Patent ID: 8364330
Filing Date: 2013-01-29
Classification: G01C,G05D,G08G

Abstract:
1. A method of assisting the piloting of an aircraft at low altitude over terrain, in which method via a machine, during a first stage, a framework is constructed from at least one main segment of given corridor width that extends in a horizontal projection over a model of said terrain between successive first and second waypoints determined by an operator, and then during a second stage, a setpoint flight path is constructed with the help of said framework, wherein during the first stage, said main segment is automatically subdivided into a plurality of secondary segments of given corridor width so that the framework follows said terrain as closely as possible, said secondary segments going from a first secondary segment starting from said first waypoint to a last secondary segment terminating at the second waypoint, each secondary segment being arranged at a setpoint height above the highest point of the terrain that it overlies, said setpoint height is identical for all of the secondary segments of a main segment, with any two adjacent secondary segments that are not in alignment being connected together by a vertical bar in a vertical section of said terrain and containing said main segment, wherein for a setpoint secondary length to be reached by the secondary segments that has been determined, and for Euclidean division of a main length of the main segment by the setpoint secondary length giving a quotient and a remainder: if said remainder is zero, then during the first stage, the main segment is subdivided into a number of secondary segments all having a real secondary length equal to said setpoint secondary length, the number of secondary segments being equal to the quotient; and if said remainder is not equal to zero, then during the first stage, the main segment is subdivided firstly into a number of secondary segments all having the setpoint secondary length, that number being equal to said quotient minus one, and secondly into a lengthened secondary segment having a lengthened secondary length equal to the sum of the setpoint secondary length plus the remainder, said lengthened secondary segment being the first secondary segment of the main segment.