# US 11,079,489 B2 · Weather radar detection of objects > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,079,489 B2 - Document ID: US11079489B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/444,716 - Filed: 2017-02-28 - Published: 2018-08-30 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2017-02-28 - Assignees: Honeywell International Inc. - Applicants: Honeywell International Inc. - Inventors: Lawrence J. Surace - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11079489B2 ## CPC - G01S 13/953: {mounted on aircraft} - G01S 13/60: wherein the transmitter and receiver are mounted on the moving object, e.g. for determining ground speed, drift angle, ground track (G01S13/64 takes precedence) - G01S 13/933: of aircraft or spacecraft - G01S 7/412: {based on a comparison between measured values and known or stored values} - G01S 2013/0245: {Radar with phased array antenna} - G01S 2013/0254: {Active array antenna} - G01S 2013/0272: {Multifunction radar} - Y02A 90/10: Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE ## Abstract In some examples, a radar system is configured to mount on an ownship vehicle for interleaving a weather detection mode and an object detection mode. The radar system comprises a phased-array radar device configured to receive weather signals in the weather detection mode, receive sensing signals in the object detection mode, and interleave the weather detection mode and the object detection mode. The radar system further comprises processing circuitry configured to determine weather conditions based on the received weather signals and detect an object based on the received sensing signals. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A radar system, configured to mount on an ownship vehicle, and for interleaving a weather detection mode and a noncooperative unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) detection mode, the radar system comprising: an airborne-capable phased-array radar device configured to: receive weather signals in the weather detection mode, receive sensing signals in the noncooperative UAV detection mode by at least: receiving at least one upper elevation beam at a first angle higher than a slope of the ownship vehicle; and receiving at least one lower elevation beam at a second angle lower than the slope of the ownship vehicle, interleave the weather detection mode and the noncooperative UAV detection mode at an interleaving rate, the interleaving rate being greater than once per two seconds, and complete a full cycle through the weather detection mode and the noncooperative UAV detection mode in less than two seconds; and processing circuitry configured to: determine weather conditions based on the received weather signals, and detect a noncooperative UAV based on the received sensing signals, wherein the noncooperative UAV is nonresponsive, and wherein the noncooperative UAV is outside of the system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The radar system of claim 1, wherein the weather detection mode is configured to, while operating in the weather detection mode, operate in a windshear mode that is a sub mode of the weather detection mode, and wherein the airborne-capable phased-array radar device is further configured to interleave the noncooperative UAV detection mode with the windshear mode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The radar system of claim 1, wherein the airborne-capable phased-array radar device is configured to transmit and receive the sensing signals at altitudes of less than two thousand feet above a ground surface for aircraft on final approach. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The radar system of claim 1, further comprising a memory device configured to store expected characteristics of UAVs, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to detect noncooperative UAVs based on the received sensing signals by at least comparing actual characteristics of the received sensing signals to the expected characteristics of UAVs. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The radar system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine a UAV detection range of the at least one lower elevation beam based on an altitude of the ownship vehicle or a distance from the ownship vehicle to a runway. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The radar system of claim 1, wherein the airborne-capable phased-array radar device is configured to transmit a first beam, and wherein the processing circuitry is configured to steer a plurality of receive beams within an area illuminated by the first beam by applying a phase shift to the received sensing signals. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The radar system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine a size, speed, and direction of travel of the noncooperative UAV based on the received sensing signals. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The radar system of claim 1, wherein the first angle is higher than the slope of a direction of travel of the ownship vehicle, and wherein the second angle is lower than the slope of a direction of travel of the ownship vehicle. ### Claim 9 A method for interleaving a weather detection mode and a noncooperative unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) detection mode, the method comprising: receiving, by an airborne-capable phased-array radar device, weather signals in the weather detection mode; receiving, by the airborne-capable phased-array radar device, sensing signals in the noncooperative UAV detection mode by at least: receiving at least one upper elevation beam at a first angle higher than a slope of the ownship vehicle; and receiving at least one lower elevation beam at a second angle lower than the slope of the ownship vehicle; interleaving the weather detection mode and the noncooperative UAV detection mode at an interleaving rate, the interleaving rate being greater than once per two seconds; completing a full cycle through the weather detection mode and the noncooperative UAV detection mode in less than two seconds; determining, by processing circuitry, weather conditions based on the received weather signals; and detecting, by the processing circuitry, a noncooperative UAV based on the received sensing signals, wherein the noncooperative UAV is nonresponsive, and wherein the noncooperative UAV is outside of the system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the weather detection mode comprises a windshear mode that is a sub mode of the weather detection mode, and wherein interleaving the weather detection mode and the noncooperative UAV detection mode comprises interleaving the noncooperative UAV detection with the windshear mode. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting, by the airborne-capable phased-array radar device, the sensing signals in the noncooperative UAV detection mode at altitudes of less than two thousand feet above a ground surface, wherein receiving the sensing signals in the noncooperative UAV detection mode comprises receiving the sensing signals at altitudes of less than two thousand feet above a ground surface for aircraft on final approach. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising storing expected characteristics of UAVs, wherein detecting noncooperative UAVs based on the received sensing signals by at least comparing actual characteristics of the received sensing signals to the expected characteristics of UAVs. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: transmitting a first beam; and steering a plurality of receive beams within an area illuminated by the first beam by applying a phase shift to the received sensing signals. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising determining a size, speed, and direction of travel of the noncooperative UAV based on the received sensing signals. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising determining a UAV detection range of the at least one lower elevation beam based on an altitude of the ownship vehicle or a distance from the ownship vehicle to a runway. ### Claim 16 A device comprising a computer-readable medium having executable instructions stored thereon, configured to be executable by one or more processors for causing the one or more processors to: cause the airborne-capable phased-array radar device to transmit an azimuth beam; receive, from an airborne-capable phased-array radar device, weather signals in the weather detection mode; receive, from the airborne-capable phased-array radar device, sensing signals in a noncooperative unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) detection mode by at least: receiving at least one upper elevation beam at a first angle higher than a slope of the ownship vehicle; and receiving at least one lower elevation beam at a second angle lower than the slope of the ownship vehicle; interleave a weather detection mode and the noncooperative UAV detection mode at an interleaving rate, the interleaving rate being greater than once per two seconds; complete a full cycle through the weather detection mode and the noncooperative UAV detection mode in less than two seconds; determine weather conditions based on the received weather signals; and detect a noncooperative UAV based on the received sensing signals, wherein the noncooperative UAV is nonresponsive, and wherein the noncooperative UAV is outside of the system. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16, wherein the weather detection mode comprises a windshear mode that is a sub mode of the weather detection mode, and wherein the executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to interleave the noncooperative UAV detection mode with the windshear mode. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16, wherein the executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to: store expected characteristics of UAVs; and compare actual characteristics of the received sensing signals to the expected characteristics of UAVs. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16, wherein the executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to steer a plurality of receive beams within an area illuminated by the azimuth first beam by applying a phase shift to the received sensing signals. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16, wherein the executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to cause the airborne-capable phased-array radar device to transmit and receive the sensing signals at altitudes of less than two thousand feet above a ground surface for aircraft on final approach.