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System and method for optimizing an aircraft trajectory

  • US 10,170,008 B2
  • Filed: 08/07/2017
  • Issued: 01/01/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2015
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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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.

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