A system and method provide improved remote turbulence measurement. The system includes an image capturing device that captures frames of images of a target. A controller of the system tracks motion of one or more features of the images between frames using a pattern recognition algorithm. The controller computes subpixel motion based on results of the pattern recognition algorithm and computes differential motion or tilts between pairs of features. The controller computes differential tilt variances from every set of frames. The controller computes theoretical weighting functions for differential tilt variances. The controller determines weights to linearly combine weighting functions such that the combined weighting function closely resembles a desired weighting function that corresponds to the turbulence parameter of interest. The controller linearly combines the differential tilt variances using the determined weights to obtain the turbulence parameter of interest.

A multiple functional instrument is provided. The instrument includes an optical autocovariance function interferometer that can feature multiple fields of view to detect winds in the atmosphere. The instrument can include an infrared camera to detect atmospheric temperatures and the presence of clouds, and a detector assembly that detects the polarization of light returned to the interferometer. Data collected by the instrument can be provided to a deep and reinforcement learning algorithm for real-time prediction of clear air turbulence and other wind-based aviation safety phenomena. Moreover, predicted and actual conditions can be correlated and used to train a deep learning algorithm to enable more accurate predictions. The instrument can be carried by an aircraft or other platform and operated to detect clear air turbulence or other atmospheric phenomena, and to provide instructions regarding flight parameters including wind-aided navigation in order to minimize the effect of predicted turbulence.

A system and method are provided for receiving light that has traveled from an optical source through an atmosphere along a distance. The system includes: a receiver lens system having an aperture and being arranged to receive the light from the optical source; a beam splitter; an imaging lens; an image processing component; a photodetector system; and a refractive index structure parameter component. The photodetector system outputs data associated with averaged scintillation data of the aperture. The image processing component generates a normalized covariance curve based on a first portion of the received light. The refractive index structure parameter component generates a refractive index structure parameter, C.sub.n.sup.2, of the atmosphere along the distance based on the data associated with averaged scintillation data of the aperture and the normalized covariance curve.

A system includes a detector and a computing device communicatively coupled to the detector. The detector detects spatial or temporal spectral features of a light beam after transmission of the light beam through a turbulent or aberrated medium and generate a measurement signal indicative of the spectral feature. The computing device receives the measurement signal and a comparative signal indicative of a spectral feature of the light beam prior to or after transmission of the light beam through the medium. The computing device compares the measurement signal and the comparative signal and determines, based on the comparison of the measurement signal and the comparative signal, one or more values related to variations in refractive indices of the medium.

Systems, methods, aircraft, non-transitory media, and memories are provided. An avionics system for an aircraft includes a storage device and one or more data processors. The storage device stores instructions for converting between airspeed types and the one or more data processors is configured to execute the instructions to: generate a calibrated airspeed of the aircraft; convert the calibrated airspeed to an actual true airspeed of the aircraft; determine an initial approximate relationship between the calibrated airspeed and a computed true airspeed as a function of a pressure altitude of the aircraft; generate an adjusted approximate relationship based on the actual true airspeed and the initial approximate relationship at a chosen pressure altitude; and estimate a future airspeed of the aircraft based on the adjusted approximate relationship and a future altitude.

The present invention relates to a method and system for gathering data along points of travel using common portable electronic devices that are typically used for other functions. More specifically, the data gathered by these portable electronic devices may be accessed, processed, validated, and used in conjunction with, or alone, to produce, augment, and/or validate other data sets across wide ranges of science and technology.

Systems and methods of detecting type I ice crystals using an aircraft's onboard weather radar system are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment identifies radar returns having a return level signal strength less than a radar return sensitivity threshold level, determines if at least one of a weather condition and a flight condition concurrently exists with the identified radar returns having the return level signal strength less than the radar return sensitivity threshold level, and identifies a region of airspace potentially having type I ice crystals when the at least one of the weather condition and the flight condition concurrently exists with the identified radar returns having the return level signal strength less than the radar return sensitivity threshold level.

An aircraft management system and method includes a flight plan diversion prediction system including a rerouting control unit that is configured to generate one or more reroute options for an aircraft based on an analysis of a current position of the aircraft, a predicted future position of the aircraft, a current position of an in-flight hazard, and a predicted future position of the in-flight hazard.

Separation distances between a platform and an air or weather anomaly such as a wake vortex are obtained. Airspeeds of the air or weather anomalies are detected. Maximum airspeeds determined from different detection paths may result one or more airspeed differentials. The one or more airspeed differentials may be used to determine a calculated separation distance. A position of the platform may be maintained or maneuvered relative to the air or weather anomaly based on the calculated separation distance. Control commands may be output to a vehicle control system to perform, direct, or display a navigational solution including maneuvering relative to the air or weather anomaly, where the vehicle control system may include a graphics controller, a flight control system, a flight management system, or an autopilot.

A pilot headset and system for automatically generating turbulence reports is provided. The turbulence reporting pilot headset includes a headset body having a motion sensor positioned therein that is adapted to collect motion data representative of changes in motion experienced by the headset body, and a motion data correlation module which is programmed, structured and/or configured to correlate the collected motion data to turbulence level data.