Disclosed are methods, systems, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for managing a vehicle. For instance, the method may include transmitting a notification to a first device. The method may further include receiving, from the first device, an image depicting an area, identifying a landing zone in the area, and performing an analysis by processing the image and determining whether an object is detected within a predetermined radius of a center point of the landing zone. The method may further include, in response to determining a presence of a non-removable object within the predetermined radius of the center point of the landing zone, transmitting instructions to the first device to obtain a new landing zone.

An apparatus is for use with an aircraft radar system having a radar antenna. The apparatus comprises processing electronics are configured to receive radar data associated with the radar antenna of the system. The processing electronics are also configured to detect periodic data associated with runway lights in the radar data.

An automatic landing system contains a control device for providing positional data for controlling an aircraft, a first position or range measuring device for detecting first positional data of the aircraft, a second position or range measuring device for detecting second positional data of the aircraft, and a sensor device for detecting sensor data from which a direction in which a landmark is located and/or a distance of the landmark to the aircraft can be determined. The control device may be configured to generate, based on the first positional data, a first hypothesis for the direction and distance of the landmark and, based on the second positional data, a second hypothesis for the direction and distance of the landmark. Moreover, the control device may be configure to confirm or discard the first hypothesis and the second hypothesis, respectively, using the sensor data detected by the sensor device.

Disclosed are methods, systems, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for landing a vehicle. For instance, the method may include: before a descent transition point, receiving from a service a landing zone confirmation including landing zone location information and an indication that a landing zone is clear; determining a landing flight path based on the landing zone location information; and upon the vehicle starting a descent to the landing zone using the landing flight path: receiving landing zone data from at least one of a radar system, a camera system, an altitude and heading reference system (AHRS), and a GPS system; performing an analysis based on the landing zone data to determine whether an unsafe condition exists; and based on the analysis, computing flight controls for the vehicle to continue the descent or modify the descent.

Systems and methods of precision landing in adverse conditions are provided. In one embodiment, a precision landing system comprises a vehicle including: a receiver configured to receive position information for structures and a landing zone of a landing site and a processor coupled to a memory, the memory includes three-dimensional geometric structural information for a landing site. The processor configured to: receive the position information from the receiver; assign geographical coordinates to the three-dimensional geometric structural information using the position information for the structures and the landing zone of the landing site; send the three-dimensional geometric structural information and graphical rendering information to a display device. The vehicle further includes a display device, wherein the display device is configured to render and display a three-dimensional representation of the landing site in real-time based on the three-dimension geometric structural information and the graphical rendering information from the processor.

A device for checking the consistency of a positioning includes: a transmitter, a receiver, a time measuring unit, a distance determining module and a check module. The transmitter emits at least one signal, and the receiver receives at least four response signals from at least four different response elements. A response element receives the at least one signal and, upon receipt, emits a response signal. The time measuring unit determines, for each response signal, a total delay time from a transmission time of the signal and a reception time of the respective signal. The distance determination module determines a distance to the respective response element based on each total delay time, and the check module performs a consistency check of a determination of a position based on distances to the different response elements. With the device, erroneous distance values may be detected in ground-based positioning systems.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for sending a flight plan for execution by a drone, where the flight plan is adapted to a flight controller of the drone. Receiving flight data from the drone while the drone is executing the flight plan. Determining a modification to the flight plan based on the flight data received from the drone. Sending the modification to the flight plan to the drone while the drone is executing the flight plan, such that the drone executes the flight plan as modified by the modification.

A method for controlling an aircraft includes storing data aboard the aircraft. The data include the relative positions of radar targets disposed within a region adjacent to the runway. The region is scanned with a radar aboard the aircraft to obtain data corresponding to the relative positions of radar reflections from the region, including reflections from the radar targets. The data corresponding to the radar targets is distinguished from the data corresponding to the radar reflections from the region using correlation techniques. The position and attitude of the aircraft relative to the runway is then assessed using the stored data and the data corresponding to the radar targets. The position and attitude of the aircraft relative to the runway is also evaluated using an independent navigation system. The difference between the assessed position and attitude and the evaluated position and attitude is then used to control the aircraft.

A computer implemented method for determining an angle of a detection comprises the following steps carried out by computer hardware components: acquiring a range rate of the detection; determining a pair of candidate angles of the detection based on the range rate; acquiring a beamvector of the detection; determining a correlation between the beamvector and a reference vector; and determining the angle of the detection based on the pair of candidate angles and based on the correlation.

An active antenna radar able to produce an image with high angular resolution over a wide angular coverage, the antenna includes a number N of transmission channels and a number M of reception channels, each transmission channel and reception channel comprising an elementary antenna: each elementary antenna comprises a lens or a reflector associated with an array of elementary sources, the sources being configured to illuminate the lens or the reflector and at least the apertures being substantially arranged in the focal plane of the lens or centred around the focal point of the reflector; each elementary transmission or reception source being able to form or receive, respectively, a beam focused in a given direction, the directions being different from one transmission or reception source to another of one and the same elementary antenna; each elementary transmission or reception source being connected to a power amplifier or to a low-noise amplifier, respectively, and to switching means allowing the source to be supplied or not to be supplied with power or the signals from the source to be received or not to be received, respectively.