Systems and methods of providing a TCAS primary radar

• US 9,134,416 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2010
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aviation Communication and Surveillance Systems LLC (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Aviation Communication and Surveillance Systems LLC (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stayton, Gregory T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brainard, Timothy A
• Application Number:
  US12/965,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20120068877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,740 Days
• Field of Search: 342/29, 342/30, 342/36
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/933 of aircraft or spacecraft
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/023 Monitoring or calibrating

Abstract

Systems and related methods are delineated for employing a TCAS to provide a radar function for a UAS. One such system comprises a TCAS having at least a transceiver and an antenna, and a processor coupled to the transceiver for receiving signals generated from receipt of reflected energy received over the antenna, the reflected energy resulting from the one or more of a Mode S interrogation waveform and an ATCRBS interrogation waveform transmitted from the antenna.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a TCAS having at least a transceiver and an antenna; and

processor coupled to said transceiver for receiving signals generated from receipt of reflected energy received over the antenna, the reflected energy resulting from the one or more of a Mode S interrogation waveform and an ATCRBS interrogation waveform transmitted from the antenna; and

wherein said system resides on and is for use on a UAS.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine one or more spatial aspects of a target from which the energy is reflected based on the signals.

3. A method comprising:

providing a TCAS having at least a transceiver and an antenna;

transmitting one or more of a Mode S interrogation waveform and an ATCRBS interrogation waveform from the antenna;

receiving signals generated from receipt of reflected energy received over the antenna, the reflected energy resulting from the transmitting of the one or more of the Mode S interrogation waveform and the ATCRBS interrogation waveform;

providing the received signals to a processor; and

determining with the processor one or more spatial aspects of a target from which the energy is reflected; and

wherein a system performing said method resides on and is for use on a UAS.