Methods and systems for wind detection

• US 8,984,938 B1
• Filed: 06/11/2012
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Bernhardt, Roger David
• Primary Examiner(s): ALLEN, ANDRE J
• Application Number:
  US13/493,024
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 73/170.04
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 5/20 using particles entrained by a fluid stream G01P5/22 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and system for detecting wind patterns in association with a cargo package airdrop. The method includes dispersing media into the atmosphere, tracking the dispersed media, wherein tracking includes at least one of using Sodar, Lidar, Radar, and optical imaging, determining a wind pattern proximate an airdrop landing using the tracked media, and determining an airdrop location position using the determined wind pattern.

Claims

1. A method for detecting atmospheric wind patterns in association with a cargo package airdrop location, the method comprising:

dispersing media into the atmosphere by at least one of projecting the media using a projectile launching apparatus and releasing the media from an aircraft;

tracking the dispersed media, wherein tracking includes at least one of using Sodar, Lidar, Radar, and optical imaging;

determining a wind pattern proximate an airdrop landing using the tracked media; and

determining an airdrop location position based on a configuration of a cargo package to be dropped at the airdrop location and the determined wind pattern.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein tracking the dispersed media further comprises tracking the dispersed media by a first handheld device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein tracking the dispersed media further comprises tracking the dispersed media by a second handheld device spaced a predetermined distance from the first handheld device and wherein determining a wind pattern further comprises triangulating a location of the media tracked by the first handheld device and the second handheld device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein determining a wind pattern further comprises obtaining a wind noise signature from the first handheld device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein dispersing media further comprises deploying a parachute.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein tracking by imaging further comprises at least one of recording a video of the dispersed media and recording still images of the dispersed media.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein tracking the dispersed media further comprises tracking the media aloft.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a wind pattern comprises obtaining wind data from a weather station.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein dispersing media further comprises dispersing media that includes at least one of a modular emitter of light, an LED array, dust, glitter, retroreflectors, and a reflective body.

10. A wind pattern detection system for detecting wind patterns in association with a cargo package airdrop location, the system comprising:

an emitter configured to disperse media into the atmosphere by at least one of projecting the media from the ground and releasing the media from an aircraft;

a first monitoring device configured to track the dispersed media; and

a data processing system communicatively coupled to the monitoring device, the data processing system configured to;

determine a wind pattern proximate an airdrop landing using the tracked media; and

determine a drop location based on a configuration of a cargo package to be dropped at the drop location and the determined wind pattern.

11. The wind pattern detection system of claim 10, further comprising a second monitoring device spaced a predetermined distance from the first monitoring device, wherein the data processing system is configured to triangulate a location of the media tracked by the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device.

12. The wind pattern detection system of claim 10, wherein the first monitoring device is further configured to obtain a wind noise signature.

13. The wind pattern detection system of claim 10, wherein the monitoring device utilizes at least one of Sodar, Lidar, Radar, Doppler, and optical imaging.

14. The wind pattern detection system of claim 10, further comprising an illuminator configured to illuminate the media.

15. The wind pattern detection system of claim 10, wherein the media includes at least one of a modular emitter of light, an LED array, dust, glitter, retroreflectors, and a reflective body.

16. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, wherein when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to:

disperse media into the atmosphere using an emitter that at least one of projects the media using a projectile launching apparatus and releases the media from an aircraft;

track the dispersed media using a first monitoring device;

determine a wind pattern proximate a predetermined airdrop landing using the tracked media; and

determine a drop location based on a configuration of a cargo package to be dropped at the drop location and the determined wind pattern.

17. One or more computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon according to claim 16 wherein when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to:

track the dispersed media by a second monitoring device spaced a predetermined distance from the first monitoring device; and

triangulate the media tracked by the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device.

18. One or more computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon according to claim 17 wherein when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to:

disperse media, from the emitter, that includes at least one of a modular emitter of light, an LED array, dust, glitter, retroreflectors, and a reflective body.