/93 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/02 using reflection of acoustic waves G01S15/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/06 Systems determining the position data of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/88 Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/00 Satellite radio beacon positioning systems; Determining position, velocity or attitude using signals transmitted by such systems

Abstract

A method and apparatus for an aircraft location system comprising an aircraft structure and a number of acoustic reflectors associated with the aircraft structure. The number of acoustic reflectors is configured to generate first sound signals in response to receiving second sound signals.

Claims

1. An aircraft location system comprising:

an aircraft structure;

a number of acoustic reflectors associated with the aircraft structure, wherein the number of acoustic reflectors is configured to generate first sound signals in response to receiving second sound signals;

a signal generation system activated by a particular acoustic reflector in the number of acoustic reflectors and generating signals, the number of acoustic reflectors being a passive signal generator and the signal generation system being an active signal generator, the signal generation system comprising;

a radio frequency signal generator configured to generate a radio frequency signal when activated;

a detector configured to detect the first sound signals from the number of acoustic reflectors;

a controller connected to the radio frequency signal generator and the detector, the controller activating the radio frequency signal generator when the detector detects the first sound signals;

a survivability system associated with the aircraft structure, the number of acoustic reflectors, and the signal generation system, the survivability system configured to lessen a force impacting the number of acoustic reflectors and the signal generation system, wherein the aircraft structure has a cavity in which an acoustic reflector in the number of acoustic reflectors and the signal generation system are located, and wherein the survivability system comprises a foam positioned in the cavity and configured to substantially surround the acoustic reflector and the signal generation system; and

a moveable structure allowing the number of acoustic reflectors and the signal generation system to move out of the aircraft structure, wherein the cavity and moveable structure are configured such that the acoustic reflector operates after experiencing an encounter of an aircraft with a water environment and the number of acoustic reflectors and the radio frequency signal generator operate under water.

2. The aircraft location system of claim 1, wherein the second sound signals have a frequency in a range selected for locating the aircraft structure.

3. The aircraft location system of claim 1, wherein the number of acoustic reflectors comprises:

a first acoustic reflector configured to generate the first sound signals having a first frequency; and

a second acoustic reflector configured to generate the first sound signals having a second frequency that is different from the first frequency.

4. The aircraft location system of claim 3, wherein the first frequency of the first acoustic reflector is configured to generate the first sound signals having a first range;

and the second frequency of the second acoustic reflector is configured to generate the first sound signals having a second range, wherein the first range is longer than the second range.

5. The aircraft location system of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency signal generator generates a radio frequency signal that is detectable by a satellite.

6. The aircraft location system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to activate the radio frequency signal generator for a period of time in response to the detector detecting the first sound signals.

7. The aircraft location system of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to reset the period of time each time the first sound signals are detected.

8. The aircraft location system of claim 6, wherein the period of time is selected to increase an operating time of the radio frequency signal generator.

9. The aircraft location system of claim 1, wherein the aircraft structure has a number of channels connecting an exterior of the aircraft structure to the cavity.

10. The aircraft location system of claim 1 further comprising:

a channel connecting an exterior of the aircraft structure to the cavity; and

the moveable structure configured to open up the channel, wherein water moves through the channel into the cavity when the aircraft structure is underwater.

11. The aircraft location system of claim 10, wherein the moveable structure is configured to open up the channel when the aircraft structure is at least partially underwater in response to a selected level of water pressure, and wherein the acoustic reflector moves out of the cavity through the moveable structure when the moveable structure opens, wherein the radio frequency signal generator is positioned within a second cavity of the aircraft structure and the radio frequency signal generator moves out of the second cavity through the moveable structure when the moveable structure opens.

12. The aircraft location system of claim 11 further comprising:

a first tether having a first end connected to the aircraft structure and a second end connected to the acoustic reflector in the number of acoustic reflectors; and

a second tether having a first end connected to the aircraft structure and a second end connected to the radio frequency signal generator.

13. The aircraft location system of claim 1, wherein the aircraft structure and the survivability system are configured to protect the number of acoustic reflectors from having an unintended encounter with a water environment that has a g-force of up to about 40 g.

14. The aircraft location system of claim 1, wherein the aircraft structure is selected from one of a wing, a horizontal stabilizer, a tail section, an engine housing, and the aircraft.

15. The aircraft location system of claim 1 further comprising:

a sonar-based sound location system configured to send the second sound signals and detect the first sound signals.

16. The aircraft location system of claim 15, wherein an acoustic reflector in the number of acoustic reflectors is configured to generate the first sound signals having a first frequency in response to receiving the second sound signals having the first frequency.

17. The aircraft location system of claim 1, wherein an acoustic reflector in the number of acoustic reflectors has a type selected from one of a sphere, a cylinder, and a triplane reflector.

18. An aircraft location system comprising:

an aircraft structure including a cavity;

a number of acoustic reflectors comprising a first acoustic reflector configured to generate the first sound signals having a first frequency; and

a second acoustic reflector configured to generate the first sound signals having a second frequency that is different from the first frequency;

a signal generation system activated by a particular acoustic reflector in the number of acoustic reflectors and generating signals, the number of acoustic reflectors being a passive signal generator and the signal generation system being an active signal generator, the signal generation system comprising;

a radio frequency signal generator configured to generate a radio frequency signal when activated;

a detector configured to detect the first sound signals from the number of acoustic reflectors;

a controller connected to the radio frequency signal generator and the detector, the controller activating the radio frequency signal generator when the detector detects the first sound signals;

a survivability system associated with the aircraft structure and the number of acoustic reflectors, the survivability system configured to lessen a force impacting the number of acoustic reflectors, wherein the aircraft structure has a cavity in which an acoustic reflector in the number of acoustic reflectors is located, and wherein the survivability system comprises a foam configured to substantially surround the acoustic reflector, wherein the cavity is configured such that the acoustic reflector operates after an unintended encounter of an aircraft with a water environment, wherein the aircraft structure is associated with the aircraft and the number of acoustic reflectors operate under water; and

a sound location system disposed in the aircraft structure, configured to send a first sound signal having a first frequency into a water environment, wherein the first frequency corresponds to a first acoustic reflector associated with a first aircraft structure for an aircraft that has encountered the water environment and sends a second sound signal into the water environment using a second frequency when a response signal is received from the first acoustic reflector, wherein the second sound signal corresponds to the second frequency for a second acoustic reflector associated with a second aircraft structure for the aircraft that has encountered the water environment, the first aircraft structure different from the second aircraft structure, the survivability system configured to lessen a force impacting the first and the second acoustic reflectors.

19. The aircraft location system of claim 18, wherein the first aircraft structure comprises a wing and the second aircraft structure comprises a data recorder.

20. The aircraft location system of claim 18 further comprising:

a mobile platform, wherein the sound location system is associated with the mobile platform.

21. The aircraft location system of claim 18 further comprising:

the first acoustic reflector; and

the second acoustic reflector.

22. The aircraft location system of claim 18, wherein the first frequency of the first acoustic reflector is configured to generate the first sound signal having a first range;

and the second frequency of the second acoustic reflector is configured to generate the first sound signal having a second range, wherein the first range is longer than the second range.

23. The aircraft location system of claim 18, wherein the first acoustic reflector and the second acoustic reflector have a type selected from one of a sphere, a cylinder, and a triplane reflector.

24. A method for locating aircraft structures, the method comprising:

protecting a number of acoustic reflectors and a signal generation system in a survivability system, the survivability system associated with the aircraft structure, the number of acoustic reflectors and the signal generation system, the survivability system lessening a force impacting the number of acoustic reflectors and the signal generation system with at least a foam positioned in a cavity and surrounding the number of acoustic reflectors, the number of acoustic reflectors located in the cavity, the signal generation system activated by a particular acoustic reflector in the number of acoustic reflectors and generating signals, the number of acoustic reflectors being a passive signal generator and the signal generation system being an active signal generator, the signal generation system comprising;

a radio frequency signal generator configured to generate a radio frequency signal when activated;

a detector configured to detect the first sound signals from the number of acoustic reflectors;

a controller connected to the radio frequency signal generator and the detector, the controller activating the radio frequency signal generator when the detector detects the first sound signals;

opening a moveable structure associated with an aircraft structure, wherein the cavity is configured such that the acoustic reflector operates after an unintended encounter of an aircraft with a water environment;

moving a number of acoustic reflectors and the signal generation system through the moveable structure out of the aircraft structure;

sending a first sound signal into a water environment using a first frequency, wherein the first frequency corresponds to a first selected frequency for a first acoustic reflector associated with a first aircraft structure for an aircraft that has unintentionally encountered the water environment; and

sending a second sound signal into the water environment using a second frequency when a response signal is received from the first acoustic reflector, wherein the second sound signal corresponds to a second selected frequency for a second acoustic reflector associated with a second aircraft structure for the aircraft that has unintentionally encountered the water environment, wherein the first frequency of the first acoustic reflector is configured to generate the first sound signal having a first range; and

the second frequency of the second acoustic reflector is configured to generate the first sound signal having a second range, wherein the first range is longer than the second range and the number of acoustic reflectors operate under water, the first aircraft structure different from the second aircraft structure.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

identifying a location of the first aircraft structure using the response signal.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the response signal is a first response signal and further comprising:

identifying a location of the second aircraft structure using a second response signal.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the first acoustic reflector and the second acoustic reflector have a type selected from one of a sphere, a cylinder, and a triplane reflector.

28. A method for locating an aircraft structure, the method comprising:

protecting a number of acoustic reflectors and a signal generation system in a survivability system, the survivability system associated with the aircraft structure, the number of acoustic reflectors, and the signal generation system, the survivability system lessening a force impacting the number of acoustic reflectors and the signal generation system with at least a foam positioned in a cavity and surrounding the number of acoustic reflectors, the number of acoustic reflectors located in the cavity, the signal generation system activated by a particular acoustic reflector in the number of acoustic reflectors and generating signals, the number of acoustic reflectors being a passive signal generator and the signal generation system being an active signal generator, the signal generation system comprising;

a radio frequency signal generator configured to generate a radio frequency signal when activated;

a detector configured to detect the first sound signals from the number of acoustic reflectors;

a controller connected to the radio frequency signal generator and the detector, the controller activating the radio frequency signal generator when the detector detects the first sound signals;

opening a moveable structure associated with an aircraft structure;

moving a number of acoustic reflectors and the signal generation system through the moveable structure out of the aircraft structure;

detecting, by a satellite, a radio frequency signal transmitted from the radio frequency signal generator associated with the aircraft structure for an aircraft that has encountered a water environment, wherein the number of acoustic reflectors operate under water;

identifying an approximate location of the aircraft structure from the radio frequency signal;

sending a sound signal into the water environment at a location based on the approximate location of the aircraft structure, wherein the sound signal has a frequency that corresponds to a selected frequency for an acoustic reflector associated with the aircraft structure; and

identifying a location of the aircraft structure when a response signal is received from the acoustic reflector, wherein the location is identified using the response signal.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the acoustic reflector has a type selected from one of a sphere, a cylinder, and a triplane reflector.