Various communication systems may benefit from suitable architectures. For example, L-band radio frequency (RF) architectures may be beneficial to systems including avionics systems. A system can include a mode-s function as well as a traffic alert and collision avoidance system function separate from the mode-s function. The system can further include a directional antenna in reception and transmission connection with the traffic alert and collision avoidance system function. The system can additionally include an omni-directional antenna in reception and transmission connection with the mode-s function.

Various communication systems may benefit from suitable use of redundancy. For example, surveillance systems in avionics applications may benefit from having functional redundancy. A system can include a collision avoidance or alerting system function in wired connection to a directional antenna. The system can also include a first mode-S transponder function in wired connection to the directional antenna. The system can further include a second mode-S transponder function in wired connection to the directional antenna, wherein the first mode-S transponder function is independent from the second mode-S transponder function.

An apparatus for detecting a traffic participant includes a first detection device for detecting the traffic participant in a first detection zone. The first detection device is configured to repeatedly detect the first detection zone and to detect an entering of a traffic participant in the first detection zone, and/or to detect the traffic participant in an angular section in an extended first detection zone beyond the first detection zone according to an instruction. The apparatus also includes a second detection device that detects the traffic participant in a second detection zone, and is adapted to provide data required for instruction about the traffic participant in response to the detection of the traffic participant and to forward it to the first detection device for instruction. This way, the traffic participant may be detected by the first detection device before entering the first detection zone.

A method and system for controlling message transmission power implemented by a system for preventing collisions of aircraft during flight, the prevention system comprising an anti-collision device and a transponder with which each plane is equipped. There is a step for measuring at least the quality value of a quantity representative of the quality at which radio-frequency signals carrying response messages transmitted by a transponder of an intruding aircraft are received, and a step for controlling the power of transmission of the radio-frequency signals carrying the response messages depending o the quality value or values measured in this way.

In some examples, a system is configured to mount on an ownship vehicle and includes a phased-array radar device configured to transmit radar signals and receive returned radar signals. In some examples, the system also includes a surveillance transponder configured to receive surveillance signals from another vehicle. In some examples, the system further includes processing circuitry configured to detect an object based on the returned radar signals and determine a position of the other vehicle and a velocity vector of the other vehicle based on the received surveillance signals. In some examples, the system includes common signal and data processing circuitry that processes both data from the phased-array radar device and data from the surveillance transponder.

A method of indicating whether a GPS signal received by a vehicle is accurate includes obtaining the GPS signal and calculating position information of the vehicle based on the GPS signal. The method further includes obtaining position information of another vehicle via a broadcast. The method further includes calculating a first distance information to the other vehicle based on the position information of the other vehicle and the position information of the vehicle. The method further includes obtaining a second distance information to the other vehicle via a collision avoidance system on the vehicle. The method further includes comparing the first distance information to the second distance information, and generating an indicator that the vehicle and the other vehicle may have received an inaccurate GPS signal when a result of the comparison is higher than a threshold.

An integrated, externally-mounted Automated Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) device comprising in one embodiment a 1030 MHz transmitter, a 1030 MHz antenna, a 1090 MHz receiver, a 1090 MHz antenna, a GNSS receiver, at least one GNSS antenna, a 978 MHz transmitter, and a 978 MHz antenna, wherein these components are integrated into a single enclosure, and wherein the GNSS antenna is placed at least partially into a projection extending out from the main enclosure body, such that the GNSS antenna has improved visibility to GNSS signals originating from altitudes above the current altitude of aircraft when the ADS-B device is mounted on the bottom of an aircraft.

The invention refers to a method and a base station for validating information regarding the position of a target-aircraft, the information contained in an ADS-B signal periodically broadcast by the target-aircraft, with the method being executed in the ADS-B base station.

Apparatus and methods to determine a change in atmospheric pressure between a forward portion of a flying object and a rear portion of the flying object based on at least one radio frequency (RF) return signal, and to determine a password using the determined change in atmospheric pressure.

Devices and systems are disclosed for a Traffic Collision Avoidance system (TCAS) antenna. In some examples, the TCAS antenna includes two antenna elements, a first plurality of bolt holes, a second plurality of bolt holes, and a third plurality of bolt holes. The first plurality of bolt holes in conjunction with the second plurality of bolt holes enables the TCAS antenna to be mounted to an aircraft in a first orientation. The third plurality of bolt holes in conjunction with the first plurality of bolt holes enable the TCAS antenna to be mounted to the aircraft in a second orientation, and the second orientation is different than the first orientation.