Radar antenna elevation error estimation method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of determining altitude of an aircraft using an onboard radar/antenna system, the method comprising:
- receiving first data associated with an aircraft position;
receiving second data associated with a position of a first point and a second point on the runway, and an altitude of the first point and the second point on the runway;
providing radar signals to the runway using the onboard radar/antenna system;
receiving radar returns from the runway using the onboard radar/antenna system wherein third data is associated with the radar returns from the runway;
determining a first range between the aircraft and the first point on the runway and a second range between the aircraft and the second point on the runway, using the first and second data;
determining a first angle between the first point on the runway and the aircraft, and a second angle between the second point on the runway and the aircraft, using the third data;
determining a corrected angle relative to the first point and the second point; and
determining the altitude of the aircraft based on the corrected angle, the altitude of at least one of the first point and the second point, and at least one of the first range and the second range.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems of determining the altitude of an aircraft are provided. The method includes receiving data associated with aircraft position, a position of a first point and a second point on the runway, and an altitude of the first point and the second point, radar returns from the runway. The method includes determining a first range and second range between the aircraft, and the first point and the second point. The method includes determining a first angle and a second angle between the first point and second point, and the aircraft. The method includes determining a corrected angle. The method includes determining the altitude of the aircraft based on the corrected angle, the runway altitude of at least one of the first point and the second point, and at least one of the first range and the second range.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of determining altitude of an aircraft using an onboard radar/antenna system, the method comprising:
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receiving first data associated with an aircraft position; receiving second data associated with a position of a first point and a second point on the runway, and an altitude of the first point and the second point on the runway; providing radar signals to the runway using the onboard radar/antenna system; receiving radar returns from the runway using the onboard radar/antenna system wherein third data is associated with the radar returns from the runway; determining a first range between the aircraft and the first point on the runway and a second range between the aircraft and the second point on the runway, using the first and second data; determining a first angle between the first point on the runway and the aircraft, and a second angle between the second point on the runway and the aircraft, using the third data; determining a corrected angle relative to the first point and the second point; and determining the altitude of the aircraft based on the corrected angle, the altitude of at least one of the first point and the second point, and at least one of the first range and the second range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An aircraft radar system for an aircraft, comprising:
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a receive circuit configured to receive radar returns from an antenna; and processing electronics configured to; compute a first slope of a runway; estimate a second slope of the runway using the radar returns provided to the processing electronics from the receive circuit, the radar returns being associated with radar signals striking the runway; estimate an error in the pointing angle of the antenna using the first slope and the second slope; and estimate an aircraft altitude using a range from the aircraft to the runway and a corrected angle between the aircraft and the runway. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus, comprising:
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means for receiving radar returns from the runway; and means for determining (a) a plurality of ranges between an aircraft and a plurality of points on the runway, the plurality of ranges including a first range between the aircraft and a first point on the runway and a second range between the aircraft and a second point on the runway, using first data associated with an aircraft position and second data associated with positions and altitudes of a plurality of points on the runway, the plurality of points on the runway including the first point and the second point on the runway;
(b) a plurality of angles between the aircraft and the plurality of points, using the radar returns;
(c) a corrected angle relative to at least two of the plurality of points; and
(d) an altitude of the aircraft based on the corrected angle, the altitude and range of at least one of the plurality of points. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification