Abstract: A radar system including an AESA illuminates a target with a first pulse for a desired beam pointing angle (azimuth and elevation). The AESA then illuminates the target with a second pulse for the desired pointing angle, the second pulse defining a radiation pattern with a main beam in phase with the first pulse, but side lobes that are out of phase. The radar system receives return signals and combines the return signals to null the side lobes by the principle of superposition. The radar processing unit is time synced such that the pulse-pair is interpreted as a single ultra-low level side lobe return radiation pattern.

Abstract: A weather radar system initiates a horizontal scan at a first tilt angle, then adjusts the tilt angle down during an intermediate phase of the horizontal scan, and finally adjust the tilt angle back to the first tilt angle for an end phase of the horizontal scan. The intermediate phase may comprise a fifteen-to-twenty-degree arc centered about a centerline of the weather radar antenna. The radar system may perform test horizontal scans at intervals within a predefined range, each having a different fixed tilt angle to identify tilt angles having desirable signal-to-noise ratio and signal-to-clutter ratio at different phases of the scan. Alternatively, the system may execute a vertical scan and at one or more horizontal positions to identify desirable tilt angles at various phases.

Abstract: A system and method for rendering near range weather information in a first aspect and mid-to-long range weather information in a second aspect includes transforming the mid-to-long range weather information to preserve certain relationships between the near range rendering and the mid-to-long range rendering while compressing distances to fit both renderings on a single display. Criticality metrics are maintained for the compressed mid-to-long range rendering by identifying the most critical weather indicator and applying it to the compressed weather cell rendering.

Abstract: A method approximates outlines of weather cells within the weather radar data using geometric shapes. The weather cells are filtered and clustered into clusters. The edges of the clusters are detected through an edge detection algorithm. Geometric shapes are fit to the edges of the clusters. The geometric shapes require significantly less bandwidth when transmitting over a communication channel, as compared to the weather radar data. The method saves the radar data with very few parameters and thus reduces the required memory for storage and required throughput for exchange.

Abstract: A system for detecting threats at an area is disclosed. The system may include a controller including one or more processors configured to execute a set of program instructions stored in a memory. The set of program instructions may be configured to cause the one or more processors to receive safe historical data of an area configured to be representative of a lack of threats, receive new data of the area from one or more nodes, compare the new data and the safe historical data to identify a difference between the new data and the safe historical data, and update a database based on the difference.

Abstract: A radar system including an AESA illuminates a target with a first pulse for a desired beam pointing angle (azimuth and elevation). The AESA then illuminates the target with a second pulse for the desired pointing angle, the second pulse defining a radiation pattern with a main beam in phase with the first pulse, but side lobes that are out of phase. The radar system receives return signals and combines the return signals to null the side lobes by the principle of superposition. The radar processing unit is time synced such that the pulse-pair is interpreted as a single ultra-low level side lobe return radiation pattern.

Abstract: A radar system and method for sharing threat data is configured to communicate with other radar systems in surrounding aircraft and share threat specific data. Each radar system may be configured to a specific task according to the priorities of the aircraft and the capabilities of the surrounding aircraft; the gathered data is then shared with the surrounding aircraft such that each aircraft may commit longer dwell time to individual tasks while still receiving data for all of the potential tasks. The radar system may identify a fault and send a request for radar threat data to nearby aircraft. The radar system may receive such data within the operating band of the radar and allow continued operation.

Abstract: A ground station is used by an air traffic controller to provide support to an aircraft. In particular, the ground station may mirror or regenerate a weather radar overlay of a flight display of the aircraft. The air traffic controller and the flight crew may then both see the same real-time weather information with minimum delay and achieve a similar level of situation awareness. The weather radar overlay may be displayed on a display of the ground station. The ground station may receive weather data and ADS-B data or other forms of location data and intended flight path from the aircraft via an air-to-ground communication channel. The weather data may be used to regenerate the weather radar overlay. The ground station may also use the ADS-B data to generate a coverage map of the aircraft in a selected airspace.

Abstract: A system and method for distinguishing targets of interest from main lobe clutter and sidelobe clutter includes an ESA or AESA divided into subarrays. A sum beam power profile is produced via one or more scans of the subarrays, and a difference beam power profile is produced via calculations involving the subarrays. A comparison of the sum beam power profile and the difference beam power profile accentuates signal power disparities between targets of interest and clutter. A threshold is then applied to isolate targets of interest. Different difference beam power profiles may be used for elevation comparisons and azimuth comparisons. Alternatively, subarrays may be selected such that the same difference beam power profile may be used for both elevation and azimuth. Scans may be time multiplexed such that data from different scans may be used to produce the sum beam power profile, the difference beam power profile, or both.

Abstract: A system and method for a multi-panel multi-function active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar operation receives radar commands from individual aircraft systems and segments a plurality of AESA panels fixed (at variable azimuth/elevation about the aircraft) into a plurality of subarrays to carry out each individual function commanded by the individual aircraft system. Dependent on aircraft status and phase of flight, the and individual AESA are designated for use and the subarrays are sized based on desired radar function at the specific phase of flight and specific threat associated with the phase. The system dynamically shifts the designated AESA, subarray size, beam characteristics, power settings, and function to enable multiple simultaneous function of the suite of AESA panels.

Abstract: A radar system receives threat relevant data with pulses sufficiently separated to provide sufficient long-range imaging, analyzes the return data to identify features of the threat, and generate a second set of pulses to acquire more detailed, higher granularity data specific to the threat. The system may include an ESA that is configured for pulses in a higher frequency to acquire higher resolution data specific to the threat.

Abstract: A system and method for a multi-beam multi-function active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar operation receives radar commands from individual aircraft systems and segments a single AESA fixed panel into a plurality of subarrays to carry out each individual function commanded by the individual aircraft system. Dependent on aircraft status and phase of flight, the subarrays are sized based on desired radar function at the specific phase of flight and specific threat associated with the phase. The system dynamically shifts the subarray size, beam characteristics, power settings, and function to enable multiple function of a cost effective single AESA panel.

Abstract: A system for rendering local aircraft traffic by defining boundaries of risk receives current aircraft locations for a plurality of aircraft, including altitudes, and determines multiple boundaries of risk for each aircraft. The multiple boundaries of risk are then consolidated according to risk level where such boundaries of multiple aircraft overlap or nearly overlap. Areas of risk are outlined according to common risk levels of multiple aircraft and the original diamond icons are unrendered. Ranges to the nearest aircraft in each direction are identified, and indicators of such direction and range to the nearest aircraft are rendered around the aircraft.

Abstract: A weather radar system initiates a horizontal scan at a first tilt angle, then adjusts the tilt angle down during an intermediate phase of the horizontal scan, and finally adjust the tilt angle back to the first tilt angle for an end phase of the horizontal scan. The intermediate phase may comprise a fifteen-to-twenty-degree arc centered about a centerline of the weather radar antenna. The radar system may perform test horizontal scans at intervals within a predefined range, each having a different fixed tilt angle to identify tilt angles having desirable signal-to-noise ratio and signal-to-clutter ratio at different phases of the scan. Alternatively, the system may execute a vertical scan and at one or more horizontal positions to identify desirable tilt angles at various phases.

Abstract: A weather depiction system for an aircraft is disclosed. A radar is configured to scan a surrounding environment of the aircraft and provide weather data. An aircraft computing device is configured to: detect weather patterns using the weather data, receive a flight trajectory of the aircraft from a flight management system (FMS), compare the flight trajectory to an altitude of each of the weather patterns, identify the weather pattern as relevant or non-relevant based on the comparison, and present symbols corresponding to the relevant weather patterns on the weather display and exclude symbols corresponding to the non-relevant weather patterns on the weather display.

Abstract: A system and method for cooperative aerial vehicle collision avoidance provides an ESA-based sensor network capable of high-resolution threat proximity measurements and cooperative and non-cooperative collision avoidance in the full spherical volume surrounding an aerial vehicle. The system incorporates a plurality of ESA panels onto the airframe where the conical scan volumes overlap leaving no gaps in spherical proximity coverage. The resulting received data is stitched together between the neighboring ESA panels and used to determine a position and vector for each threat aerial vehicle within range. The data is transmitted through a cooperative collision avoidance network to nearby aerial vehicles, and presented to the autopilot and flight crew to increase situational awareness. The system determines a maneuver for the aerial vehicle and a maneuver for the threat aerial vehicle based on relative maneuvering capabilities to maintain desired separation.

Abstract: A radar system receives threat relevant data with pulses sufficiently separated to provide sufficient long-range imaging, analyzes the return data to identify features of the threat, and generate a second set of pulses to acquire more detailed, higher granularity data specific to the threat. The system may include an ESA that is configured for pulses in a higher frequency to acquire higher resolution data specific to the threat.

Abstract: A radar system and method for sharing threat data is configured to communicate with other radar systems in surrounding aircraft and share threat specific data. Each radar system may be configured to a specific task according to the priorities of the aircraft and the capabilities of the surrounding aircraft; the gathered data is then shared with the surrounding aircraft such that each aircraft may commit longer dwell time to individual tasks while still receiving data for all of the potential tasks. The radar system may identify a fault and send a request for radar threat data to nearby aircraft. The radar system may receive such data within the operating band of the radar and allow continued operation.

Abstract: A system and method for ESA quadrant mechanical reconfiguration functions to shift some of the complexity from algorithmic manipulation of received radar data to mechanical transformation of a simple panel structure to achieve desired performance in a desired ESA boresight. The system receives a rotation trigger based on an external event such as altitude and mission and causes two or more simple ESA panels to rotate from a first azimuthal position to a second common azimuthal position without stopping at an intermediate azimuth. Once positioned, each individual rotational ESA panel is combined to function as a single aggregate ESA enabling desired performance in field of view, resolution, and range along a common boresight.

Abstract: A system for rendering local aircraft traffic by defining boundaries of risk receives current aircraft locations for a plurality of aircraft, including altitudes, and determines multiple boundaries of risk for each aircraft. The multiple boundaries of risk are then consolidated according to risk level where such boundaries of multiple aircraft overlap or nearly overlap. Areas of risk are outlined according to common risk levels of multiple aircraft and the original diamond icons are unrendered. Ranges to the nearest aircraft in each direction are identified, and indicators of such direction and range to the nearest aircraft are rendered around the aircraft.