System and method for aircraft altitude measurement using radar and known runway position
AssigneeRockwell Collins, Inc.
InventorsDaniel L. Woodell, Richard D. Jinkins, Richard M. Rademaker, Patrick D. McCusker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of and system for determining the altitude of an aircraft can use a relative altitude estimate using information from an onboard radar. The altitude can be referenced to a runway for landing operations. The radar can produce relative altitude information from the range to the landing point and a precision estimation of the vertical angle to the landing point. The vertical angle estimate can be made with a phase processing antenna/radar system.
Claims20
A method of determining an altitude of an aircraft in response to a runway altitude of a runway and a radar sweep by a radar system, the method comprising:
- receiving first data associated with an aircraft position;
- receiving second data associated with a runway position and the runway altitude;
- receiving third data associated with a radar return from the runway;
- determining a range between the aircraft and the runway using the first and second data;
- determining a vertical angle between the runway and the aircraft using the third data;
- and
- determining the altitude of the aircraft based on the vertical angle, the range, and the runway altitude.
An aircraft radar system for an aircraft, comprising:
- an antenna configured to receive a radar return from a runway associated with a radar sweep;
- processing electronics configured to determine a relative altitude of the aircraft using an angle associated with the radar return and a range between the runway and the aircraft, and
- configured to determine a first altitude of the aircraft by summing the relative altitude and an altitude of the runway.
An apparatus, comprising:
- means for receiving third data associated with a radar return from a runway;
- and
- means for determining a range between an aircraft and the runway using first data associated with an aircraft position and second data associated with a runway position and a runway altitude, calculating a vertical angle between the runway and the aircraft using the third data, and determining an altitude of the aircraft based on the vertical angle, the range, and the runway altitude.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.