JP7395293B2 - Secondary monitoring radar system - Google Patents

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to secondary surveillance radar systems.

SSR (Secondary Surveillance RADAR) is a device that acquires identification information, altitude information, and location information of aircraft, and has an important position in air traffic control systems. In recent years, the use of DAPs (Downlink Aircraft Parameters) in air traffic control is expected to improve the safety and efficiency of air traffic control. DAPs are on-aircraft dynamic information obtained on the ground using the downlink function of SSR. Status information such as aircraft airspeed and ground speed, and intent information such as selected altitude are the main information contained in DAPs.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-211517

SSR uses the same frequencies (uplink: 1030MHz/downlink: 1090MHz) on aircraft around the world. For this reason, there is concern that as the number of questions increases due to DAPs, congestion may occur and the radio wave environment may deteriorate. For this reason, if the monitoring coverage areas of multiple SSRs overlap, it is desirable to minimize the number of DAPs inquiries by entrusting DAPs inquiries to one of the SSRs.

However, if the SSR entrusted with the DAPs inquiry fails due to a failure or the like, the DAPs information cannot be obtained. This becomes a big problem when it comes to important information such as RA (Resolution Advisory) information.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a secondary monitoring radar system that can prevent information loss.

According to an embodiment, a secondary surveillance radar system includes a plurality of secondary surveillance radar devices having overlapping coverage areas and a communication medium forming a communication link between the plurality of secondary surveillance radar devices. The plurality of secondary monitoring radar devices each include an acquisition section and a question management section. The acquisition unit receives dynamic information related to the aircraft to be monitored from an adjacent secondary monitoring radar device. When the question management section cannot receive the dynamic information, the question management section transmits an interrogation signal to the coverage area under its control and acquires the dynamic information.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an outline of a secondary surveillance radar system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a secondary monitoring radar device according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a secondary monitoring radar device according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is a time chart showing an example of acquisition of DAPs information by the question management unit 40.

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an outline of a secondary surveillance radar system according to an embodiment. In FIG. 1, it is assumed that three secondary surveillance radar devices (SSR1, SSR2, and SSR3) each having a circular coverage area are in operation, and the coverage areas partially overlap.

The coverage area of SSR1 and the coverage area of SSR2 overlap like a petal (dotted chain line). It is not reasonable to separately monitor this area from both SSR1 and SSR2. Therefore, the interrogation signal is minimized by entrusting monitoring only to SSR1 and notifying the obtained DAPs information from SSR1 to SSR2.

Similarly, in the relationship between SSR2 and SSR3, SSR2 acquires DAPs information in the overlapping portion of the triangular coverage area (double-dashed line) and notifies it to SSR3. In the relationship between SSR1 and SSR3, SSR1 acquires DAPs information in the overlapping area of their coverage areas and notifies it to SSR3.

The above is operation under normal conditions. For example, suppose that a failure occurs in SSR1 in this state. Then, SSR2 detects this and switches the monitoring area entrusted to SSR1 to its own control (dotted chain line). Then, the SSR2 transmits an interrogation signal to the expanded area and acquires DAPs information.

Furthermore, SSR2 notifies SSR3 of the DAPs information that it has acquired. As a result, SSR3 is in a position to acquire the DAPs information that was acquired from SSR1 from SSR2. Of course, in this state, SSR3 knows that a failure has occurred in SSR1. Therefore, like SSR2, it expands its own monitoring area (dotted line in the figure) to avoid missing out on DAPs information.

2 and 3 are functional block diagrams showing an example of a secondary monitoring radar device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 shows functions related to distribution of DAPs information. FIG. 3 shows functions related to receiving DAPs information. Here, seven secondary monitoring radar devices SSR1 to SSR7 are assumed, and SSR1 will be explained as an example.

In FIG. 2, the secondary monitoring radar device 100 as the SSR 1 includes an adjacent SSR boundary management processing section 10 and a DAPs information generation section 20.
The adjacent SSR boundary management processing unit 10 stores information (latitude, longitude, altitude, etc.) on the boundary area of adjacent SSRs (adjacent SSRs) in a memory (not shown) or the like as internal data. In the embodiment, it is assumed that SSR2 to SSR7 are adjacent SSRs to SSR1.

Further, the adjacent SSR boundary management processing unit 10 predicts the future position (predicted position) of the aircraft to be monitored, based on information (tracking information) obtained by tracking the aircraft. Further, the adjacent SSR boundary management processing unit 10 determines whether the predicted position falls within the monitoring coverage area of the adjacent SSR based on the information on the boundary area.

When the adjacent SSR boundary management processing unit 10 determines that the predicted position of the aircraft falls within the monitoring coverage area of any adjacent SSR, the adjacent SSR boundary management processing unit 10 generates DAPs information addressed to the adjacent SSR and DAPs information connected to the adjacent SSR. Hand it over to Department 20.

The DAPs information generation unit 20 is connected to each adjacent SSR via a communication medium. The communication medium may be the same as the target report or a different communication line. For example, it may be a public line, a satellite line, an IP (Internet Protocol) network, or a wireless communication channel via a wireless LAN master station.

The DAPs information generation unit 20 generates DAPs supplementary information (aircraft identification code, latitude/longitude/altitude, heading, ground speed, etc.) to be transmitted to the adjacent SSR based on the information passed from the adjacent SSR boundary management processing unit 10. generate.

In FIG. 3, the secondary monitoring radar device 100 as the SSR 1 includes a DAPs information reception section 30 and a question management section 40. The DAPs information reception unit 30 is connected to a communication medium leading to each adjacent SSR. The DAPs information reception unit 30 receives DAPs supplementary information from each adjacent secondary monitoring radar device and passes it to the question management unit 40 . This DAPs supplementary information is information (movement information) indicating that the aircraft to be monitored is moving to SSR1. Note that even in a state where the DAPs supplementary information is not received, the question management unit 40 is notified that the DAPs supplementary information has not been received.

If the interrogation management section 40 has not received the DAPs supplementary information, it transmits an interrogation signal (roll call) to aircraft within the airspace under its control.

FIG. 4 is a time chart showing an example of acquisition of DAPs information by the question management unit 40. In FIG. 4, the SSR 1 transmits an interrogation signal at a predefined interrogation period and acquires DAPs information from aircraft within its coverage area. The acquired DAPs information is transmitted via a communication medium to the SSR2 with overlapping coverage areas.

Assume that a failure occurs in the SSR 1 from this state and it becomes impossible to obtain DAPs information. Then, the interrogation management unit 40 of the SSR2 immediately detects that the DAPs information that is supposed to be notified is not received, determines that the DAPs information cannot be acquired from the SSR1, and starts transmitting the interrogation signal itself. From now on, the DAPs information will be acquired by the SSR 2 itself by the SSR 2 proactively transmitting an interrogation signal.

As explained above, in this embodiment, a communication link using a communication medium is formed between adjacent secondary surveillance radars, and the DAPs information acquired by one is transmitted to the other secondary surveillance radars with overlapping coverage areas. By passing the signal, it is possible to minimize interrogation signals within the coverage area and maintain a good radio wave environment. In addition, if DAPs information that should normally be received cannot be received due to a failure that occurs in one of the secondary monitoring radars, the interrogation management section 40 immediately detects this and transmits an interrogation signal by itself, allowing the DAPs to Try to minimize missing information.

By doing so, information can be exchanged one-on-one between adjacent SSRs without going through a central device such as a dedicated server. In other words, by operating multiple secondary surveillance radar systems (SSR) in cooperation with each other, there is no need to place an overall control device in the center of the radar system, and there is no need to place an overall control device in the center of the radar system. Aircraft location information can be continuously monitored.

For these reasons, it is possible to provide a secondary monitoring radar system that can prevent information loss.
Although an embodiment has been described, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. This novel embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. This embodiment and its modifications are included within the scope and gist of the invention, as well as within the scope of the invention described in the claims and its equivalents.

10...Adjacent SSR boundary management processing unit, 20...DAPs information generation unit, 30...DAPs information reception unit, 40...Question management unit, 100...Secondary monitoring radar device.

Claims (2)

first and second secondary surveillance radar devices whose coverage areas overlap with each other;
a communication medium forming a communication link between the first and second secondary surveillance radar devices;
The first secondary monitoring radar device includes:
comprising a DAPs information generation unit that generates DAPs (Downlink Aircraft Parameters) information related to aircraft in the overlapping coverage area and passes the DAPs information to the second secondary surveillance radar device via the communication medium ,
The second secondary monitoring radar device includes:
an acquisition unit that entrusts the monitoring of aircraft in the overlapping coverage areas to the first secondary surveillance radar device and receives the DAPs information from the first secondary surveillance radar device via the communication medium;
A secondary monitoring radar system comprising: an interrogation management unit that transmits an interrogation signal to a coverage area under its own control to acquire the DAPs information when the DAPs information cannot be received. The first secondary monitoring radar device includes:
It further includes a boundary management unit that manages boundary information of coverage area of adjacent secondary surveillance radar equipment,
The DAPs information generation unit is
2. The DAPs information acquired by transmitting an interrogation signal to the coverage area under its control is transmitted to the second secondary surveillance radar device based on the managed boundary information. Secondary surveillance radar system.