Airborne Visibility Indicator System and Method
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorsArthur Estrada, James L Persson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for providing an objective visibility measurement to a flight crew preferably includes a LIDAR system (100), an evaluation unit (150), and a crew interface (200). In at least one embodiment, the system includes the capability of compensating for aircraft turns such that the absolute direction of the visibility reading remains constant through the maneuver. A method for providing an objective visibility reading to a flight crew preferably includes tacking a visibility reading (S820, S920); providing the visibility reading to the flight crew (S830, S930); and notifying the flight crew when the visibility has decreased to and/or less than a minimum visibility threshold (S840).
Claims31
An airborne visibility indicator system for use in an aircraft comprising:
- a LIDAR system, and
- a flight crew interface connected to said LIDAR system, said flight crew interface including
- a controller connected to said LIDAR system, and
- a display interface connected to said LIDAR system and said controller.
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An airborne visibility indicator system for use in an aircraft operated by a flight crew, the system comprising:
- beam control means for receiving selection of a direction and an elevation to take a visibility reading,
- visibility calculation means for calculating the visibility reading in the selected direction and at the selected elevation, and
- display means for displaying the calculated visibility reading, the direction of the visibility reading, and the elevation of the visibility reading.
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A method for providing an airborne visibility indicator to a flight crew comprising:
- receiving a minimum visibility threshold,
- measuring a visibility range with an aircraft mounted LIDAR system,
- providing the visibility range to the flight crew, and
- when the visibility range is less than or equal to the received minimum visibility threshold, notifying at least one member of the flight crew of this occurrence.
A method for providing an airborne visibility indicator to a flight crew comprising:
- receiving a minimum visibility threshold,
- receiving a beam elevation and direction,
- measuring a visibility range at the received elevation and direction,
- providing the visibility range to the flight crew, and
- when the visibility range is less than the received minimum visibility threshold, notifying at least one member of the flight crew of this occurrence.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.