Collision avoidance and warning system
First Claim
1. A collision avoidance and warning system for an aircraft, comprising:
- a transceiver having a transmitter for transmitting radio waves and a receiver for receiving reflected radio waves from the radio waves transmitted by the transmitter, the transceiver being located on the aircraft;
a ground-personnel warning signal system comprising;
a speaker located near a region outside a pilot'"'"'s field of view for audibly alerting ground personnel; and
a light located near the region outside the pilot'"'"'s field of view for visually alerting ground personnel;
wherein the ground-personnel warning system is located on the aircraft for selectively issuing a ground-personnel warning signal to ground personnel from equipment worn by a detected person when the aircraft is on the ground;
a flight-ground detection system located on the aircraft for determining whether the helicopter is on the ground or in flight; and
a data processor located on the aircraft and configured to process data received from the transceiver and data received from the flight-ground detection system while the aircraft is in flight and on the ground, the data processor configured to selectively initiate an alert from the ground-personnel warning signal system to issue a ground-personnel warning signal based upon the flight-ground detection system determination of flight status;
wherein the transmitter of the transceiver is configured for transmitting radio waves towards the region outside the pilot'"'"'s field of view; and
wherein the flight-ground detection system comprises;
a weight-on-gear switch;
a collective pitch position sensor; and
a radar altimeter.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A collision avoidance and warning system for a helicopter uses a type of emitted energy, for example radio frequency radar, from a transceiver positioned to cover a selected field of view for detecting an object or pedestrian in the vicinity of the helicopter. For helicopters that include a tail rotor assembly, the selected field of view can include a region around the tail rotor assembly so that when the helicopter is running on the ground, an alarm can be issued to persons approaching the tail rotor assembly. When the helicopter is in flight, the collision avoidance and warning system can alert the pilot when a portion of the helicopter outside of the pilot'"'"'s field of view is in danger of a collision with an object.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A collision avoidance and warning system for an aircraft, comprising:
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a transceiver having a transmitter for transmitting radio waves and a receiver for receiving reflected radio waves from the radio waves transmitted by the transmitter, the transceiver being located on the aircraft; a ground-personnel warning signal system comprising; a speaker located near a region outside a pilot'"'"'s field of view for audibly alerting ground personnel; and a light located near the region outside the pilot'"'"'s field of view for visually alerting ground personnel; wherein the ground-personnel warning system is located on the aircraft for selectively issuing a ground-personnel warning signal to ground personnel from equipment worn by a detected person when the aircraft is on the ground; a flight-ground detection system located on the aircraft for determining whether the helicopter is on the ground or in flight; and a data processor located on the aircraft and configured to process data received from the transceiver and data received from the flight-ground detection system while the aircraft is in flight and on the ground, the data processor configured to selectively initiate an alert from the ground-personnel warning signal system to issue a ground-personnel warning signal based upon the flight-ground detection system determination of flight status; wherein the transmitter of the transceiver is configured for transmitting radio waves towards the region outside the pilot'"'"'s field of view; and wherein the flight-ground detection system comprises; a weight-on-gear switch; a collective pitch position sensor; and a radar altimeter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of collision avoidance and warning for use on an aircraft, comprising:
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transmitting radio waves from a transmitter, the transmitter being supported by the aircraft; receiving, at a receiver supported by the aircraft, reflected radio waves from the radio waves transmitted by the transmitter; generating transceiver data based at least in part on the received reflected radio waves while the aircraft is in flight and on the ground; detecting whether the aircraft is on the ground or in flight; detecting whether ground personnel are located in a region adjacent outside a pilot'"'"'s field of view; generating flight-ground detection data based at least in part on said detecting whether the aircraft is on the ground or in flight; generating ground personnel detection data based at least in part on said detecting whether ground personnel are located in the region adjacent outside the pilot'"'"'s field of view; processing the transceiver data, the ground personnel detection data, and the flight-ground detection data within a data processor located on the aircraft; and selectively initiating a warning signal from a ground-personnel warning signal system as determined by the data processor based upon the flight-ground detection system determination of flight status and the ground personnel detection data, the ground-personnel warning signal system issuing the warning signal when the aircraft is on the ground, the ground-personnel warning signal system is located on the aircraft; wherein the ground-personnel warning signal is selectively transmitted from equipment worn by a detected person; wherein the transmitting includes transmitting radio waves towards the region adjacent outside the pilot'"'"'s field of view; and wherein the detecting of whether the aircraft is on the ground or in flight includes detecting the collective pitch position, using a radar altimeter, and using a weight-on-gear switch. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification