User interfaces for mutually exclusive three dimensional flying spaces

• US 10,446,041 B1
• Filed: 08/23/2018
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
• Inventors: Robertson, Cameron, Roetter, Alex
• Primary Examiner(s): Dager, Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US16/110,928
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 43/00 Arrangements or adaptations of instruments arrangements of cameras B64D47/08; aeronautical measuring instruments per se G01C
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 43/02 for indicating aircraft speed or stalling conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/00 Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/005 Flight directors indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0052 for cruising combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value G01C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/006 in accordance with predefined flight zones, e.g. to avoid prohibited zones
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0086 for monitoring terrain radar or analogous systems specially adapted for terrain avoidance G01S13/935
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/045 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. determination of anti-collision manoeuvers radar or analogous systems specially adapted for anti-collision between aircraft G01S13/933

Abstract

Boundary information associated with a three-dimensional (3D) flying space is obtained, including a boundary of the 3D flying space. Location information associated with an aircraft is obtained, including a location of the aircraft. Information is presented based at least in part on the boundary information associated with the 3D flying space and the location information associated with the aircraft, including by presenting, in a display, the boundary of the 3D flying space and an avatar representing the aircraft at the location of the aircraft.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to;

obtain boundary information associated with a three-dimensional (3D) flying space, including a boundary of the 3D flying space, wherein the 3D flying space is defined by a center path and a cross section about the path;

obtain location information associated with an aircraft, including a location of the aircraft;

determine a distance between the boundary of the 3D flying space and the location of the aircraft;

compare the distance between the boundary of the 3D flying space and the location of the aircraft against a threshold; and

present information based at least in part on the boundary information associated with the 3D flying space and the location information associated with the aircraft, including by;

presenting, in a display, the boundary of the 3D flying space and an avatar representing the aircraft at the location of the aircraft, and

in response to the distance between the boundary of the 3D flying space and the location of the aircraft not exceeding the threshold, increasing an amount of force feedback output by a force feedback input device.

2. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the cross section about the path defining the 3D flying space includes one or more of the following cross sections:

a circular cross section, an elliptical cross section, or a rectangular cross section.

3. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the display includes one or more of the following:

a virtual reality headset, a touchscreen display, or a display integrated into the aircraft.

4. The system recited in claim 1, wherein presenting the information further includes presenting, in the display, a speed limit associated with the 3D flying space.

5. The system recited in claim 1, wherein presenting the information further includes presenting, in the display, a permitted direction of flight associated with the 3D flying space.

6. The system recited in claim 1, wherein

presenting the information further includes announcing, via a speaker, the distance between the boundary of the 3D flying space and the location of the aircraft.

7. The system recited in claim 1, wherein

presenting the information further includes:

in response to the distance between the boundary of the 3D flying space and the location of the aircraft not exceeding the threshold, suggesting, via a speaker, a correction direction which would cause the distance between the boundary of the 3D flying space and the location of the aircraft to increase.

17. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the 3D flying space includes a plurality of segments, wherein each segment is defined by a center path from a first set of coordinates to a second set of coordinates with a cross section about the center path.

8. A method, comprising:

obtaining boundary information associated with a three-dimensional (3D) flying space, including a boundary of the 3D flying space, wherein the 3D flying space is defined by a center path and a cross section about the path;

obtaining location information associated with an aircraft, including a location of the aircraft;

determining a distance between the boundary of the 3D flying space and the location of the aircraft;

comparing the distance between the boundary of the 3D flying space and the location of the aircraft against a threshold; and

presenting information based at least in part on the boundary information associated with the 3D flying space and the location information associated with the aircraft, including by;

presenting, in a display, the boundary of the 3D flying space and an avatar representing the aircraft at the location of the aircraft, and

in response to the distance between the boundary of the 3D flying space and the location of the aircraft not exceeding the threshold, increasing an amount of force feedback output by a force feedback input device.

9. The method recited in claim 8, wherein the cross section about the path defining the 3D flying space includes one or more of the following cross sections:

a circular cross section, an elliptical cross section, or a rectangular cross section.

10. The method recited in claim 8, wherein the display includes one or more of the following:

a virtual reality headset, a touchscreen display, or a display integrated into the aircraft.

11. The method recited in claim 8, wherein presenting the information further includes presenting, in the display, a speed limit associated with the 3D flying space.

12. The method recited in claim 8, wherein presenting the information further includes presenting, in the display, a permitted direction of flight associated with the 3D flying space.

13. The method recited in claim 8, wherein

presenting the information further includes announcing, via a speaker, the distance between the boundary of the 3D flying space and the location of the aircraft.

14. The method recited in claim 8, wherein

presenting the information further includes:

in response to the distance between the boundary of the 3D flying space and the location of the aircraft not exceeding the threshold, suggesting, via a speaker, a correction direction which would cause the distance between the boundary of the 3D flying space and the location of the aircraft to increase.

15. A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

obtaining boundary information associated with a three-dimensional (3D) flying space, including a boundary of the 3D flying space, wherein the 3D flying space is defined by a center path and a cross section about the path;

obtaining location information associated with an aircraft, including a location of the aircraft;

determining a distance between the boundary of the 3D flying space and the location of the aircraft;

comparing the distance between the boundary of the 3D flying space and the location of the aircraft against a threshold; and

presenting information based at least in part on the boundary information associated with the 3D flying space and the location information associated with the aircraft, including by;

presenting, in a display, the boundary of the 3D flying space and an avatar representing the aircraft at the location of the aircraft, and

in response to the distance between the boundary of the 3D flying space and the location of the aircraft not exceeding the threshold, increasing an amount of force feedback output by a force feedback input device.

16. The computer program product recited in claim 15, wherein the cross section about the path defining the 3D flying space includes one or more of the following cross sections:

a circular cross section, an elliptical cross section, or a rectangular cross section.