System and method for tracking and identifying aircraft and ground equipment

#The present invention relates generally to tracking systems and, more particularly, to a system and method for tracking and identifying aircraft and ground equipment.

#A conventional system for identifying and tracking aircraft and ground vehicles is the Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System (ATCRBS), which comprises three components: 1) ground interrogation equipment, 2) transponder equipment located on aircraft and ground vehicles, and 3) surface movement radar (SMR). The ground interrogation equipment comprises two types of radar systems: 1) the primary surveillance radar (PSR), and 2) the secondary surveillance radar (SSR). Many conventional PSR and SSR radar antennas in use today are of the mechanically-operated, dish type.

#PSR operates using traditional radar principles, transmitting radio pulses and listening for and timing the reflections from the skin or other metal components of aircraft. PSR provides air traffic control (ATC) with range and bearing of aircraft. PSR has no capability to specifically indentify aircraft or ground vehicles.

#FIGS. 1A-1B shows various block diagrams of systems for monitoring, tracking, and identifying objects, such as aircraft and ground equipment, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

#FIG. 2A shows a beacon assembly, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

#FIG. 2B shows a radar assembly, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

#Embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages are best understood by referring to the detailed description that follows. It should be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify like devices illustrated in one or more of the figures.

#In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a single radar system is provided with simple hardware and software components to provide airborne and ground traffic information to air traffic controllers. An airport air traffic control (ATC) system is provided to track airport airspace and ground space objects in a single system to effect safe and efficient operation under conditions of increased airport vehicle crowding and traffic conditions. The tracking system of the present disclosure utilizes low cost, scalable passive and active phased array radars comprising uniform, modular types of hardware and software components for the entire radar tracking system. The ATC phased array radar system comprises a four-channel monopulse receiver with one or more beacon transmitters on the object being tracked. The monopulse receiver may be adapted to operate at X-Band and/or Ka Band to obtain azimuth and elevation angles of the objects tracked in the air or on the ground, e.g., to 300 microradians accuracy and 1 meter range resolution. The monopulse receiver and beacon measure full state vector information about the object being tracked.

#In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a monopulse radar is used to measure object information (e.g., identification information, position information, and/or velocity information) via one or more monopulse beacon signals from an object (e.g., an aircraft and/or ground vehicle). In various implementations, the object information (e.g., position information and/or velocity information) may be derived from the responding object via, e.g., one or more monopulse beacon signals, from the object.