Patent ID: 7761235
Filing Date: 2010-07-20
Classification: G05D

Abstract:
1. A device for determining at least one maximum lateral separation of a follower craft with respect to a lead craft, which device is mounted on said follower craft and comprises: a first unit configured to devise information relating to the trajectory of said lead craft; a second unit configured to allow an operator to input a duration of movement; a third unit configured to determine automatically, with the aid of said information relating to said trajectory and of said duration of movement, minimum turning radii, left and right, for a craft which follows said trajectory for said duration of movement; a fourth unit configured to devise performance information relating to said follower craft; a fifth unit configured to determine automatically, at least with the aid of said performance information, a maximum turning radius of the follower craft; and a sixth unit configured to deduce automatically, from said minimum turning radii and from said maximum turning radius, the maximum possible lateral separation of the follower craft with respect to the lead craft, on each side of the trajectory of the latter.