FR3073967A1 - WARNING SYSTEM FOR PRESENCE OF NON-IDENTIFIED FLYING VEHICLES - Google Patents

Abstract

A system (130) for warning the presence of unidentified flying vehicles (120) is installed on the ground, preferably near an airport (110). The system (130) detects and locates flying vehicles (100, 120) that would be in a given coverage area. The system (130) collects information from aircraft transponders (100) that would be in that coverage area. The system (130) filters to remove aircraft (100), whose transponder information has been collected, from all detected and localized flying vehicles (100, 120). The system (130) broadcasts a transponder signal emulation (150) for each flying vehicle (120) remaining after filtering. As part of the collection, the system (130) excludes each transponder whose signal is emulated. Thus, aircraft pilots (100) are easily informed of the presence of unidentified flying vehicles (120), such as drones.

Description

VEHICLE PRESENCE WARNING SYSTEM

UNIDENTIFIED STEERING WHEELS

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to a system and method for warning of the presence of unidentified flying vehicles. The device is intended to be installed on the ground, more particularly around an airport, and to warn aircraft in the vicinity of the airport of the presence of flying objects without a transponder, such as drones.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

Traffic alert and collision avoidance systems TCAS ("Traffic Collision Avoidance System" in English), also referenced under the acronym ACAS ("Airbome alert and Collision Avoidance System" in English) are on-board instruments intended to avoid mid-air collisions between aircraft. These TCAS traffic alert and collision avoidance systems are based on a collaborative approach, in that they require the use of transponders. As part of this collaborative approach, each aircraft is equipped with a transponder which emits signals making it possible to locate said aircraft. Certain TCAS traffic alert and collision avoidance systems implement alarms and indications of avoidance maneuvers in the vertical and / or horizontal plane.

Other, more precise collision avoidance and warning systems can be used, such as the ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) collision avoidance systems. In this case, the aircraft determines its position by a satellite positioning system and periodically broadcasts, by transponder, its position thus determined to inform the other aircraft.

However, such collision avoidance and alert systems cannot detect the presence of flying objects that are not equipped with transponders (or whose transponders are inactive). This is particularly the case of drones, which have been widely developed in recent years in the world of model aircraft.

There are solutions to detect the presence of such drones in the vicinity of airports, and to locate them. These solutions are based on the use of radars, lidars, video image analysis, acoustic capture analysis, etc. When an airport is equipped with such a solution and the presence of a drone is detected around the airport, an alert message is transmitted to air traffic control, which then takes care of notifying aircraft pilots in the surrounding area.

It is desirable to provide a solution which facilitates and makes reliable the transmission to aircraft pilots in the vicinity of airports of information of the presence of such drones (or more generally of unidentified flying vehicles) in the vicinity of said airports. . It is also desirable to provide such a solution which is simple to implement and low cost, and more particularly which is easily integrated into the systems already in place in the aeronautical world.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a warning system for the presence of unidentified flying vehicles intended to be installed on the ground, the system comprising means for detecting and locating flying vehicles which are in a coverage area of said system. . The system is such that it further comprises: means for collecting information delivered by aircraft transponders which are in the coverage area of said system; means for filtering, so as to remove the aircraft, whose transponder information has been collected, from all of the detected and located flying vehicles; and means for broadcasting a transponder signal emulation for each flying vehicle detected in the coverage area of said system and remaining after the filtering. In addition, within the framework of said collection, said system excludes each transponder whose signal is emulated by said system.

This facilitates the transmission to pilots of aircraft of information indicating the presence of unidentified flying vehicles. In addition, the present invention is simple to implement and low cost, and can be easily integrated into transponder-based systems already in place in the aeronautical world and more particularly in the field of ATM air traffic management ( "Air Traffic Management" in Anglo-Saxon language). Aircraft, without the need to modify their equipment, and their pilots, benefit from an additional source of information on the activity of vehicles operating in their environment.

According to a particular embodiment, the emulated transponder signal is of the ADS-B type.

According to a particular embodiment, the emulated transponder signal includes an identifier specific to unidentified flying vehicles.

According to a particular embodiment, the system further comprises a directional antenna for broadcasting the emulated transponder signal in the axis of approach or take-off paths from an airport where said system is installed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for warning of the presence of unidentified flying vehicles, the method being implemented by a system for warning of the presence of unidentified flying vehicles installed on the ground, the method comprising: detect and locate flying vehicles which are in a coverage area of said system. In addition, the method is such that it includes: collecting information delivered by aircraft transponders which are in the coverage area of said system; perform a filtering, so as to remove the aircraft, whose transponder information has been collected, from all of the flying vehicles detected and located; and broadcasting a transponder signal emulation for each flying vehicle detected in the coverage area of said system and remaining after filtering. In addition, within the framework of said collection, said system excludes each transponder whose signal is emulated by said system.

According to a particular embodiment, the method is such that said system is installed in an airport.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a computer program product, which can be stored on a medium and / or downloaded from a communication network, in order to be read by a processor of the system mentioned above. This computer program includes instructions for implementing the above-mentioned method, when said program is executed by the processor. Another object of the present invention is to provide an information storage medium on which such a computer program is stored.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will appear more clearly on reading the following description of at least one exemplary embodiment, said description being made in relation to the attached drawings, among which:

- Fig. 1 schematically illustrates an environment for using a warning system for the presence of unidentified flying vehicles near an airport;

-Fig. 2 schematically illustrates an example of a hardware architecture of the warning system for the presence of unidentified flying vehicles; and

- Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a flow diagram of an algorithm implemented by the warning system for the presence of unidentified flying vehicles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates an environment for using a warning system 130 for the presence of unidentified flying vehicles, in particular of the UAV ("Lhimanned Aerial Vehicles") type also known as drones.

The system 130 is preferably installed in an airport 110. The system 130 is configured to detect the presence of unidentified flying vehicles 120 around the airport 110 and to obtain location information for such unidentified flying vehicles 120 in a coverage area of said system 130.

The system 130 thus detects the presence and location of flying vehicles, whether or not equipped with transponders, by using a radar, or by using a lidar, or by analysis of video images, or by analysis of acoustic captures, etc. For example, the system 130 detects the presence and location of these flying vehicles by broadcasting radar signals 140. The system 130 is further configured to exclude, among the flying vehicles detected, those which are equipped with active transponders. The system 130 is thus configured to retain, among the detected flying vehicles, only those which are not equipped with active transponders.

The system 130 is further configured to emulate a transponder signal 150 for each unidentified flying vehicle 120 detected, so that each aircraft 100 in the vicinity of the airport 110 (within range of the signal 150) is automatically notified of the presence of said unidentified flying vehicle 120 detected, in the same way as if this vehicle had itself emitted this signal. Thus, the aircraft 100 benefits from an additional source of information without the need to modify the aircraft 100.

In a particular embodiment, the signal 150 is of the ADS-B type. Thus, the system 130 is compatible with the anti-collision systems which are currently the most precise.

In a particular embodiment, the system 130 includes a directional antenna for broadcasting the signal 150 along the axis of approach or take-off paths from the airport 110. Thus, the transmission energy of the system 130 is concentrated on areas with the highest risk of collision around the airport 110.

In a particular embodiment, the system 130 includes in the signal 150 an identifier specific to unidentified flying vehicles. Thus, unidentified flying vehicles are easily distinguished from other flying vehicles by aircraft pilots.

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates an example of the hardware architecture of the system 130.

The system 130 comprises, connected by a communication bus 200: a processor CPU ("Central Processing Unit" in Anglo-Saxon language) 210; a random access memory RAM (“Random Access Memory” in Anglo-Saxon language) 220; a read-only memory ROM (“Read Only Memory” in Anglo-Saxon language) 230; a storage unit 240, such as an HDD ("Hard Disk Drive" in English), or a storage medium reader, such as an SD ("Secure Digital") card reader in English ); a device 250 for detecting the presence of flying vehicles, regardless of whether or not said flying vehicles use transponders; a device 260 for collecting transponder information; and a device 270 for transmitting transponder signals.

The processor CPU 210 is capable of executing instructions loaded into the RAM memory 220 from the ROM memory 230, or from an external memory, or from a storage medium (such as an SD card), or from 'a communication network. When the system 130 is powered up, the processor CPU 210 is capable of reading instructions from the RAM memory 220 and executing them. These instructions form a computer program causing the implementation, by the processor CPU 210, of all or part of the algorithm and of the steps described below in relation to FIG. 3.

All or part of the algorithm and steps described below in relation to FIG. 3 can thus be implemented in software form by execution of a set of instructions by a programmable machine, for example a DSP ("Digital Signal

Processor "in Anglo-Saxon language) or a microcontroller, or be implemented in hardware form by a machine or a dedicated component, for example a component FPGA (" Field-Programmable Gâte Array "in Anglo-Saxon language) or ASIC (" Application -Specific Integrated Circuit "in Anglo-Saxon language). In general, the system 130 includes electronic circuitry adapted to implement, in software and / or hardware form, the algorithm and the steps described below in relation to FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a flow diagram of an algorithm implemented by the system 130.

In a step 301, the system 130 performs surveillance, on the ground, of the presence of flying vehicles near the airport 110. In the context of this monitoring, the system 130 detects flying vehicles near the airport 110, regardless of whether or not said flying vehicles are equipped with transponders. The system 130 obtains location information for each flying vehicle thus detected in the coverage area of said system 130, for example by means of radar signals 140.

In a step 302, the system 130 collects information delivered by aircraft transponders 100 located in the vicinity of the airport 110 and more particularly in the coverage area of said system 130. Either the system 130 includes a receiver configured to receive this information directly from said transponders (reception of signals from said transponders), or the system 130 includes a receiver configured to receive this information via control tower equipment which receives it directly from said transponders (and thus plays a relay role for said system 130).

In a step 303, the system 130 performs a filtering so as to remove the aircraft, whose transponder information was collected in step 302, from all the flying vehicles detected and located in the coverage area of said system 130 The system 130 then retains, among the flying vehicles detected in step 301, only those which are not equipped with active transponders (if such flying vehicles are actually present in the coverage area of said system 130).

In a step 304, the system 130 checks whether, following the filtering carried out in step 303, there is at least one flying vehicle without transponder in the coverage area of said system 130 (flying vehicle (s) remaining after filtering). If this is the case, a step 305 is carried out; otherwise, step 301 is repeated.

In step 305, the system 130 broadcasts a transponder signal emulation for each vehicle flying without a transponder in the vicinity of the airport 110. The emulated transponder signal includes location information of the vehicle flying without the transponder in question, such as 'obtained in step 301. Integral behavior of 5 transponders can thus be emulated (depending on the accuracy of the information collected in step 301) in order to provide traffic alert and collision avoidance systems TCAS installed in aircraft 100 in the vicinity of airport 110, all relevant information.

Note that in step 302, the system 130 excludes from said collection the transponder signals 10 emulated by said system 130.

Claims (8)

1 / System (130) for warning of the presence of unidentified flying vehicles (120) intended to be installed on the ground, the system (130) comprising means for detecting and locating (301) flying vehicles (100, 120) which would be in a coverage area of said system (130), characterized in that the system (130) further comprises: - Means for carrying out (302) a collection of information delivered by aircraft transponders (100) which are in the coverage area of said system (130); - Means for performing (303) filtering, so as to remove the aircraft (100), whose transponder information has been collected, from all the flying vehicles (100, 120) detected and located; and - Means for broadcasting (305) a transponder signal emulation (150) for each detected flying vehicle (120) in the coverage area of said system (130) and remaining after filtering; and in that, within the framework of said collection, said system (130) excludes each transponder whose signal (150) is emulated (305) by said system (130). 2 / System according to claim 1, wherein the emulated transponder signal (150) is of ADS-B type. 3 / System according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the emulated transponder signal (150) includes an identifier specific to unidentified flying vehicles. 4 / System according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the system further comprising a directive antenna for broadcasting the emulated transponder signal (150) in the axis of approach or take-off paths from an airport (110 ) where said system (130) is installed. 5 / Method for warning of the presence of unidentified flying vehicles, the method being implemented by a system (130) for warning of the presence of unidentified flying vehicles (120) installed on the ground, the method comprising: - detecting and locating (301) flying vehicles (100, 120) which are in a coverage area of said system (130); characterized in that the method further comprises: - Performing (302) a collection of information delivered by aircraft transponders which are in the coverage area of said system (130); - perform (303) filtering, so as to remove the aircraft (100), whose transponder information has been collected, from all the flying vehicles (100, 120) detected and located; and - broadcasting (305) a transponder signal emulation (150) for each flying vehicle (120) detected in the coverage area of said system (130) and remaining after filtering; and in that, within the framework of said collection, said system (130) excludes each transponder whose signal (150) is emulated (305) by said system (130). 6 / A method according to claim 5, wherein said system (130) is installed in an airport (110). 7 / A computer program product comprising instructions causing the execution, by a system (130) of warning of the presence of unidentified flying vehicles (120) installed on the ground, of the method according to claim 5, when said instructions are executed by a processor (210) of said system (130). 8 / Information storage medium storing a computer program comprising instructions causing the execution, by a system (130) of warning of the presence of unidentified flying vehicles (120) installed on the ground, of the method according to the claim 5, when said instructions are executed by a processor (210) of said system (130). 1/2