Nonuniform laser beam scan based flight path clearing system
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.
1 . 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.
2 . The flight path clearing system of claim 1 , wherein in adjusting the number of scan parameters, the controller is configured to control the laser beam system to:
increase a scan speed during a movement of the laser beam on the path.
3 . The flight path clearing system of claim 1 , wherein the path is a spiral path wherein in adjusting the number of scan parameters, the controller is configured to:
decrease an overlap during a movement of the laser beam on the spiral path.
4 . The flight path clearing system of claim 1 , wherein in adjusting the number of scan parameters, the controller is configured to:
increase a beam divergence of the laser beam during a movement of the laser beam on the path.
5 . The flight path clearing system of claim 1 , wherein the number of characteristics of the laser beam comprises at least one of a wavelength, focal length, a power, a timing, or an intensity.
6 . The flight path clearing system of claim 5 , wherein the focal length is selected such that the laser beam scans the area at a distance from the aircraft that enables the laser beam to clear the flight path.
7 . The flight path clearing system of claim 5 , wherein the timing is selected from a group comprising pulsed and continuous.
8 . The flight path clearing system of claim 1 , wherein the-controller is in the aircraft.
9 . The flight path clearing system of claim 1 , wherein the flight path extends through the central location of the area.
10 . The flight path clearing system of claim 1 , wherein the laser beam system is selected from at least one of a gas laser beam system or a carbon dioxide laser beam system.
11 . The flight path clearing system of claim 1 , wherein the object type is an aerial drone.
12 . The flight path clearing system of claim 1 , wherein clearing an aerial drone as the number of objects from the flight path comprises causing at least one of interference with a navigation system of the aerial drone, the aerial drone to fly outside of the flight path of the aircraft, damage to the aerial drone, or a destruction of the aerial drone such that the aerial drone moves away from the flight path of the aircraft.
13 . 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.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein adjusting the number of scan parameters comprises:
increasing a scan speed during a movement of the laser beam on the path.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the path is a spiral path, wherein adjusting the number of scan parameters comprises:
decreasing an overlap during a movement of the laser beam on the spiral path.
16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein adjusting the number of scan parameters comprises:
increasing a beam divergence of the laser beam during a movement of the laser beam on the path.
17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein adjusting the number of scan parameters comprises:
decreasing during a movement of the laser beam on the path.
18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the number of characteristics of the laser beam comprises at least one of: a wavelength, a focal length, a power, a timing, or an intensity.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the focal length is selected such that the laser beam scans the area at a distance from the aircraft that enables the laser beam to clear the flight path.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the timing is selected from a group comprising pulsed and continuous.
21 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising controlling the moving and emitting of the laser beam by a controller in the aircraft.
22 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the flight path extends through the central location of the area.