Distributed laser obstacle awareness system

摘要

A distributed laser based obstacle awareness system for use on-board an aircraft comprises: a plurality of obstacle detecting sensors disposable at a corresponding plurality of locations of the aircraft for emitting laser energy from the aircraft into a predetermined region of space and for receiving return laser energy from an obstacle in the predetermined region of space; a laser source for emitting a laser beam along an optical path; and a plurality of bistatic optical channels. Each channel comprises a plurality of transmission fiber optic cables and at least one receiver fiber optic cable and extends from the laser source to a corresponding obstacle detecting sensor of the plurality to direct the laser beam from the optical path to its corresponding obstacle detecting sensor of the plurality for emission into the corresponding predetermined region of space; and a light detector. Return laser energy from an obstacle received by any one of the obstacle detecting sensors is propagated through the receiver fiber optic cable of the corresponding optical channel to the light detector for use in detection of the obstacle in the corresponding predetermined region of space. In one embodiment, an optical switch is disposed in the optical path to redirect the laser beam in a time sequence manner from the optical path to selected optical channels of the plurality. <IMAGE>A distributed laser based obstacle awareness system for use on-board an aircraft comprises: a plurality of obstacle detecting sensors disposable at a corresponding plurality of locations of the aircraft for emitting laser energy from the aircraft into a predetermined region of space and for receiving return laser energy from an obstacle in the predetermined region of space; a laser source for emitting a laser beam along an optical path; and a plurality of bistatic optical channels. Each channel comprises a plurality of transmission fiber optic cables and at least one receiver fiber optic cable and extends from the laser source to a corresponding obstacle detecting sensor of the plurality to direct the laser beam from the optical path to its corresponding obstacle detecting sensor of the plurality for emission into the corresponding predetermined region of space; and a light detector. Return laser energy from an obstacle received by any one of the obstacle detecting sensors is propagated through the receiver fiber optic cable of the corresponding optical channel to the light detector for use in detection of the obstacle in the corresponding predetermined region of space. In one embodiment, an optical switch is disposed in the optical path to redirect the laser beam in a time sequence manner from the optical path to selected optical channels of the plurality. <IMAGE>