Surveillance system and method for aircraft approach and landing

• US 6,809,679 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2002
• Issued: 10/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Wood, M. Loren Jr., LaFrey, Raymond R., Gertz, Jeffrey L., Harman, William H. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory, Bernarr E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Andrea, Brian K
• Application Number:
  US10/235,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20040046687A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 342/32, 342/33, 342/34, 342/35, 342/36, 342/37, 342/39, 342/43, 342/29, 342/30
• US Class Current: 342/37
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0082 for monitoring traffic from a ground station radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913

Abstract

A system and method for measuring and predicting information on the position of approaching aircraft are disclosed. The system features a processor, an interrogating antenna, a receiving antenna, and a data link. The processor schedules interrogations and suppression pulses. Both of the antennas and the data link are in signal communication with the processor. The interrogating antenna transmits interrogations to a plurality of approaching aircraft. At least some of the interrogations include suppression pulses. The receiving antenna comprises at least three fixed, broad azimuth, array elements. The receiving antenna receives replies from each of the plurality of approaching aircraft and communicates the replies to the processor. The processor determines a state for each of the plurality of approaching aircraft based on the replies. The data link communicates information on the state of each of the plurality of approaching aircraft from the processor.

Claims

1. A ground system for measuring and predicting information on the position of approaching aircraft, comprising:

a ground-based processor for scheduling mode S and whisper-shout interrogations and suppression pulses;

a ground-based interrogating antenna in signal communication with the processor for transmitting interrogations to a plurality of approaching aircraft,

a ground-based receiving antenna in signal communication with the processor for receiving replies from each of the plurality of approaching aircraft and communicating the replies to the processor,

wherein the receiving antenna comprises at least three fixed, broad azimuth, array elements,

wherein the processor calculates a state for each of the plurality of approaching aircraft based on the replies and the schedule of interrogations; and

a data link in signal communication with the processor for communicating information on the state of each of the plurality of approaching aircraft from the processor.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the replies comprise transmissions from the plurality of approaching aircraft sent in response to the interrogations.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the replies further comprise Mode S squitters.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a suppression antenna in signal communication with the processor for transmitting P2 suppression pulses to the plurality of approaching aircraft.

19. The ground system of claim 1 wherein the processor filters surveillance data to identify the plurality of approaching aircraft by location within a volume at least partially defined by characteristics of the receiving antenna.

20. The ground system of claim 1 wherein the processor adaptively reschedules interrogations when no corresponding reply is received from at least one of the plurality of approaching aircraft.

5. A system for collecting and calculating information on the position of a plurality of approaching aircraft:

a memory buffer for storing surveillance data on a plurality of aircraft within a first volume;

a processor in signal communication with the memory buffer for running a plurality of modules, the plurality of modules comprising;

a filtering module for identifying a target list of aircraft within a zone of interest from the surveillance data, the zone of interest at least partially defined by characteristics of a receiving antenna comprising at least three fixed, broad azimuth, array elements;

a scheduling module for scheduling interrogations based on the target list, at least some of the interrogations including suppression pulses;

a tracking module for calculating state information based on replies to interrogations from each of a plurality of aircraft on the target list; and

an output device in signal communication with the processor for communicating state information for each of the plurality of aircraft on the target list.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising:

a first input device in signal communication with the memory buffer for receiving surveillance data on the plurality of aircraft within the first volume from a nearby secondary radar.

7. The system of claim 5 further comprising:

a second input device in signal communication with the processor for receiving replies to the interrogations.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein the tracking module calculates the azimuth of each aircraft based on the replies, the schedule of interrogations, and the surveillance data.

9. The system of claim 5 wherein the tracking module calculates the state of each aircraft on the target list of aircraft based on at least one pulse within each of the replies and the schedule of interrogations.

10. The system of claim 5 wherein the scheduling module re-schedules at least one of the interrogations including suppression pulses if a reply to the at least one of the interrogations is not detected.

11. The system of claim 5 wherein the scheduling module determines the characteristics of the interrogations containing suppression pulses based on the state of aircraft on the target list of aircraft.

12. A method of measuring and predicting information on the position of approaching aircraft, comprising:

receiving surveillance data on a plurality of aircraft within a first volume;

filtering the surveillance data to identify a target list of aircraft, the target list of aircraft determined by location within a volume at least partially defined by characteristics of a receiving antenna comprising at least three fixed, broad azimuth, array elements;

scheduling interrogations for the target list of aircraft;

storing the schedule of interrogations;

transmitting interrogations, at least some of the interrogations including suppression pulses;

receiving replies to the interrogations from each aircraft on the target list of aircraft; and

determining the state of each aircraft on the target list of aircraft based on the replies and the schedule of interrogations.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

receiving Mode S squitters; and

adding to the target list of aircraft based on the Mode S squitters.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the surveillance data is received from a nearby secondary radar.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the determining step further comprises:

determining the azimuth of each aircraft based on the replies, the schedule of interrogations, and the surveillance data.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the determining step comprises:

determining the state of each aircraft on the target list of aircraft based on at least one pulse within the replies and the schedule of interrogations.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

transmitting at least one of the interrogations including suppression pulses again if a reply to the at least one of the interrogations is not detected.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the scheduling step further comprises:

determining characteristics of the interrogations containing suppression pulses based on the state of aircraft on the target list of aircraft.