Nonuniform laser beam scan based flight path clearing system
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorNathan D. Hiller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for clearing a flight path. A number of characteristics is selected for a laser beam based on an object type. The laser beam is emitted with the number of characteristics in a direction relative to a flight path of the aircraft. The laser beam with the number of characteristics selected for the object type is moved to scan an area using a path from a central location to an outer location of the area. A number of scan parameters is adjusted during scanning the area using the path. A number of objects of the object type hit by the laser beam is cleared from the flight path.
Claims22
A flight path clearing system that comprises:
- a laser beam system in an aircraft;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- select a number of characteristics for a laser beam based on an object type;
- and
- control the laser beam system to:
- emit the laser beam with the number of characteristics in a direction relative to a flight path of the aircraft;
- move the laser beam with the number of characteristics selected for the object type to scan an area using a path from a central location to an outer location of the area;
- and
- adjust, during scanning of the area using the path, a number of scan parameters selected from at least one of:
- a scan speed, an overlap, or a beam divergence, wherein a number of objects of the object type hit by the laser beam is cleared from the flight path.
A method for clearing a flight path for an aircraft, the method comprising:
- selecting a number of characteristics for a laser beam based on an object type;
- emitting the laser beam with the number of characteristics in a direction relative to a flight path of the aircraft;
- moving the laser beam with the number of characteristics selected for the object type to scan an area using a path from a central location to an outer location of the area;
- and
- adjusting, during scanning of the area using the path, a number of scan parameters selected from at least one of:
- a scan speed, an overlap, or a beam divergence, wherein a number of objects of the object type hit by the laser beam is cleared from the flight path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.