Abstract: Radar return processing systems and methods are operable to process radar information when an installation vehicle is operating in proximity to a surface area of interest. An exemplary embodiment reduces energy of an output pulse emitted from a radar system; receives a plurality of radar returns from a plurality of objects that reflect the reduced energy output pulses emitted from the radar system; determines a surface area of interest based upon at least a current location of the installation vehicle; and filters the radar returns generated by objects that are located outside of the surface area of interest. Optionally, some systems and methods may reduce a sweep range of an antenna from which the reduced energy output pulses are emitted.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating navigation signals for a vehicle in an auto-avoidance situation. In one embodiment the method includes analyzing two or more paths with respect to information about obstructions stored in a database. The method disclosed then selects a path and generates navigation signals, if an auto avoidance situation exists.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for monitoring for high energy landing approaches and advising a flight crew of an aircraft. Specific aircraft energy is predicted at a touchdown zone of a runway. The predicted specific energy is compared with predetermined threshold specific energy. An alert is generated when the predicted specific energy is at least the predetermined threshold specific energy. The present invention improves flight crew awareness of an impending problem with a landing approach, such as a high energy approach, provides an advisory when probability of an unsuccessful approach is significant, and allows a margin from stable approach criteria while avoiding increased aural and visual clutter in the flight deck.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for monitoring for high energy landing approaches and advising a flight crew of an aircraft. Specific aircraft energy is predicted at a touchdown zone of a runway. The predicted specific energy is compared with predetermined threshold specific energy. An alert is generated when the predicted specific energy is at least the predetermined threshold specific energy. The present invention improves flight crew awareness of an impending problem with a landing approach, such as a high energy approach, provides an advisory when probability of an unsuccessful approach is significant, and allows a margin from stable approach criteria while avoiding increased aural and visual clutter in the flight deck.

Abstract: A warning system for rotary wing aircraft that monitors the altitude above ground of the aircraft and issues a warning when there is insufficient terrain clearance. The warning criteria are optimized for rotary wing aircraft and are altered as a function of landing gear position and airspeed. Two distinct warnings are given. One indicates insufficient terrain clearance and the other warns the pilot if he attempts to land with the landing gear up. Logic circuitry is provided to modify the criteria necessary to generate a warning, and to inhibit certain warnings, as required by the mode of operation of the aircraft.

Abstract: A wind shear detection and alerting system (30) compares inertially derived accelerations with air speed rate to provide a wind shear warning signal. Inertially derived accelerations are used instead of purely inertial accelerations because purely inertial systems generally require a vertical gyro. By utilizing angle of attack (.alpha.) and flight path angle (.gamma.) instead of pitch angle (.theta.) in the calculation, no vertical gyro signal is required and the system will be responsive to vertical as well as horizontal shear conditions. An enhanced version of the system is also compensated for roll angle (.phi.), with the roll angle being derived from the rate of change of heading (.PSI.) to avoid the need for a vertical gyro. The alerting system is capable of providing visual and aural warnings for a variety of wind shear conditions, such as, head shear, tail shear, head shear followed by tail shear and wind shear trend.

Abstract: In a cable-and-sleeve connector, variations in the real or effective length of the cable 3 will tend to vary the curvature of the sleeve 7, and this can be accommodated by variations in the effective length of the sleeve 7. For this purpose, one end of the sleeve 7 is adjustably fixed to an anchor 6 by a clutch 30. The clutch consists of four collet members 31 that, when effective as a clutch, are wedged within the tapering aperture 29 so as to be held with the serrations 32 on the internal surfaces of the collet members 31 mating with external serrations on the rigid end of the sleeve 7. When the clutch 30 is disengaged, the collet members 31 move out of the aperture 29, in the direction of the sleeve 7, and tilt loosely about their wider ends so that the wider ends are only just free of the serrations 21.

Abstract: In order to determine the location of the center of gravity of an aircraft in flight, an accelerometer is placed in the forward part of the aircraft and another is placed in the after part to produce signals representing the rotation of aircraft about an axis, preferably the yaw axis, through the aircraft center of gravity. The signals from the accelerometers are combined to produce a first signal having components that represent both motion of the aircraft and the location of the center of gravity along with a signal having a component representing the motion of the aircraft but substantially without a component representing the location of the center of gravity and these two signals are then combined to get a signal that represents the location of the aircraft center of gravity.