Patent ID: 6977608
Filing Date: 2005-12-20
Classification: G01C,G01P,G01W

Abstract:
1. An atmospheric data aggregation and forecasting system for providing improved atmospheric forecasts to a pilot of a member aircraft of an airborne network of member aircraft, said weather data aggregation and forecasting system, comprising: an airborne network system (ANS) positioned on the member aircraft adapted to receive incoming geo-referenced atmospheric data regarding atmospheric conditions from associated airborne network systems positioned on other member aircraft, said ANS also being adapted to re-transmit said incoming geo-referenced atmospheric data to airborne network systems positioned on other member aircraft; an air data system for sensing local pressure and temperature conditions for providing air data system output data; a navigation system for calculating geo-referenced aircraft position, said navigation system providing navigation system output data; an inertial data system (IDS) for sensing member aircraft attitude, angular rates and accelerations, said IDS providing inertial data system output data; a data processing system (DPS) coupled to said airborne network system, said air data system, said navigation system and said inertial data system, said DPS for generating the member aircraft's perspective of said atmospheric conditions, based on said incoming geo-referenced atmospheric data, said air data system output data, said navigation system output data, and said inertial data system output, an airborne display system (ADS) positioned on the member aircraft and coupled to said data processing system (DPS), said airborne display system being adapted to receive said crew directed DPS output atmospheric data and in response thereto display desired atmospheric forecast conditions; and, an airborne caution/advisory system (AC/AS) coupled to said DPS and being adapted to receive said crew directed DPS output atmospheric data and in response thereto alert the pilot(s) to forecasts of hazardous flight conditions in the vicinity of the member aircraft and/or its planned route.