System and method for optimizing an aircraft trajectory
First Claim
1. A method for automatically determining a plurality of self-spacing flight trajectories for a first aircraft, comprising:
- providing a traffic avoidance spacing system having at least one electronic device to process instructions for determining a plurality of flight trajectories and providing a flight management system;
providing information regarding a first aircraft moving in space according to a first state vector;
providing information regarding a second aircraft moving in space according to a second state vector, said second aircraft having a standard avoidance interval extending in at least one direction from said second aircraft;
determining, by said at least one electronic device, a first flight trajectory for said first aircraft based on said first state vector of said first aircraft;
comparing, by said at least one electronic device, said first flight trajectory to said second state vector of said second aircraft to determine a miss distance between said first aircraft and said second aircraft;
comparing, by said at least one electronic device, said miss distance between said first aircraft and said second aircraft to said standard avoidance interval of said second aircraft to confirm that said miss distance is greater than said standard avoidance interval of said second aircraft;
providing information regarding a third aircraft moving in space according to a third state vector, said third aircraft having a standard avoidance interval extending in at least one direction from said second aircraft;
comparing, by said at least one electronic device, said first flight trajectory to said third state vector of said third aircraft to determine a miss distance between said first aircraft and said third aircraft;
comparing, by said at least one electronic device, said miss distance between said first aircraft and said third aircraft to said standard avoidance interval of said third aircraft to confirm that said miss distance is greater than said standard avoidance interval of said third aircraft;
determining, by said at least one electronic device, a second flight trajectory for said first aircraft based on said first state vector of said first aircraft, said second flight trajectory being distinct from said first flight trajectory;
receiving and executing, by said flight management system, one of said first and second flight trajectories; and
achieving and maintaining, by said flight management system, a position of said first aircraft between said second and third aircrafts to establish a self-spacing interval.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods of the present invention are provided to generate a plurality of flight trajectories that do not conflict with other aircraft in a local area. Interventions by an air traffic control system help prevent collisions between aircraft, but these interventions can also cause an aircraft to substantially deviate from the pilot'"'"'s intended flight trajectory, which burns fuels, wastes time, etc. Systems and methods of the present invention can assign a standard avoidance interval to other aircraft in the area such that a pilot'"'"'s aircraft does not receive an intervention by an air traffic control system. Systems and methods of the present invention also generate a plurality of conflict-free flight trajectories such that a pilot or an automated system may select the most desirable flight trajectory for fuel efficiency, speed, and other operational considerations, etc.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for automatically determining a plurality of self-spacing flight trajectories for a first aircraft, comprising:
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providing a traffic avoidance spacing system having at least one electronic device to process instructions for determining a plurality of flight trajectories and providing a flight management system; providing information regarding a first aircraft moving in space according to a first state vector; providing information regarding a second aircraft moving in space according to a second state vector, said second aircraft having a standard avoidance interval extending in at least one direction from said second aircraft; determining, by said at least one electronic device, a first flight trajectory for said first aircraft based on said first state vector of said first aircraft; comparing, by said at least one electronic device, said first flight trajectory to said second state vector of said second aircraft to determine a miss distance between said first aircraft and said second aircraft; comparing, by said at least one electronic device, said miss distance between said first aircraft and said second aircraft to said standard avoidance interval of said second aircraft to confirm that said miss distance is greater than said standard avoidance interval of said second aircraft; providing information regarding a third aircraft moving in space according to a third state vector, said third aircraft having a standard avoidance interval extending in at least one direction from said second aircraft; comparing, by said at least one electronic device, said first flight trajectory to said third state vector of said third aircraft to determine a miss distance between said first aircraft and said third aircraft; comparing, by said at least one electronic device, said miss distance between said first aircraft and said third aircraft to said standard avoidance interval of said third aircraft to confirm that said miss distance is greater than said standard avoidance interval of said third aircraft; determining, by said at least one electronic device, a second flight trajectory for said first aircraft based on said first state vector of said first aircraft, said second flight trajectory being distinct from said first flight trajectory; receiving and executing, by said flight management system, one of said first and second flight trajectories; and achieving and maintaining, by said flight management system, a position of said first aircraft between said second and third aircrafts to establish a self-spacing interval. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for automatically determining a plurality of flight trajectories for a first aircraft, comprising:
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providing a traffic avoidance spacing system having at least one electronic device to process instructions for determining a plurality of flight trajectories and providing a flight management system; providing information regarding a first aircraft moving in space according to a first state vector; providing information regarding a second aircraft moving in space according to a second state vector, said second aircraft having an intersection point located in a trailing direction behind said second aircraft by a predetermined distance; determining, by said at least one electronic device, a first flight trajectory for said first aircraft based on said first state vector and a point-mass energy state of said first aircraft, said first flight trajectory including a top-of-descent point and a descent phase for said first aircraft; comparing, by said at least one electronic device, said first flight trajectory to said intersection point behind said second aircraft to confirm that said first flight trajectory passes through said intersection point during said descent phase; determining, by said at least one electronic device, a second flight trajectory for said first aircraft based on said first state vector and said point-mass energy state of said first aircraft, said second flight trajectory including a top-of-descent point and a descent phase for said first aircraft, said second flight trajectory having a distinct top-of-descent point from said first flight trajectory; comparing, by said at least one electronic device, said second flight trajectory to said intersection point behind said second aircraft to confirm that said second flight trajectory passes through said intersection point during said descent phase; receiving and executing, by said flight management system, one of said first and second flight trajectories so that said first aircraft passes through said intersection point; and achieving and maintaining, by said flight management system, a position of said first aircraft behind said second aircraft by said predetermined distance to establish a self-spacing interval between said first and second aircrafts. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for automatically determining a plurality of flight trajectories for a first aircraft, comprising:
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providing a traffic avoidance spacing system having at least one electronic device to process instructions for determining a plurality of flight trajectories and providing a flight management system; providing information regarding a first aircraft moving in space according to a first state vector; providing information regarding a second aircraft moving in space according to a second state vector, said second aircraft having an intersection point located in a trailing direction behind said second aircraft by a predetermined distance; determining, by said at least one electronic device, a first flight trajectory for said first aircraft based on said first state vector of said first aircraft, said first flight trajectory being optimized for a first parameter; comparing, by said at least one electronic device, said first flight trajectory to said intersection point behind said second aircraft to confirm that said first flight trajectory passes through said intersection point; determining, by said at least one electronic device, a second flight trajectory for said first aircraft based on said first state vector of said first aircraft, said second flight trajectory being optimized for a second parameter, and said second flight trajectory being distinct from said first flight trajectory; comparing, by said at least one electronic device, said second flight trajectory to said intersection point behind said second aircraft to confirm that said second flight trajectory passes through said intersection point; receiving and executing, by said flight management system, one of said first and second flight trajectories so that said first aircraft passes through said intersection point; and achieving and maintaining, by said flight management system, a position of said first aircraft behind said second aircraft by said predetermined distance to establish a self-spacing interval between said first and second aircrafts. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification