Helicopter collision-avoidance system using light fixture mounted radar sensors

• US 8,970,423 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2012
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Kabrt, Tomas, Papageorgiou, George, Derouineau, Jean-Luc, Orlita, Michal
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B
• Application Number:
  US13/706,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20140062755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 342/27, 342 29- 36, 342 52- 54, 342 56- 58, 342/65, 340945-946, 340/961, 340/982
• US Class Current: 342/29
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/87 Combinations of radar systems, e.g. primary radar and secondary radar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/933 of aircraft or spacecraft
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/935 for terrain-avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations

Abstract

A helicopter collision-avoidance system is disclosed. An exemplary system includes at least one lamp, such as a light emitting diode (LED) lamp, an incandescent lamp, a halogen lamp, an infrared lamp, or the like; a radar emitter configured to emit a radar signal; a radar detector configured to receive a radar return signal associated with reflections of the emitted radar signal that are reflected from an object; and a radio frequency (RF) system configured to wirelessly transmit radar information associated with the received radar return signal to a radar information receiver configured to receive the wirelessly transmitted radar information. The light module is located at one of a plurality of light positions on an external surface of a helicopter.

Claims

1. A helicopter collision-avoidance system comprising:

a radar and light module comprising;

at least one lamp configured to emit light;

a radar emitter configured to emit a radar signal;

a radar detector configured to receive a radar return signal associated with reflections of the emitted radar signal that are reflected from an object; and

a first radio frequency (RF) system configured to wirelessly transmit radar information associated with the received radar return signal,

wherein the radar and light module is located at one of a plurality of light positions on an external surface of a helicopter;

a radar information receiver comprising;

a second RF system configured to receive the radar information wirelessly transmitted from the radar and light module; and

a user interface system configured to output information associated with the received radar information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the radar information receiver and the radar and light module comprises a processing system configured to determine presence of the object that is in proximity to the helicopter based on the radar return signal received by the radar detector.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the radar and light module comprises a power module configured to receive power at a first voltage configured to operate the lamp, and configured to condition the received power to a second voltage used by at least one of the radar emitter, the radar detector, and the first RF system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first RF system comprises a transceiver configured as a transmitter, wherein the transmitter transmits the radar information to the radar information receiver via a wireless RF signal.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first RF system transceiver is further configured as a receiver, wherein the receiver receives software updates via the wireless RF signal.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface system provides at least one of an audio and a visual alert to a crew of the helicopter.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the radar and light module is a landing light.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the radar and light module is a navigation/position light.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the radar and light module is an anti-collision light located at a tail portion of the helicopter.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the radar and light module is a first radar and light module located at a first light position on the external surface of the helicopter, and further comprising:

a second radar and light module comprising;

at least one light emitting diode (LED);

a second radar emitter configured to emit a second radar signal;

a second radar detector configured to receive a second radar return signal associated with reflections of the emitted second radar signal that are reflected from the object; and

a third radio frequency (RF) system configured to wirelessly transmit second radar information associated with the received second radar return signal,

wherein the second radar and light module is located at a second light position on the external surface of the helicopter.

11. A method comprising:

at a radar and light module located on a surface of a helicopter,

outputting light from one or more lamps;

emitting from a radar emitter a radar signal;

receiving at a radar detector radar return signals corresponding to reflections of the emitted radar signal from an object; and

wirelessly transmitting from a radio frequency (RF) communication system radar information associated with the received radar signal reflections;

at a radar information receiver,

receiving the radar information transmitted from the RF communication system of the radar and light module; and

outputting information associated with the received radar information via an output device,

wherein the outputted radar information indicates presence of obstacles below the helicopter.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the radar information receiver resides in a cabin portion of the helicopter.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the radar information receiver is portable.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the radar information receiver is located in a hand-held device.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the radar and light module comprises landing lights.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the radar and light module comprises navigation/position lights.

17. A helicopter collision-avoidance system radar and light module comprising:

at least one light emitting diode (LED);

a radar emitter configured to emit a radar signal;

a radar detector configured to receive a radar return signal associated with reflections of the emitted radar signal that are reflected from an object; and

a radio frequency (RF) system configured to wirelessly transmit radar information associated with the received radar return signal to a radar information receiver configured to receive the wirelessly transmitted radar information,

wherein the radar and light module is located at one of a plurality of light positions on an external surface of a helicopter.

18. The module of claim 17, wherein the radar information receiver includes a user interface system configured to output information associated with the received radar information.

19. The module of claim 17, wherein the radar and light module is a landing light of the helicopter.

20. The module of claim 17, wherein the radar and light module is a navigation/position light.