System and method for dynamically determining runway stopping distance

• US 10,059,466 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2016
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Derek Campbell, Louis Degagne
• Original Assignee: Louis Degagne
• Inventors: Degagne, Louis, Campbell, Derek
• Primary Examiner(s): Boomer, Jeffrey C
• Application Number:
  US15/170,174
• Publication Number:
  US 20160272344A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/08 optical
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/20 Arrangement of optical beacons
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913

Abstract

A ground-based system for determining a stopping point of an aircraft on a runway includes a position sensing means for gathering data regarding incremental positions of the aircraft relative to the runway, a calculating means for dynamically computing the projected stopping point of the aircraft based on the data gathered by the position sensing means, and a display means located on the ground along the runway for communicating information representing the projected stopping point of the aircraft to a flight crew.

Claims

1. A system for determining a stopping point of an aircraft on a runway during a landing on the runway or an aborted takeoff on the runway, the system comprising:

a position sensing means for gathering data regarding incremental positions of the aircraft relative to the runway;

a calculating means for dynamically computing a projected stopping point of the aircraft based on the data regarding incremental positions of the aircraft relative to the runway gathered by the position sensing means; and

a display means located on the ground adjacent to the runway for communicating information representing the projected stopping point of the aircraft to a flight crew.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the position sensing means includes an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast system.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast system includes at least one receiver located on the ground adjacent to the runway;

and

wherein the receiver is configured to receive the data regarding the incremental positions of the aircraft from the aircraft and to transmit the data regarding the incremental positions of the aircraft to the calculating means.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the display means is configured to output a go-around visual indication if the aircraft crosses a system activation line without touching down on the runway, the system activation line being a predetermined longitudinal point on the runway;

and

wherein the go-around visual indication indicates to the flight crew that the aircraft should abort landing.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the receiver and the display means are integrated into a single structure.

6. The system of claim 3, further comprising a beacon receiving means for receiving a broadcast signal from the aircraft.

7. The system of claim 3, further comprising a communication connection for alerting emergency personal of a runway excursion.

8. The system of claim 3, further comprising a beacon receiver to receive a signal emitted from the aircraft.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the position sensing means is a multilateration positioning system having a plurality of transceivers.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising database for storing runway data regarding a configuration of the runway.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the incremental positions include at least a position of the aircraft above the runway, prior to touchdown, and at least a position of the aircraft on the runway, subsequent to touchdown.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the calculating means includes an integrated circuit for determining the incremental position of the aircraft.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the integrated circuit includes a computer processor to calculate an instantaneous location, velocity, and deceleration of the aircraft utilizing information received from the position sensing means.

14. A system for determining a stopping point of an aircraft on a runway during a landing on the runway or an aborted takeoff on the runway, the system comprising:

a position sensing means for gathering data regarding incremental positions of the aircraft relative to the runway;

a processor in communication with the position sensing means and configured to dynamically calculate a projected stopping point for the aircraft in dependence upon the data regarding incremental positions of the aircraft relative to the runway; and

a display connected with the processor to present the projected stopping point of the aircraft to a flight crew, the display being located on the ground adjacent to the runway.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the position sensing means includes an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast system.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast system includes at least one receiver located on the ground near the runway;

and

wherein the receiver is configured to receive the data regarding the incremental positions of the aircraft from the aircraft and to transmit to the processor.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor includes a database to store runway data regarding a configuration of the runway.

18. A method for predicting a stopping point of an aircraft on a runway during a landing on the runway or an aborted takeoff on the runway, the method comprising the steps of:

with an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast system, gathering multiple data sets regarding an instantaneous position of the aircraft;

transmitting the multiple data sets regarding an instantaneous position of the aircraft to a ground-based receiver;

determining a location, velocity, and deceleration for the aircraft using the multiple data sets regarding an instantaneous position of the aircraft;

dynamically calculating a projected stopping point for the aircraft based on the determined location, velocity, and deceleration for the aircraft; and

communicating the projected stopping point to a flight crew of the aircraft by a ground based display located adjacent to the runway.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of:

determining whether the projected stopping point is on the runway.

20. The method according to dam 18, further comprising the step of:

determining whether the aircraft has touched down on the runway prior to crossing a system activation line, the system activation line being a predetermined longitudinal point on the runway; and

if the aircraft has not touched down on the runway prior to crossing the system activation line, at the ground based display, outputting a go-around visual indication;

wherein the go-around visual indication indicates to the flight crew that the aircraft should not land on the runway.