Patent ID: 6388607
Filing Date: 2002-05-14
Classification: G01S,Y02A

Abstract:
A method of mapping terrain and displaying terrain information to a pilot of an aircraft comprising the steps of:sweeping an antenna, on said aircraft, to generate a first pencil beam radar beam at a predetermined first tilt angle which causes said first pencil beam radar beam to become involved with terrain targets and collecting and storing a first set of radar returns resulting from said first pencil beam radar beam; automatically changing a tilt angle of said antenna to a second tilt angle, without requiring a pilot to make a manual tilt angle adjustment; sweeping the antenna to generate a second pencil beam radar beam at said second tilt angle, which causes said second pencil beam radar beam to become involved with terrain targets and collecting and storing a second set of radar returns resulting from said second pencil beam radar beam; merging said first set of radar returns and said second set of radar returns and making a composite image, where the composite image has identifiable ground returns therein; and, displaying said composite image to a pilot.