Aircraft location system for locating aircraft in water environments

摘要

A method and apparatus for an aircraft location system comprising an aircraft structure and a number of acoustic reflectors associated with the aircraft structure. The number of acoustic reflectors is configured to generate first sound signals in response to receiving second sound signals.

主权项

1. An aircraft location system comprising:
an aircraft structure; a number of acoustic reflectors associated with the aircraft structure, wherein the number of acoustic reflectors is configured to generate first sound signals in response to receiving second sound signals; a signal generation system activated by a particular acoustic reflector in the number of acoustic reflectors and generating signals, the number of acoustic reflectors being a passive signal generator and the signal generation system being an active signal generator, the signal generation system comprising:
a radio frequency signal generator configured to generate a radio frequency signal when activated;a detector configured to detect the first sound signals from the number of acoustic reflectors;a controller connected to the radio frequency signal generator and the detector, the controller activating the radio frequency signal generator when the detector detects the first sound signals; a survivability system associated with the aircraft structure, the number of acoustic reflectors, and the signal generation system, the survivability system configured to lessen a force impacting the number of acoustic reflectors and the signal generation system, wherein the aircraft structure has a cavity in which an acoustic reflector in the number of acoustic reflectors and the signal generation system are located, and wherein the survivability system comprises a foam positioned in the cavity and configured to substantially surround the acoustic reflector and the signal generation system; and a moveable structure allowing the number of acoustic reflectors and the signal generation system to move out of the aircraft structure, wherein the cavity and moveable structure are configured such that the acoustic reflector operates after experiencing an encounter of an aircraft with a water environment and the number of acoustic reflectors and the radio frequency signal generator operate under water.