A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to generate a model of one or more objects relative to a vehicle. In the context of a method, radar information is received in the form of in-phase quadrature (IQ) data and the IQ data is converted to one or more first range-doppler maps. The method further includes evaluating the one or more first range-doppler maps with a machine learning model to generate the model that captures the detection of the one or more objects relative to the vehicle. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also provided.

A system and method are disclosed for design of a suite of multispectral (MS) sensors and processing of enhanced data streams produced by the sensors for autonomous aircraft flight. The onboard suite of MS sensors is specifically configured to sense and use a MS variety of sensor-tuned objects, either strategically placed objects and/or surveyed and sensor significant existing objects to determine a position and verify position accuracy. The received MS sensor data enables an autonomous aircraft object identification and positioning system to correlate MS sensor data output with a-priori information stored onboard to determine and verify position and trajectory of the autonomous aircraft. Once position and trajectory are known, the object identification and positioning system commands the autonomous aircraft flight management system and autopilot control of the autonomous aircraft.

A system and method are disclosed for design of a suite of multispectral (MS) sensors and processing of enhanced data streams produced by the sensors for autonomous aircraft flight. The onboard suite of MS sensors is specifically configured to sense and use a MS variety of sensor-tuned objects, either strategically placed objects and/or surveyed and sensor significant existing objects to determine a position and verify position accuracy. The received MS sensor data enables an autonomous aircraft object identification and positioning system to correlate MS sensor data output with a-priori information stored onboard to determine and verify position and trajectory of the autonomous aircraft. Once position and trajectory are known, the object identification and positioning system commands the autonomous aircraft flight management system and autopilot control of the autonomous aircraft.

A radar apparatus with a transmission antenna array that outputs a high aspect ratio frequency modulation continuous wave (FMCW) transmission beam that illuminates a large field of regard in elevation and may be both electronically and mechanically scanned in azimuth. The weather radar apparatus includes a receive array and receive electronics that may receive the reflected return radar signals and digitally form a plurality of receive beams that may be used to determine characteristics of the area in the field of regard. The receive beams may be used to determine reflectivity of weather systems and provide a coherent weather picture. The weather radar apparatus may simultaneously process the receive signals into monopulse beams that may be used for accurate navigation as well as collision avoidance.

A radar apparatus with a transmission antenna array that outputs a high aspect ratio frequency modulation continuous wave (FMCW) transmission beam that illuminates a large field of regard in elevation and may be both electronically and mechanically scanned in azimuth. The weather radar apparatus includes a receive array and receive electronics that may receive the reflected return radar signals and digitally form a plurality of receive beams that may be used to determine characteristics of the area in the field of regard. The receive beams may be used to determine reflectivity of weather systems and provide a coherent weather picture. The weather radar apparatus may simultaneously process the receive signals into monopulse beams that may be used for accurate navigation as well as collision avoidance.

An aircraft receives pseudorange input from a plurality of satellites of an augmentation system. Each pseudorange input includes a precise position solution and error data. The aircraft receives a high frequency measurement from an inertial navigation system. The aircraft applies the precise position solution, error data, and high frequency measurement to a set of parallel Schmidt extended Kalman filters to produce a corrected position solution and integrity data. The aircraft applies the integrity data to a receiver autonomous integrity monitoring system to produce a protection level for the corrected position solution. The aircraft performs an aircraft operation using the corrected position solution and protection level.

An aircraft receives pseudorange input from a plurality of satellites of an augmentation system. Each pseudorange input includes a precise position solution and error data. The aircraft receives a high frequency measurement from an inertial navigation system. The aircraft applies the precise position solution, error data, and high frequency measurement to a set of parallel Schmidt extended Kalman filters to produce a corrected position solution and integrity data. The aircraft applies the integrity data to a receiver autonomous integrity monitoring system to produce a protection level for the corrected position solution. The aircraft performs an aircraft operation using the corrected position solution and protection level.

There is provided a method for aerial analysis of a ground surface. The disclosed method includes: controlling a distance sensor of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to be successively oriented in a plurality of sensing directions towards the ground surface; and analyzing the ground surface based on distance measurement data indicative of distances measured by the distance sensor in the plurality of sensing directions, the plurality of sensing directions corresponding to respective points defining a planar trajectory, the planar trajectory including a plurality of loops winding an identical inner point.

There is provided a method for aerial analysis of a ground surface. The disclosed method includes: controlling a distance sensor of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to be successively oriented in a plurality of sensing directions towards the ground surface; and analyzing the ground surface based on distance measurement data indicative of distances measured by the distance sensor in the plurality of sensing directions, the plurality of sensing directions corresponding to respective points defining a planar trajectory, the planar trajectory including a plurality of loops winding an identical inner point.

A method and a system for landing and terrain flight assistance are provided herein. The method may include the following steps: obtaining, by at least one imaging sensor disposed on an aerial platform, at least two images of at least a portion of a specified region of a terrain; determining, based on the at least two images, a 3D model of at least a portion of the specified region; receiving a predetermined model of at least a portion of the specified region; determining a real-world geographic location of the aerial platform based on the 3D model and the predetermined model; and determining flight instructions based on the 3D model and the determined geographic location of the aerial platform.