System and method for detecting obstacles in aerial systems
An automated detection and avoidance system that provides a pilot with high-fidelity knowledge of the aircraft's physical state, and notifies the pilot of any deviations in expected state based on predictive models. The automated detection and avoidance system may include a processor and a sensor payload operatively coupled to the processor to detect a non-cooperative obstacle within a first airspace adjacent the aircraft. The sensor payload may comprise a radar to radially scan the first airspace, and a camera to scan a second airspace within said first airspace.
1. An obstacle detection system for use in an aircraft, the obstacle detection system comprising:
a sensor payload to detect a non-cooperative obstacle within a first airspace that is adjacent the aircraft, the sensor payload comprising
a radar to radially scan the first airspace at a first resolution to generate radar information, and
a camera to image the non-cooperative obstacle in a second airspace within said first airspace at a second resolution to generate optical information, wherein the second resolution is higher than the first resolution; and
a processor operatively coupled with the sensor payload, wherein the processor is configured to
determine, using the radar information, a location of the non-cooperative obstacle in the first airspace,
direct the camera toward the location of the non-cooperative obstacle using the radar information, and
process the optical information of the non-cooperative obstacle to identify features of the non-cooperative obstacle.
2. The obstacle detection system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to assign a threat level to the non-cooperative obstacle as a function of the optical information.
3. The obstacle detection system of claim 1 , wherein the processor calculates a scan angle using the location of the non-cooperative obstacle and pans the camera in accordance with the scan angle to image the non-cooperative obstacle.
4. The obstacle detection system of claim 1 , wherein the camera includes a visible-near infrared electro-optic (EO) sensor or a long wave infrared sensor.
5. The obstacle detection system of claim 1 , wherein the optical information includes at least one of a thermal cross section and an optical cross section and the radar information comprises a radar cross section, wherein the processor in configured to combine the optical cross section and the radar cross section to identify the non-cooperative obstacle.
6. The obstacle detection system of claim 1 , wherein the radar information includes a two-dimensional (2D) location of the non-cooperative obstacle within the first airspace, and the optical information includes an azimuthal location of the non-cooperative obstacle within the second airspace.
7. The obstacle detection system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to generate a predicted flight path for the non-cooperative obstacle based at least in part on the radar information and the optical information.
8. The obstacle detection system of claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to generate an obstacle-avoidance navigational route to avoid a collision with the non-cooperative obstacle based at least in part on the predicted flight path.
9. The obstacle detection system of claim 8 , further comprising a human-machine interface operatively coupled with the processor to enable a human pilot to monitor the obstacle-avoidance navigational route.
10. The obstacle detection system of claim 1 , wherein the first airspace provides a 360-degree field of view about the aircraft.
11. The obstacle detection system of claim 10 , wherein the 360-degree field of view resides in a plane that is parallel to a line of flight defined by the aircraft.
12. A method for detecting and avoiding a non-cooperative obstacle during operation of an aircraft, the method comprising:
scanning a first airspace using a radar system to generate radar information having a first resolution;
determining a location of the non-cooperative obstacle in the first airspace using the radar information;
directing a camera toward the location of the non-cooperative obstacle using the radar information;
imaging the non-cooperative obstacle in a second airspace using the camera to generate optical information at a second resolution that is higher than the first resolution, wherein the second airspace is within said first airspace;
tracking the non-cooperative obstacle based at least in part on the radar information and the optical information;
generating a predicted flight path based at least in part on the radar information and the optical information;
generating an obstacle-avoidance navigational route to avoid the non-cooperative obstacle; and
communicating the obstacle-avoidance navigational route to a flight control system of the aircraft.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the aircraft is configured to execute autonomously the obstacle-avoidance navigational route.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the camera includes a long wave infrared sensor configured to pan and tilt.
15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising the step of determining an azimuthal location of the non-cooperative obstacle within the second airspace using the camera.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the radar system is a mechanically rotating marine radar.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the radar information includes a two-dimensional (2D) radial map of the first airspace.
18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising the step of generating, via the processor, a predicted flight path for the non-cooperative obstacle based at least in part on the data received from the sensor payload.
19. A sensor payload for an aircraft to detect a non-cooperative obstacle within an airspace adjacent the aircraft, the sensor payload comprising:
a radar to radially scan the airspace to provide a location of the non-cooperative obstacle;
a first sensor to detect a thermal signature of the non-cooperative obstacle at the location;
a second sensor to image the non-cooperative obstacle at the location; and
a processor operatively coupled with each of the radar, the first sensor, and the second sensor, wherein the processor is configured to determine the location of the non-cooperative obstacle using data from the radar, to direct at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor toward the location of the non-cooperative obstacle, and to classify the non-cooperative obstacle at the location using the thermal signature from the first sensor and the image from the second sensor.
20. The sensor payload of claim 19 , wherein the second sensor includes a long wave infrared sensor.
21. The sensor payload of claim 19 , wherein the second sensor includes a visible-near infrared electro-optic (EO) sensor.