Abstract:
A method for displaying a runway incursion for an aircraft includes electronically gathering traffic information data from a traffic information system, employing a runway incursion algorithm to the traffic information data to detect a collision hazard, automatically calculating incursion data, and displaying the incursion data. A runway incursion detection system has a display unit, a computer and a software product that enables methodology herein.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     As known to those skilled in the art, Runway Incursion Algorithms detect collision hazards while aircraft are on the ground. These Runway Incursion Algorithms generally operate using information from a Traffic Information System (“TIS”). A TIS supplies information regarding other aircraft in a vicinity, among other things, and is known in the art. Typically, when a Runway Incursion Algorithm detects a collision hazard, a pilot must quickly assess the hazard, select the target, turn on a velocity vector, and adjust the velocity vector using a rotary knob for the desired time. This procedure is neither an efficient use of time nor invulnerable to human error.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0002]     Systems and methods herein provide for the identification and display of a runway incursion for use in an aircraft. A method of one embodiment includes the steps of gathering traffic information data from a traffic information system (“TIS”), employing a runway incursion algorithm to the traffic information data to detect a collision hazard, automatically calculating incursion data, and displaying the incursion data. The method may heighten a pilot&#39;s awareness of a pending runway incursion while reducing the pilot&#39;s workload and opportunities for human error.  
         [0003]     In an embodiment, a runway incursion detection system for an aircraft is provided, including a display unit, a computer and a software product. The software product has instructions, stored on computer-readable media, wherein the instructions, when executed by the computer, perform steps for evaluating a runway incursion and displaying the runway incursion on the display unit. The instructions include instructions for gathering traffic information data from a traffic information system; instructions for employing a runway incursion algorithm to said traffic information data for detecting a collision hazard; instructions for automatically calculating incursion data, and instructions for displaying said incursion data on said display unit. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]      FIG. 1  illustrates one runway incursion detection system in accord with an embodiment.  
         [0005]      FIG. 2  shows a block diagram of the runway incursion detection system of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0006]      FIG. 3  shows a flow chart illustrating a process for displaying a runway incursion, according to an embodiment.  
         [0007]      FIG. 4  shows a block diagram of exemplary incursion data.  
         [0008]      FIG. 5  shows an exemplary display of runway incursion, according to an embodiment.  
         [0009]      FIG. 6  shows an exemplary display of runway incursion, according to an embodiment.  
         [0010]      FIG. 7  illustrates the display of  FIG. 6  with an animated aircraft trend vector and an animated collision hazard trend vector. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  shows an aircraft  2  on a runway  4 . A runway incursion detection system  100  aboard the aircraft  2  includes a display unit  110 , a computer  120 , and a software product  130 . In operation, runway incursion detection system  100  identifies and displays a collision hazard  6  (e.g., another aircraft), to reduce a pilot&#39;s workload and opportunities for human error.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  shows a block diagram  80  of runway incursion detection system  100  of  FIG. 1 ; and  FIG. 3  shows a flow chart illustrating a process for displaying a runway incursion.  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  are best viewed together in the following description. In particular,  FIG. 2  illustrates computer  120  executing software product  130 . Software product  130  has instructions stored on computer-readable media (e.g., software instructions in random access memory (RAM), program instructions on CD or DVD, or read-only memory (ROM), for example) that evaluate and display a runway incursion when executed by computer  120 . Steps taken by computer  120  in executing software product  130  are thus illustratively shown as process  90  in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0013]     At step S 1 , software product  130  gathers traffic information data  12  from a traffic information system (“TIS”)  10 , known in the art. Process  90  then continues to step S 2 .  
         [0014]     At step S 2 , software product  130  employs a runway incursion algorithm, also known in the art, to traffic information data  12  to detect a collision hazard (see, e.g., collision hazard  6  of  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 ). Process  90  then continues to step S 3 .  
         [0015]     At step S 3 , software product  130  automatically calculates incursion data  140 , illustratively shown in  FIG. 4 . Incursion data  140  includes an incursion point  141 , an incursion time  142 , an aircraft trend vector  144 , and a collision hazard trend vector  146 . Incursion point  141  is a predicted location of incursion  6 . Incursion time  142  is the amount of time until aircraft  2  reaches incursion point  141 . Aircraft trend vector data  144  predicts position and path of aircraft  2  up to incursion point  141 , at incursion time  142 . Collision hazard trend vector  146  predicts position and path of collision hazard  6  up to incursion point  141 , at incursion time  142 .  
         [0016]     Computer  120  and software product  130  may determine incursion data  140  based upon data from TIS  10 , including for example aircraft position, aircraft velocity, aircraft heading, collision hazard position, collision hazard velocity and collision hazard heading. Process  90  then continues with step S 4 .  
         [0017]     At step S 4 , software product  130  displays incursion data  140  on display unit  110 , such as described below. Process  90  may then repeat steps S 1 -S 4 , as shown.  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  shows an example display of incursion data  140  on display unit  110 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 5 , display unit  110  displays aircraft trend vector  144  and collision hazard trend vector  146 . An endpoint  144   a  of aircraft trend vector  144  is displayed to intersect with an endpoint  146   a  of collision hazard trend vector  146  at incursion point  141 . This provides the pilot with a user-friendly display that he may quickly and easily monitor.  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  shows one exemplary display of incursion data  140  on display unit  110 . A graphic  148  is shown encircling incursion point  141  (shown in  FIG. 5 ), and incursion time  142  is displayed inside graphic  148 . While aircraft trend vector  144  and collision hazard trend vector  146  may be arranged as in  FIG. 5 , aircraft trend vector  144  and collision hazard trend vector  146  are shown truncated, in  FIG. 6 , at graphic  148 .  
         [0020]     Graphic  148  is shown in  FIG. 6  as a circle. However, it should be apparent that graphic  148  may comprise other shapes such as rectangles and triangles; the size of the graphic  148  may also be selected appropriately. For example, in one embodiment, the size (e.g., diameter) of graphic  148  is based on a size of aircraft  2  and a size of the collision hazard  6 ; or the size of graphic  148  may be based on an amount of uncertainty of incursion data  140 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  shows one exemplary display of incursion data  140  on display unit  110 . As in  FIG. 6 , graphic  148  encircles incursion point  141  (see e.g.,  FIG. 5 ) and incursion time  142  is displayed inside of graphic  148 . While aircraft trend vector  144  and collision hazard trend vector  146  may be arranged as in  FIG. 5 , aircraft trend vector  144  is animated to appear as if it is traveling from aircraft  2  to graphic  148 ; and collision hazard trend vector  146  is also animated to appear as if it is traveling from collision hazard  6  to graphic  148 . These animations draw pilot attention to display unit  110 , to reinforce severity of an emerging situation. In an embodiment, animation of aircraft trend vector  144  and/or hazard trend vector  146  comprise moving dashed lines, pulsing graphics, temporally changing colors, etc.  
         [0022]     Those skilled in the art appreciate that variations from the specified embodiments disclosed above are contemplated herein. The description should not be restricted to the above embodiments, but should be measured by the following claims.