Weather radar enabled offshore operation system and method
US10353068B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 28, 2016 |
| Grant date | Jul 16, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 6, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02A90/10
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A weather radar system can be used as an airborne sensor for providing an image on an electronic display during low visibility offshore IFR operations (e.g. for a helicopter approach to an offshore platform, such as, a petroleum rig or other structure). The weather radar sensed image is representative of the external surroundings of the maritime environment associated with radar returns received by the weather radar system. Beam sharpening technology produces higher angular resolution of the sensed objects in the radar image which reduces the interpreted azimuth errors from the sensed radar image. Accordingly, beam sharpening technology advantageously allows object isolation of closely clustered offshore platforms and nearby objects. With operational credit provided to these capabilities, the minimal distance for obtaining visual reference with the target platform could be reduced, increasing the success rate of completing offshore operations in low visibility IFR conditions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.