Haptic feedback for realtime trajectory constraints

• US 10,054,957 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2015
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Cherepinsky, Igor, Sane, Harshad S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc-Coleman, Marthe Y
• Application Number:
  US15/507,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20170285662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 701533
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/00 Control systems or transmitting systems for actuating flying-control surfaces, lift-increasing flaps, air brakes, or spoilers
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/10 comprising warning devices
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/57 automatic or condition responsive, e.g. responsive to rotor speed, torque or thrust
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/106 Change initiated in response to external conditions, e.g. avoidance of elevated terrain or of no-fly zones
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0039 Modification of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0047 Navigation or guidance aids for a single aircraft details of equipment G08G5/0017

Abstract

A system for receiving feedback in a flight plan of a vehicle includes a haptic-enabled device comprising a crew seat with an inceptor mounted thereto; and a processor with memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to: receive signals indicative of the flight plan for the vehicle; receive deviation signals indicative of a proposed deviation in a trajectory for the flight plan; and transmit signals to the haptic-enabled device representing trajectory constraints in the proposed deviation in response to the receiving of the deviation signals.

Claims

1. A system for receiving feedback in a flight plan of a vehicle, comprising:

a haptic-enabled device comprising a crew seat with an inceptor mounted thereto; and

a processor with memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to;

receive signals indicative of the flight plan for the vehicle;

receive deviation signals indicative of a proposed deviation in a trajectory for the flight plan; and

transmit signals to the haptic-enabled device representing trajectory constraints in the proposed deviation in response to the receiving of the deviation signals, wherein the trajectory constraints include soft constraints including at least one of fuel efficiency and time for a mission.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to receive information related to one or more trajectories in the flight plan.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the haptic-enabled device is configured to receive haptic-force feedback in response to the proposed deviation in the trajectory.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the haptic-force feedback include audible signals or force signals to the inceptor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the haptic-enabled device is configured to receive haptic-force feedback in response to the proposed deviation based on one or more of a trajectory constraint and obstacles in an environment for the vehicle.

6. A method for receiving feedback on a flight plan of a vehicle, comprising:

receiving, with a processor, signals indicative of the flight plan for the vehicle;

receiving, with the processor, deviation signals indicative of a proposed deviation in a trajectory for the flight plan; and

transmitting, with the processor, signals to a haptic-enabled device representing trajectory constraints in the proposed deviation in response to the receiving of the deviation signals, the trajectory constraints including soft constraints including at least one of fuel efficiency and time for a mission.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving information related to one or more trajectories in the flight plan.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to provide haptic-force feedback to the haptic-enabled device in response to the proposed deviation in the trajectory.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to provide the haptic-force feedback as audible signals or force signals.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to provide the haptic-force feedback in response to the proposed deviation based on one or more of a trajectory constraint and obstacles in an environment for the vehicle.