Rotorcraft Strike Avoidance System Using Airborne Avian Radar

A research and development (R&D) proof-of-concept airborne avian radar to detect birds and other targets ahead of a rotorcraft was designed, constructed, and ground tested. The radar was designed to provide collision warning out to 1500 meters day or night in haze, fog, or rain. Its principal of operation was to use a single forward-looking antenna to measure target intensity and Doppler velocity as the rotorcraft approached the target. A constant target intensity and Doppler velocity during the approach indicated that the target was on a collision course with the rotorcraft and flight deviation was recommended. A coherent segmented binary pseudo noise PN-coded radar was designed to simultaneously display and track multiple targets at different ranges or Doppler velocities. Using available components, the radar was designed as a software defined radar composed of a RF receive/transmit unit, an analog to digital sampling board, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) processing board, and a personal computer (PC) running Matlab for processing and display. The radar was extensively ground tested on road traffic and drone flights, which verified its ability to detect and simultaneously measure the range and Doppler velocity of multiple targets.

  • Record URL:
  • Corporate Authors:

    Origo Corporation

    Cave Creek, AZ  United States 

    XESS Corporation

    Apex, NC  United States 

    Federal Aviation Administration

    William J. Hughes Technical Center
    Aviation Research Division
    Atlantic City International Airport, NJ  United States  08405
  • Authors:
    • Piesinger, Greg
    • Vandenbout, Dave
  • Publication Date: 2022-6

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Edition: Final Report
  • Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 117p

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01851479
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: DOT/FAA/TC-22/2
  • Contract Numbers: DTFACT-17-C-00007
  • Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
  • Created Date: Jul 18 2022 9:25AM