Method making it possible to identify the proximity of a wake turbulence and to generate a report relative to that proximity

• US 10,276,050 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2017
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus, Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Original Assignee: Airbus, Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Inventors: Reinke, Andreas, Kauertz, Sebastian
• Primary Examiner(s): Badii, Behrang
• Assistant Examiner(s): Testardi, David A
• Application Number:
  US15/594,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20170337822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0008 with other aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0091 for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W

Abstract

A method to identify the proximity of a wake turbulence and to generate a report relative to that proximity. A method implemented by an aircraft comprising a processor makes it possible to identify the proximity of a wake turbulence and to generate a report relative to that proximity. The method includes a data acquisition step during which the processor retrieves and records the data relative to each generating aircraft present around the aircraft. In a position estimation step, the processor estimates the position of the wake turbulences generated by each generating aircraft. In a proximity step, the processor determines if the aircraft is close to at least one of the wake turbulences. In a generation step, the processor generates a report containing the data relative to each wake turbulence. The method makes it possible to identify the proximity of a wake turbulence in the vicinity of the aircraft and to automatically record the data relative to that wake turbulence.

Claims

1. A method implemented by an aircraft comprising a processor, a receiver, and a transmitter, the method to identify a proximity of a wake turbulence generated by at least one generating aircraft and to generate a report relative to the proximity, the method comprising:

a data acquisition step during which the processor retrieves and records data, received by the receiver, relative to each generating aircraft present around the aircraft;

a position estimation step during which the processor estimates a position of wake turbulences generated by each generating aircraft;

a proximity step during which the processor determines if the aircraft is close to at least one of the wake turbulences whose positions have been estimated;

a first computation and comparison step which comprises a first computation sub-step, during which the processor computes external moments to which the aircraft is subjected, and a first comparison sub-step, during which the processor compares the moments with threshold values;

a generation step during which the processor generates a report, in response to the first comparison sub-step being positive, containing data relative to each wake turbulence which has been considered as being close; and

a transmission step during which the processor sends the report from the aircraft to a ground installation via the transmitter;

wherein the threshold values are dynamically adapted according to medium or long term base turbulence levels, encountered by the aircraft, in order to limit incorrect detections.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising, after the proximity step, a second computation and comparison step which comprises a second computation sub-step during which the processor retrieves data relative to a speed of air around the aircraft and computes a measurement value based on the data and a second comparison sub-step during which the processor compares the measurement value with a threshold value and wherein, during the generation step, the processor generates the report in response to the second comparison sub-step being positive.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising, before the generation step, an evaluation step which comprises an evaluation sub-step, during which the processor evaluates parameters relative to passage through a wake turbulence, and a third comparison sub-step, during which the processor compares the parameters with threshold values, and during the generation step the processor generates the report in response to the third comparison sub-step being positive.

4. An onboard system of an aircraft comprising a processor, a receiver, and a transmitter, the processor being configured for implementing:

a data acquisition step during which the processor retrieves and records data, received by the receiver, relative to each generating aircraft present around the aircraft;

a position estimation step during which the processor estimates a position of wake turbulences generated by each generating aircraft;

a proximity step during which the processor determines if the aircraft is close to at least one of the wake turbulences whose positions have been estimated;

a first computation and comparison step which comprises a first computation sub-step, during which the processor computes external moments to which the aircraft is subjected, and a first comparison sub-step, during which the processor compares the moments with threshold values;

a generation step during which the processor generates a report, in response to the first comparison sub-step being positive, containing data relative to each wake turbulence which has been considered as being close; and

a transmission step during which the processor sends the report from the aircraft to a ground installation via the transmitter;

wherein the threshold values are dynamically adapted according to medium or long term base turbulence levels, encountered by the aircraft, in order to limit incorrect detections.

5. An aircraft comprising an onboard system as claimed in claim 4.

6. One or more non-transitory computer readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to perform a method to identify a proximity of a wake turbulence generated by at least one generating aircraft and to generate a report relative to the proximity, the method comprising using an onboard system of an aircraft comprising a receiver, a transmitter, and a processor to implement:

a data acquisition step during which the processor retrieves and records data, received by the receiver, relative to each generating aircraft present around the aircraft;

a position estimation step during which the processor estimates a position of wake turbulences generated by each generating aircraft;

a proximity step during which the processor determines if the aircraft is close to at least one of the wake turbulences whose positions have been estimated;

a first computation and comparison step which comprises a first computation sub-step, during which the processor computes external moments to which the aircraft is subjected, and a first comparison sub-step, during which the processor compares the moments with threshold values and wherein, during the generation step, the processor generates the report in response to the first comparison sub-step being positive;

a generation step during which the processor generates a report, in response to the first comparison sub-step being positive, containing data relative to each wake turbulence which has been considered as being close; and

a transmission step during which the processor sends the report from the aircraft to a ground installation via the transmitter;

wherein the threshold values are dynamically adapted according to medium or long term base turbulence levels, encountered by the aircraft, in order to limit incorrect detections.