Connected weather radar
In one example, this disclosure is directed to a system configured to detect inclement weather in the travel path of a vehicle, determine a recommended maneuver to avoid the inclement weather, and determine the feasibility of the recommended maneuver with respect to any nearby vehicles.
1. A method comprising:
transmitting, by a weather radar system onboard a vehicle, radar signals;
receiving, by the weather radar system, reflections of the radar signals;
determining, by the weather radar system based on the reflections, an area of inclement weather in a travel path of the vehicle;
determining, by the weather radar system, a recommended maneuver for the vehicle to avoid the area of inclement weather;
communicating, by the processing circuitry to a navigation system onboard the vehicle, a first indication of the recommended maneuver for the vehicle;
determining, by the navigation system, that the recommended maneuver for the vehicle will maintain minimum separation with other vehicles;
presenting, by the navigation system, a second indication of the recommended maneuver to a user for approval;
receiving, by the navigation system, user input after presenting the second indication to the user;
determining, by the navigation system, that the user input indicates that the user approved the recommended maneuver;
transmitting, by the navigation system, a third indication of the maneuver to a traffic controller in response to receiving the user input; and
receiving, by the navigation system, a maneuver approval from the traffic controller in response to the third indication.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the recommended maneuver includes determining a change in altitude of at least two flight levels.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the maneuver for the vehicle will maintain minimum separation with other vehicles comprises receiving automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) transmissions from the other vehicles.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the vehicle is equipped with In-Trail Procedures (ITP), and wherein the minimum separation comprises an ITP separation distance.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the maneuver from the vehicle will maintain minimum separation with other vehicles comprises receiving no broadcast signals.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the navigation system comprises a traffic collision avoidance system or a flight management system.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising outputting for display an indication of the maneuver approval.
8. A system comprising:
a memory; and
one or more processors coupled to the memory, implemented in circuitry, and configured to:
identify, based on a radar signal, an area of inclement weather in a travel path of a vehicle;
determine a recommended maneuver for the vehicle to avoid the area of inclement weather;
communicate, to a navigation system onboard the vehicle, a first indication of the recommended maneuver for the vehicle;
determine that the recommended maneuver for the vehicle will maintain minimum separation with other vehicles;
output a second indication of the recommended maneuver to a user for approval;
receive user input after outputting the second indication to the user;
determine that the user input indicates that the user approved the recommended maneuver;
transmit a third indication of the maneuver to a traffic controller in response to receiving the user input; and
receive a maneuver approval from the traffic controller in response to the third indication.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein determining the recommended maneuver includes determining a change in altitude of at least two flight levels.
10. The system of claim 8 , wherein determining that the maneuver for the vehicle will maintain minimum separation with other vehicles comprises receiving automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) transmissions from the other vehicles.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the vehicle is equipped with In-Trail Procedures (ITP), and wherein the minimum separation comprises an ITP separation distance.
12. The system of claim 8 , wherein determining that the maneuver from the vehicle will maintain minimum separation with other vehicles comprises receiving no broadcast signals.
13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the navigation system comprises a traffic collision avoidance system or a flight management system.
14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium operatively coupled to one or more processors and comprising executable instructions that cause the one or more processors to:
identify, based on a radar signal, an area of inclement weather in a travel path of a vehicle;
determine a recommended maneuver for the vehicle to avoid the area of inclement weather;
communicate, to a navigation system onboard the vehicle, a first indication of the recommended maneuver for the vehicle;
determine that the recommended maneuver for the vehicle will maintain minimum separation with other vehicles;
present a second indication of the recommended maneuver to a user for approval;
receive user input after presenting the second indication to the user;
determine that the user input indicates that the user approved the recommended maneuver;
transmit a third indication of the maneuver to a traffic controller in response to receiving the user input; and
receive a maneuver approval from the traffic controller in response to the third indication.