Patent ID: 9171473
Filing Date: 2015-10-27
Classification: G08G

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method for a continuous and automatic real-time search that identifies and proposes corrections to original weather avoidance routes for a plurality of in-flight en route aircraft that could save flying time while avoiding convective weather, the method comprising: receiving real-time updates of aircraft state data and atmospheric data relevant to the plurality of in-flight en route aircraft; the updates of aircraft state data including original weather avoidance routes, and surveillance tracking data; the updates of atmospheric data including wind data, real-time convective weather data, and convective weather forecast data; the real-time convective weather data originating from NexRad radars; computing 4-dimensional (4D) trajectory predictions for the plurality of in-flight en route aircraft based on the real-time updates of aircraft state data and atmospheric data; processing the aircraft state data, the atmospheric data, and associated trajectory predictions to define reference routes for the plurality of in-flight en route aircraft; each of the reference routes having a starting point at or near the in-flight en route aircraft's current position and an ending point at or near a downstream return capture waypoint on the associated original weather avoidance route, each of the reference routes eliminating one or more waypoints on the associated original weather avoidance route; testing the reference routes to identify preferred reference routes that produce a minimum flying time savings relative to the associated original weather avoidance routes; processing the preferred reference routes to search for convective weather conflicts along the preferred reference routes; defining route corrections to the associated original weather avoidance routes for the plurality of in-flight en route aircraft by either: (i) selecting the preferred reference routes as the route corrections to the associated original weather avoidance routes when the preferred reference routes are free of weather conflicts; or (ii) (a) automatically resolving weather conflicts in en route airspace along the preferred reference routes when the preferred reference routes are not free of weather conflicts to thereby create current weather-corrected routes, the weather conflicts being automatically resolved on a computer processor; proposing the route corrections to the associated original weather avoidance routes on a computer display; and repeating the above, continuously and automatically, for the plurality of in-flight en route aircraft as real-time updates of aircraft state data and atmospheric data relevant to the plurality of in-flight en route aircraft are received.