System and method for in-place, automated detection of radome condition

摘要

A system for performing automated in-place measurement of reflectivity of a radome of an airplane. Includes a radar drive circuit that generates radar signals at a predetermined frequency. An antenna receives the generated radar signals from the radar drive circuit, and transmits radar waves at the predetermined frequency. The antenna receives radar return waves from the radome. The antenna is mountable on a scanning apparatus that scans a substantial area of the radome. A signal processor processes the radar return waves from the radome that are received by the antenna. The signal processor determines whether magnitude of the radar return waves from the radome exceeds a predetermined level for a given position on the radome. When the magnitude of the radar return waves exceeds the predetermined level, a degraded condition of the radome is indicated and an alert signal is generated and provided to an operator.