Abstract: An aircraft hazard warning system or method can be utilized to determine a location of turbulence, hail or other hazard for an aircraft. The aircraft hazard warning system can utilize processing electronics coupled to an antenna. The processing electronics can determine an inferred presence of a weather condition in response to lightning sensor data, radar reflectivity data, turbulence data, geographic location data, vertical structure analysis data, and/or temperature data. The system can include a display for showing the weather condition and its location.

Abstract: An aircraft hazard warning system or method can be utilized to determine a location of turbulence, hail or other hazard for an aircraft. The aircraft hazard warning system can utilize processing electronics coupled to an antenna. The processing electronics can determine an inferred presence of a weather condition in response to lightning sensor data, radar reflectivity data, turbulence data, geographic location data, vertical structure analysis data, and/or temperature data. The system can include a display for showing the weather condition and its location.

Abstract: An aircraft hazard warning system or method can be utilized to determine a location of turbulence, hail or other hazard for an aircraft. The aircraft hazard warning system can utilize processing electronics coupled to an antenna. The processing electronics can determine an inferred presence of a weather condition in response to lightning sensor data, radar reflectivity data, turbulence data, geographic location data, vertical structure analysis data, and/or temperature data. The system can include a display for showing the weather condition and its location.

Abstract: An enhanced vision method or a weather radar system can be used with an aircraft and includes an antenna and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to provide radar beams via the antenna toward external surroundings and is configured to receive radar returns. The control circuit is configured to process a collection of radar measurements from the radar returns, wherein each of the radar measurements is associated with a location determined using an antenna position, an antenna attitude, a beam sharpening angle, and a range. The radar measurements are processed to determine power density per grid cell associated with the power and location of the radar measurements, and the power density per grid cell is used to provide an image associated with the power and location of the radar measurements.

Abstract: A radar system, such as a weather radar system, includes a radar antenna and a processor. The processor is configured to cause a first radar beam to be provided using a first portion of the radar antenna. The processor is configured to cause a second radar beam to be provided using a phase adjusted portion of the antenna and a remaining portion of the radar antenna. A radar method and system can allow multiple low-loss overlapping radar beams to be rapidly generated to support a sequential lobbing process which may be used to generate intra-beam target angle estimates. The production of these overlapping beams does not require mechanical antenna movement but beam selection is controlled by a simple electronic switch in some embodiments.

Abstract: An aircraft hazard warning system or method can be utilized to determine a location of turbulence, hail or other hazard for an aircraft. The aircraft hazard warning system can utilize processing electronics coupled to an antenna. The processing electronics can determine an inferred presence of turbulence in response to lightning sensor data, radar reflectivity data, turbulence data, geographic location data, vertical structure analysis data, and/or temperature data. The system can include a display for showing the turbulence hazard and its location.

Abstract: An enhanced vision method uses or an enhanced vision system includes an onboard weather radar system configured to improve angular resolution and/or resolution in range. The onboard weather radar system generates image data representative of the external scene topography of a runway environment associated with radar returns received by the onboard weather radar system. The radar returns are in an X-band or a C-band. The enhanced vision system also includes a display in communication with the onboard weather radar system and is configured to display an image associated with the image data that is generated by the onboard weather radar system. The enhanced vision system can also be used as an enhanced flight vision system.

Abstract: A radar system, such as a weather radar system, includes a radar antenna and a processor. The processor is configured to cause a first radar beam to be provided using a first portion of the radar antenna. The processor is configured to cause a second radar beam to be provided using a phase adjusted portion of the antenna and a remaining portion of the radar antenna. A radar method and system can allow multiple low-loss overlapping radar beams to be rapidly generated to support a sequential lobing process which may be used to generate intra-beam target angle estimates. The production of these overlapping beams does not require mechanical antenna movement but beam selection is controlled by a simple electronic switch in some embodiments.

Abstract: The hazard warning system that included processing system for detecting a high altitude ice crystal (HAIC) condition. The aircraft warning system can use at least two types of radar returns to detect the HAIC condition. Warnings of high altitude ice crystal conditions can allow an aircraft to avoid threats posed by HAIC conditions including damage to aircraft equipment and engines.

Abstract: An airborne navigation system that uses Doppler information from an on-board weather radar to improve the system's accuracy and/or fault tolerance. The system can determine a drift angle and ground speed from Doppler information associated with radar returns from the Earth's surface. Alternatively, the system can be configured to determine heading angle using the drift angle and a track angle received from another sensor.

Abstract: Electronically scanned arrays and multi-chip modules (MCMs) that may be used in such arrays are provided. One MCM may include a set of one or more first semiconductor components and a plurality of second semiconductor components. The first semiconductor component set is coupled to the plurality of second semiconductor components, and the first semiconductor component set is configured to control the plurality of second semiconductor components. Each of the plurality of second semiconductor components is accessible through a plurality of data strings providing communication between the first semiconductor component set and the plurality of second semiconductor components, each data string defining a unique path between the first semiconductor component set and the plurality of second semiconductor components, such that the plurality of data strings provide redundant data paths between the first semiconductor component set and the plurality of second semiconductor components.

Abstract: A system and method relates to a weather detection system using millimeter wave radar data. Processing electronics receives millimeter wave radar (MMWR) data and senses a presence of weather spatial extent using return strength data associated with the MMWR data. The processing electronics uses spectral width data associated with the MMWR data to assign a level to the weather in the spatial extent.

Abstract: Systems and methods for use in a vehicle are provided. A vehicle can be an aircraft, truck, ship, automobile, locomotive, etc. A system includes a housing having an exterior surface for housing sensor or communication equipment and interior surface for housing electronics associated with the equipment. The sensor or communication equipment can include a radar antenna mounted on or adjacent to the exterior surface, and at least one of a Satcom antenna, altimeter antenna, vision sensor or any communication link antenna.

Abstract: A method for calibrating an ESA radar to mitigate degradation of its radiation system. The radiation system includes the distribution manifold, the ESA radiating elements and the radome the ESA may be operating through. Sensing of degradation takes place both locally with a switchable matched load to identify individual ESA element characteristics and globally with target based radar return data. The data generated by this sensing of both local and global characteristics is then used to modify available ESA element complex weighting to produce a desired far-field radiation pattern.

Abstract: A aircraft hazard warning system or method can be utilized to determine a location of turbulence, hail or other hazard for an aircraft. The aircraft hazard warning system can utilize processing electronics coupled to an antenna. The processing electronics can determine an inferred presence of turbulence in response to lightning sensor data, radar reflectivity data, turbulence data, geographic location data, vertical structure analysis data, and/or temperature data. The system can include a display for showing the turbulence hazard and its location.

Abstract: An enhanced vision method uses or an enhanced vision system includes an onboard weather radar system configured to improve angular resolution and/or resolution in range. The onboard weather radar system generates image data representative of the external scene topography of a runway environment associated with radar returns received by the onboard weather radar system. The radar returns are in an X-band or a C-band. The enhanced vision system also includes a display in communication with the onboard weather radar system and is configured to display an image associated with the image data that is generated by the onboard weather radar system. The enhanced vision system can also be used as an enhanced flight vision system.

Abstract: A device and method is disclosed for a hybrid multi-mode airborne and rotary wing radar Electronically Scanned Antenna (ESA). Pulsed Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC) Transmit and Receive Modules (TRM) are nested with Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) transmit elements within the aperture of an ESA. FMCW elements only transmit while the pulsed TRM receive both the pulsed return and the FMCW return. During the hybrid configuration, both the pulsed and FMCW performance is limited to less than the full ESA aperture. In an alternate configuration, individual TRM are configured for transmit and receive of both FMCW and pulsed signals are coupled within the aperture of the ESA. The individual elements offer full aperture performance in both pulsed and FMCW operation. A diplexer controls channel deconfliction between the pulsed and the FMCW transmissions/receptions while a switching network directs the individual elements to hop between the pulsed and FMCW modes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for use in a vehicle are provided. A vehicle can be an aircraft, truck, ship, automobile, locomotive, etc. A system includes a housing having an exterior surface for housing sensor or communication equipment and interior surface for housing electronics associated with the equipment. The sensor or communication equipment can include a radar antenna mounted on or adjacent to the exterior surface, and at least one of a Satcom antenna, altimeter antenna, vision sensor or any communication link antenna.

Abstract: The method includes providing a first radar pulse at a first beam position during a radar scan and receiving a first return, the first radar pulse being a velocity sampling beam. The method also includes providing a second radar pulse at a second and different beam position during the radar scan and receiving a second return, the second radar pulse overlaps and is not identical to the first radar pulse. The method further includes providing a third radar pulse using a lower gain wider beam width beam pattern at the first beam position during the radar scan and receiving a third radar return, the third radar pulse being a side lobe detection beam. The method can also include processing the first return, the second return and the third return and using data associated with the first return, the second return and the third return to determine a presence of weather phenomenon and to identify and remove returns from non-weather targets.

Abstract: A two panel radar system is disclosed. The radar system may include a pair of AESA panels respectively positioned on either side of a central axis, wherein a pointing direction of the first AESA panel is offset by a predetermined angle in a clockwise direction with respect to the central axis and a pointing direction of the second AESA panel is offset by the predetermined angle in a counterclockwise direction with respect to the central axis. A controller may be configured for selectively activating at least one of: the first AESA panel for providing a first coverage area in a first direction offset from the central axis, the second AESA panel for providing a second coverage area in a second direction offset from the central axis, or the pair of AESA panels jointly for providing a third coverage area between the first coverage area and the second coverage area.