A radio altimeter includes an electronically scanned array antenna. Orthogonal sweeps by the electronically scanned array antenna are used to identify a highest point in a region beneath the aircraft without the need for strong reflection. The electronically scanned array antenna may be reconfigured to scan a subregion including the highest point with a higher frequency beam and/or integrate multiple sweeps over time for a more accurate measurement.

Systems and methods for enabling charged (ionized) air mass measurement for reliable air data computation onboard an aircraft. Ionic charge sensing may be used to derive air data having improved reliability. The systems and methods for ionic charge sensing employ an emitter electrode and two or more collector electrodes, which electrodes are disposed in proximity to the exterior skin of the aircraft and exposed to ambient air. The emitter electrode is positioned forward of the collector electrodes. The system further includes a solid-state ionic air data module that converts currents from the collector electrodes into air data parameter values. More specifically, the ionic air data module is configured to sense currents induced in the collector electrodes in response to corona discharge produced by the high-voltage emitter electrode.

A device for monitoring and estimating parameters relating to the flight of an aircraft includes an estimation module 4 for determining an estimation of the values of the parameters relating to the flight of the aircraft and for generating residues, a detection module for determining the statuses associated with each of said sensors C1, C2, . . . , CN and with a parameter P1 corresponding to the weight of the aircraft, a transmission module for transmitting the statuses associated with each of said sensors C1, C2, . . . , CN to a user device and, on the next iteration, to the estimation module.

A low range altimeter (LRA) may include a transmitter, a receiver, at least one antenna, an active leakage cancellation circuit, and a microcontroller unit (MCU). The transmitter may be configured to transmit a first signal (or transmitted signal) via the at least one antenna. The receiver may be configured to receive a second signal (or received signal) via the at least one antenna. The active leakage cancellation circuit may be configured to receive a portion of the transmitted signal from the transmitter, and may be configured to inject the portion of the transmitted signal into the receiver after an adjustment of the portion of the transmitted signal to reduce leakage observed in the received signal. The MCU may be coupled to the transmitter and the receiver, and may be configured to adjust the portion of the portion of the transmitted signal.

Methods, apparatuses, and systems for predicting radio altimeter failures are provided. An example method may include determining a first plurality of altitude values associated with a first radio altimeter, determining a second plurality of altitude values associated with a second radio altimeter, calculating a first level feature based at least in part on the first plurality of altitude values and the second plurality of altitude values, and determining a radio altimeter failure indicator based at least in part on the first level feature.

A method for controlling a landing gear of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes detecting whether a relative-to-ground height of the UAV is greater than a height threshold, where the relative-to-ground height is a vertical height of the UAV with respect to an object; and in response to the relative-to-ground height being not greater than the height threshold and the UAV having not lowered the landing gear, adjusting the relative-to-ground height to the height threshold or above, and lowering the landing gear.

Zone-based unmanned aerial vehicle landing systems and methods are provided herein. An example method includes establishing a plurality of operational zones, each of the plurality of operational zones being associated with a range of altitudes, guiding an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) through each of a plurality of operational zones to land the UAV on a target location using sensors, wherein the sensors are configured to sense a distance between the UAV to the target location, further wherein portions of the sensors are configured for use at different altitudes, and determining an error for the UAV during landing, wherein the UAV retreats to a higher altitude operational zone when the error is determined.

An air data probe (10) and associated method of method of measuring air data is disclosed. The air data probe includes a plurality of air pressure sensors, and a body (14) that encloses a hollow interior cavity (16), where the body (14) has a generally symmetrical airfoil profile. The body (14) includes a plurality of projections (20a-d) extending beyond the generally symmetrical airfoil profile, each of the plurality of projections (20a-d) including an pressure port (22a-d) at a distal end (24a-d) that is in communication with the hollow interior cavity. Each of the pressure ports (22a-d) receives a corresponding air pressure sensor (12a-d) that is configured to collect static and dynamic air pressure data.

The present general inventive concept relates to methods and systems to select and display information on an avionics display screen. The systems and methods allow for the selection and display of information using knobs to highlight and select the desired information for display, eliminating the need for a cursor function. The systems and methods also provide for multiple pages and/or multiple windows or “tiles” within these pages and/or windows simultaneously on a single screen of a display, with each window, page, and/or tile being fully controlled independently when selected. The present general inventive concept also relates to systems and methods to provide multiple cues on an electronic display system altitude tape to a pilot in advance and impending approach to a predefined altitude. The present general inventive concept also relates to systems and methods to employ variable resolution topographical data based on display range for an avionics navigation display.

The present invention provides an aerial vehicle for which flight information for the aerial vehicle can be identified by people in the surrounding area. Also provided is a control method for the aerial vehicle. The aerial vehicle is provided with a display device that displays toward the exterior of the vehicle and a display control device that controls the display device. In addition, the aerial vehicle is provided with an altitude acquisition device that acquires altitude as the distance from the ground surface. The display control device is provided with an altitude display control unit that selectively performs display on the display device on the basis of the altitude.