Patent ID: 12260765

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is merely illustrative in nature and is not intended to limit the embodiments of the subject matter or the application and uses of such embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Thus, any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The embodiments described herein are exemplary embodiments provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention that is defined by the claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, summary, or the following detailed description.

As mentioned, it is desirable to update and improve upon navigation systems to add alerting when an intruder trend vector is predicted to intercept with an ownship taxi path.

Exemplary embodiments provide a technical solution to this problem in the form of a control module (FIG.1,104). The disclosed control module operates on available input and evaluates trend vectors transmitted from traffic that is nearby the ownship to predict whether the traffic will intercept with the ownship taxi path. The figures and descriptions below provide more detail.

Turning now toFIG.1, in an embodiment, the system for alerting when an intruder trend vector is predicted to intercept with an ownship taxi path102(also referred to herein as “system”102) is generally associated with a mobile platform100. In various embodiments, the mobile platform100is an aircraft, and is referred to as aircraft100. The system102embodies a control module104. In some embodiments, the control module104may be integrated within a preexisting mobile platform management system, avionics system, cockpit display system (CDS), flight controls system (FCS), or aircraft flight management system (FMS). Although the control module104is shown as an independent functional block, onboard the aircraft100, in other embodiments, it may exist in an electronic flight bag (EFB) or portable electronic device (PED), such as a tablet, cellular phone, or the like. In embodiments in which the control module is within an EFB or a PED, the display system118and user input device120may also be part of the EFB or PED.

The control module104may be operationally coupled to any combination of the following aircraft systems: a communication system and fabric106; a source of real-time aircraft state data, such as a navigation system108; a source of prescribed flight plan data, such as a navigation database (NavDB110); one or more databases112; a display system118; and a user input device120. The control module104is communicatively coupled to a source of notice to airmen (NOTAM52) data, air traffic control56, and a source of traffic data54, such as automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) and traffic information service broadcast (TIS-B). In various embodiments, the control module104is additionally operationally coupled to one or more avionics systems114, and a speech to text converter/features extractor122. The functions of these aircraft systems, and their interaction, are described in more detail below.

Real-time aircraft state data may include any of: an instantaneous location (e.g., the latitude, longitude, orientation), an instantaneous heading (i.e., the direction the aircraft is traveling in relative to some reference), a flight path angle, a vertical speed, a ground speed, an instantaneous altitude (or height above ground level), and a current phase of flight of the aircraft100. As used herein, “real-time” is interchangeable with current and instantaneous. In some embodiments, the real-time aircraft state data is generated by the navigation system108. The navigation system108may be realized as including a global positioning system (GPS), inertial reference system (IRS), or a radio-based navigation system (e.g., VHF omni-directional radio range (VOR) or long-range aid to navigation (LORAN)), and may include one or more navigational radios or other sensors suitably configured to support operation of the FMS, as will be appreciated in the art. The data provided by the navigation system108is referred to as navigation data (also referred to herein as the real-time aircraft state data). The real-time aircraft state data is made available, generally by way of the communication system and fabric106, so other components, such as the control module104and the display system118, may further process and/or handle the aircraft state data.

Prescribed flight plan (FP) data may include a series of intended geospatial midpoints between a departure and an arrival, as well as performance data associated with each of the geospatial midpoints (non-limiting examples of the performance data include intended navigation data, such as: intended airspeed, intended altitude, intended acceleration, intended flight path angle, and the like). A source of a prescribed flight plan data may be a storage location or a user input device. In various embodiments, the navigation database, NavDB110, is the source of a prescribed flight plan. The navigation database (NavDB110) is a storage location that may also maintain a database of flight plans, and/or information regarding terrain and airports and/or other potential landing locations (or destinations) for the aircraft100.

In various embodiments, the avionics systems114provide aircraft performance data and sensed data for a variety of aircraft100subsystems. Examples of the aircraft performance data include: engine thrust level, fuel level, flap configuration, braking status, temperature control system status, and the like. As may be appreciated, the avionics systems114may therefore include a variety of on-board detection sensors and may be operationally coupled to the control module104, central management computer, or FMS.

The communications system and fabric106is configured to support instantaneous (i.e., real time or current) communications between onboard systems (i.e., the navigation system108, the navigation database110, the database112, and the avionics systems114), the control module104, and the one or more external data source(s). As a functional block, the communications system and fabric106represents one or more transmitters, receivers, and the supporting communications hardware and software required for components of the system102to communicate as described herein. In various embodiments, the communications system and fabric106may have additional communications not directly relied upon herein, such as bidirectional pilot-to-ATC (air traffic control) communications via a datalink; support for an automatic dependent surveillance broadcast system (ADS-B); a communication management function (CMF) uplink; a terminal wireless local area network (LAN) unit (TWLU); an instrument landing system (ILS); and, any other suitable radio communication system that supports communications between the aircraft100and the various external source(s). In various embodiments, the control module104and communications system and fabric106also support controller pilot data link communications (CPDLC) with CPDLC52, such as through an aircraft communication addressing and reporting system (ACARS) router; in various embodiments, this feature may be referred to as a communications management unit (CMU) or communications management function (CMF). In summary, the communications system and fabric106may allow the aircraft100and the control module104to receive information that would otherwise be unavailable to the pilot and/or co-pilot using only the onboard systems.

External sources communicate with the aircraft100and the control module104, generally, by way of the communication system and fabric106. External sources include: NOTAM52(which includes CPDLC52), traffic data system(s)54; air traffic control (ATC)56; and a variety of other radio inputs, such as source(s) of the radio signals used by the an instrument landing system (ILS), and weather and surface data sources, such as a source for meteorological terminal aviation weather reports (METARS), automatic terminal information service (ATIS), datalink ATIS (D-ATIS), automatic surface observing system (ASOS). The traffic data system(s)54include numerous systems for providing real-time neighbor/relevant traffic data and information. For example, traffic data sources54may include any combination of: traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS), automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B), traffic information system (TIS), crowd sourced traffic data and/or another suitable avionics system. Flight traffic information that is received from the traffic data system may include, for each neighbor aircraft of a plurality of neighbor aircraft, one or more of a respective instantaneous location and heading, vertical speed, ground speed, instantaneous altitude, and aircraft identification.

The user input device120and the control module104are cooperatively configured to allow a user (e.g., a pilot, co-pilot, or crew member) to interact with display devices in the display system118and/or other elements of the system102, as described in greater detail below. Depending on the embodiment, the user input device120may be realized as a cursor control device (CCD), keypad, touchpad, keyboard, mouse, touch panel (or touchscreen), joystick, knob, line select key, voice controller, gesture controller, or another suitable device adapted to receive input from a user. When the user input device120is configured as a touchpad or touchscreen, it may be integrated with the display system118. As used herein, the user input device120may be used by a pilot to communicate with ATC56, to modify or upload the program product166, etc. In various embodiments, the display system118and user input device120are onboard the aircraft100and are also operationally coupled to the communication system and fabric106. In some embodiments, the control module104, user input device120, and display system118are configured as a control display unit (CDU).

In various embodiments, the control module104, alone, or as part of a central management computer (CMS) or a flight management system (FMS), draws upon data and information from the navigation system108and the NavDB110to provide real-time flight guidance for aircraft100. The real time flight guidance may be provided to a user by way of commands for the display system118, an audio system, or the like. For example, the control module104may compare an instantaneous position and heading of the aircraft100with the prescribed flight plan data for the aircraft100and generate display commands to render images22showing these features. The control module104may further associate a respective airport, its geographic location, runways (and their respective orientations and/or directions), instrument procedures (e.g., approach procedures, arrival routes and procedures, takeoff procedures, and the like), airspace restrictions, and/or other information or attributes associated with the respective airport (e.g., widths and/or weight limits of taxi paths, the type of surface of the runways or taxi path, and the like) with the instantaneous position and heading of the aircraft100and/or with the navigation plan for the aircraft100.

The control module104generates display commands for the display system118to cause the display device20to render thereon the image22, comprising various graphical user interface elements, tables, icons, alerts, menus, buttons, and pictorial images, as described herein. The display system118is configured to continuously receive and process the display commands from the control module104. The display system118includes a display device20for presenting an image22. In various embodiments described herein, the display system118includes a synthetic vision system (SVS), and the image22is a SVS image. In exemplary embodiments, the display device20is realized on one or more electronic display devices configured as any combination of: a head up display (HUD), an alphanumeric display, a vertical situation display (VSD) and a lateral navigation display (ND).

Renderings on the display system118may be processed by a graphics system, components of which may be integrated into the display system118and/or be integrated within the control module104. Display methods include various types of computer generated symbols, text, and graphic information representing, for example, pitch, heading, flight path, airspeed, altitude, runway information, waypoints, targets, obstacles, terrain, and required navigation performance (RNP) data in an integrated, multi-color or monochrome form. Display methods also include various formatting techniques for visually distinguishing objects and routes from among other similar objects and routes. In an embodiment, the Bokeh effect is used for emphasizing relevant signage with respect to remaining signage. The control module104may be said to display various images and selectable options described herein. In practice, this may mean that the control module104generates display commands, and, responsive to receiving the display commands from the control module104, the display system118displays, renders, or otherwise visually conveys on the display device20, the graphical images associated with operation of the aircraft100, and specifically, the graphical images as directed by the control module104.

In addition to providing flight guidance, in various embodiments, any combination of the control module104, user input device120, avionics systems114, and communication system and fabric106, may be coupled to the display system118such that the display system118may additionally generate or render, on the display device20, real-time avionics systems information associated with respective aircraft100systems and components.

In various embodiments, the control module104is additionally operationally coupled to one or more databases112. The databases112may include one or more of: a runway awareness and advisory system (RAAS) database and an Aerodrome Mapping Database (AMDB). In various embodiments, each of these may include an airport features database, having therein maps and geometries, including runway records with corresponding runway threshold locations. The AMDB may also include airport status data for the runways and/or taxi paths at the airport; the airport status data indicating operational status and directional information for the taxi paths (or portions thereof). In some embodiments, the databases112may include a terrain database, having therein topographical information for the airport and surrounding environment.

The control module104performs the functions of the system102. As used herein, the term “module” refers to any means for facilitating communications and/or interaction between the elements of the system102and performing additional processes, tasks and/or functions to support operation of the system102, as described herein. In various embodiments, the control module104may be any hardware, software, firmware, electronic control component, processing logic, and/or processor device, individually or in any combination. Depending on the embodiment, the control module104may be implemented or realized with a general purpose processor (shared, dedicated, or group) controller, microprocessor, or microcontroller, and memory that executes one or more software or firmware programs; a content addressable memory; a digital signal processor; an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA); any suitable programmable logic device; combinational logic circuit including discrete gates or transistor logic; discrete hardware components and memory devices; and/or any combination thereof, designed to perform the functions described herein.

Accordingly, inFIG.1, an embodiment of the control module104is depicted as a computer system including a processor150and a memory152. The processor150may comprise any type of processor or multiple processors, single integrated circuits such as a microprocessor, or any suitable number of integrated circuit devices and/or circuit boards working in cooperation to carry out the described operations, tasks, and functions by manipulating electrical signals representing data bits at memory locations in the system memory, as well as other processing of signals. The memory152may comprise RAM memory, ROM memory, flash memory, registers, a hard disk, or another suitable non-transitory short or long-term storage media capable of storing computer-executable programming instructions or other data for execution. The memory152may be located on and/or co-located on the same computer chip as the processor150. Generally, the memory152maintains data bits and may be utilized by the processor150as storage and/or a scratch pad during operation. Specifically, the memory152stores instructions and applications160. Information in the memory152may be organized and/or imported from an external data source50during an initialization step of a process; it may also be programmed via a user input device120. During operation, the processor150loads and executes one or more programs, algorithms and rules embodied as instructions and applications160contained within the memory152and, as such, controls the general operation of the control module104as well as the system102.

The novel program162includes rules and instructions which, when executed, convert the processor150/memory152/database156configuration into the control module104, which is a novel “contextual alerts” control module that performs the functions, techniques, and processing tasks associated with the operation of the system102. Novel program162and associated stored variables164may be stored in a functional form on computer readable media, for example, as depicted, in memory152. While the depicted exemplary embodiment is described in the context of a fully functioning computer system, those skilled in the art will recognize that the mechanisms of the present disclosure are capable of being distributed as a program product166. As a program product166, one or more types of non-transitory computer-readable signal bearing media may be used to store and distribute the program162, such as a non-transitory computer readable medium bearing the program162and containing therein additional computer instructions for causing a computer processor (such as the processor150) to load and execute the program162. Such a program product166may take a variety of forms, and the present disclosure applies equally regardless of the type of computer-readable signal bearing media used to carry out the distribution. Examples of signal bearing media include: recordable media such as floppy disks, hard drives, memory cards and optical disks, and transmission media such as digital and analog communication links. It will be appreciated that cloud-based storage and/or other techniques may also be utilized in certain embodiments.

In executing the process described herein, the processor150specifically loads the instructions embodied in the program162, thereby being programmed with program162. During execution of program162, the processor150, the memory152, and a database DB156form a novel dynamic processing engine that performs the processing activities of the system102.

In various embodiments, the processor/memory unit of the control module104may be communicatively coupled (via a bus155) to an input/output (I/O) interface154, and a database156. The bus155serves to transmit programs, data, status and other information or signals between the various components of the control module104. The bus155can be any suitable physical or logical means of connecting computer systems and components. This includes, but is not limited to, direct hard-wired connections, fiber optics, infrared and wireless bus technologies.

The I/O interface154enables intra control module104communication, as well as communications between the control module104and other system102components, and between the control module104and the external data sources via the communication system and fabric106. The I/O interface154may include one or more network interfaces and can be implemented using any suitable method and apparatus. In various embodiments, the I/O interface154is configured to support communication from an external system driver and/or another computer system. In one embodiment, the I/O interface154is integrated with the communication system and fabric106and obtains data from external data source(s) directly. Also, in various embodiments, the I/O interface154may support communication with technicians, and/or one or more storage interfaces for direct connection to storage apparatuses, such as the database156.

In some embodiments, the database156is part of the memory152. In various embodiments, the database156and the database112are integrated, either within the control module104or external to it. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the airport features data and terrain features are pre-loaded and internal to the control module104.

The system102may make its determinations and selections in accordance with a method such as method200ofFIG.2. With continued reference toFIG.1, a flow chart is provided for a method200for providing a system102, in accordance with various exemplary embodiments. Method200represents various embodiments of a method for selecting an accurate runway record. For illustrative purposes, the following description of method200may refer to elements mentioned above in connection withFIG.1. In practice, portions of method200may be performed by different components of the described system. It should be appreciated that method200may include any number of additional or alternative tasks, the tasks shown inFIG.2need not be performed in the illustrated order, and method200may be incorporated into a more comprehensive procedure or method having additional functionality not described in detail herein. Moreover, one or more of the tasks shown inFIG.2could be omitted from an embodiment of the method200if the intended overall functionality remains intact.

At202, the method receives navigation data. At204, the intended destination or runway for the ownship aircraft is received. With reference toFIG.3, and with continued reference toFIG.2, at206, the system102constructs a route (i.e., the taxi path302) for the aircraft100and displays it on an avionic display300. It is assumed that the control module104has already received the destination or the assigned runway; constructed, using airport feature data, a route for the aircraft100to travel from its current location to its destination or its assigned runway (the route including a travel direction); and generated display commands for rendering an image showing the aircraft100at the current location and heading on the airport field. The images22generated by the display system118, responsive to display commands, and are understood to be based on current aircraft state data and to be dynamically modified responsive to continuously obtaining and processing the current aircraft state data. The images22may also be continuously updated to reflect real-time changes with respect to terrain, airport features, weather, and neighbor traffic/relevant traffic.

The avionic display300also displays intersection304, at which the aircraft100is currently entering, and intersection306, which is further down the path of the aircraft100. At208, traffic data is received from external sources such as traffic source52. At210, the system102projects the trend vector308of a traffic that is off screen (off screen to the right in this example) and on trend to intercept with the aircraft100in the intersection306. The system102predicts an intersection of the traffic with the taxi path302.

At212, the system converts the projected intersection at intersection306into an amount of time (time delay) until the intersection at intersection306will occur, barring further action, and compares the time delay to predefined thresholds. A first predefined threshold may represent a caution alert and a second predefined threshold (a smaller amount of time than that of the first predefined threshold) may define a critical alert. In an example, the first time delay is in the range of 7-10 seconds and the second time delay is in the range of 5-6 seconds.

At214, the system102visually distinguishes the predicted intersection on the avionic display22. The system102may reference predefined display rules to determine a rendering technique to perform step214. For example, the color yellow or amber may be used for the cautionary alert and the color red may be used for the critical alert. In addition, the predefined display rules may specify the size and shape of the visual alert. In an example, as shown inFIG.3, the size of the visual alert310includes an area with a width equal to a width of the displayed the taxi path302, and a length that is equal to an entire length312of the intersection. In an embodiment, upon determining that the traffic is out of a field of view of the image, the system102renders the trend vector associated with the traffic with a dotted or dashed line.

The avionic display300ofFIG.3of provides a non-limiting example of the provided technological enhancement over other alert systems. As used herein, the intended/assigned destination may also be an assigned taxiway, and the assigned runway may include information for the runway or taxi way, such as an assigned gate and an exit for the runway or taxiway.

In some embodiments, the system102includes a speech-to-text converter122, each operationally coupled to the control module104. In these embodiments, the control module104is further configured to: receive the intended destination or the assigned runway as speech, embedded within a speech command from air traffic control (ATC) or from a CPDLC command; convert the speech command into text; and extract the intended destination or assigned runway from the text.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above in the context of a fully-functioning computer system (e.g., system102described above in conjunction withFIG.1), those skilled in the art will recognize that the mechanisms of the present disclosure are capable of being distributed as a program product (e.g., an Internet-disseminated program9or software application) and, further, that the present teachings apply to the program product regardless of the particular type of computer-readable media (e.g., hard drive, memory card, optical disc, etc.) employed to carry-out its distribution.

Terms such as “comprise,” “include,” “have,” and variations thereof are utilized herein to denote non-exclusive inclusions. Such terms may thus be utilized in describing processes, articles, apparatuses, and the like that include one or more named steps or elements but may further include additional unnamed steps or elements.

While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the disclosure in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that various changes can be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims and the legal equivalents thereof.