Systems and methods for avoidance traversal analysis for flight-plan routing

• US 10,490,091 B1
• Filed: 09/21/2018
• Issued: 11/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Lenhardt, Paul A., Jakusz, Jason J., Hein, Johnathon Lloyd
• Primary Examiner(s): Singh, Hirdepal
• Application Number:
  US16/138,807
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 340961
• 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 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0039 Modification of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/006 in accordance with predefined flight zones, e.g. to avoid prohibited zones
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0091 for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W
• 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

A system for an airborne platform includes a display device and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive avoidance configuration information having a plurality of avoidance categories and severity levels. The processing circuit is further configured to receive flight plan information relating to a flight route from a starting location to an ending location, an avoidance area, an indication of an avoidance category corresponding to the avoidance area, and an indication of a severity level. The processing circuit is further configured to calculate a normalized cost associated with the flight route and compare the normalized cost to a threshold value. The processing circuit is further configured to identify the avoidance area as non-traversable when the normalized cost exceeds the threshold value. The processing circuit is further configured to generate a display providing a visual representation of the normalized cost, the flight route, and the avoidance area.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a processing circuit, avoidance configuration information, the avoidance configuration information having a plurality of avoidance categories, each of the avoidance categories having a number of severity levels, each of the severity levels associated with a multiplier value selected from a set of multiplier values;

receiving, by the processing circuit, flight plan information relating to a flight route from a starting location to an ending location, an avoidance area, an indication of an avoidance category corresponding to the avoidance area, and an indication of a severity level corresponding to the avoidance area, wherein the flight route includes at least one avoidance-traversing segment, the avoidance-traversing segment corresponding to a portion of the flight route within the avoidance area;

calculating, by the processing circuit, a normalized cost associated with the flight route, the normalized cost based on a distance of the avoidance-traversing segment and on the multiplier value associated with the severity level corresponding to the avoidance area;

comparing, by the processing circuit, the normalized cost associated with the flight route to a threshold value;

identifying, by the processing circuit, the avoidance area as non-traversable when the normalized cost associated with the flight route exceeds the threshold value; and

generating, by the processing circuit, a display providing a visual representation of at least one of the normalized cost, the flight route, and the avoidance area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of avoidance categories corresponds to at least one of:

turbulence, icing, AIRMET Sierra, SIGMET, and volcanic ash.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of avoidance categories comprises an avoidance category corresponding to a temporary flight restriction, the temporary flight restriction having one severity level, the severity level having either a first value indicating an active temporary flight restriction or a second value indicating an absence of the active temporary flight restriction, wherein the processing circuit identifies an avoidance area as non-traversable when the flight plan information relates to an avoidance category corresponding to the temporary flight restriction and the severity level having the first value.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating, by the processing circuit, a first distance value associated with a first non-traversing segment, wherein the first non-traversing segment corresponds to a portion of the flight route between the starting location and an entrance point of the avoidance area;

calculating, by the processing circuit, a second distance value associated with a second non-traversing segment, wherein the second non-traversing segment corresponds to a portion of the flight route between an exit point of the avoidance area and the ending location;

calculating, by the processing circuit, a total cost of the flight route, the total cost equal to a sum of a third distance value associated with the avoidance-traversing segment, the first distance value associated with the first non-traversing segment, and the second distance value associated with the second non-traversing segment; and

generating, by the processing circuit, a display image providing a visual representation of total cost of the flight route.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual representation of the avoidance area is provided as a first color in response to identifying the avoidance area as traversable and wherein the visual representation of the avoidance area is provided as a second color in response to identifying the avoidance area as non-traversable.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the normalized cost is equal to a sum of:

the distance value of the avoidance-traversing segment, and the distance value of the avoidance-traversing segment multiplied by the multiplier value.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the normalized cost is calculated based on an amount of fuel usage value associated with the avoidance-traversing segment.

8. A processing circuit of an aircraft, the processing circuit having a processor and a memory, and configured to:

receive avoidance configuration information, the avoidance configuration information having a plurality of avoidance categories, each of the avoidance categories having a number of severity levels, each of the severity levels associated with a multiplier value selected from a set of multiplier values;

receive flight plan information, flight plan information relating to a flight route from a starting location to an ending location, an avoidance area, an indication of an avoidance category corresponding to the avoidance area, and an indication of a severity level corresponding to the avoidance area, wherein the flight route includes at least one avoidance-traversing segment, the avoidance-traversing segment corresponding to a portion of the flight route within the avoidance area;

calculate a normalized cost associated with the flight route, the normalized cost based on a distance of the avoidance-traversing segment and on the multiplier value associated with the severity level corresponding to the avoidance area;

compare the normalized cost associated with the flight route to a threshold value;

identify the avoidance area as non-traversable when the normalized cost associated with the flight route exceeds the threshold value; and

generate a display providing a visual representation of at least one of the normalized cost, the flight route, and the avoidance area.

9. The processing circuit of claim 8, wherein the plurality of avoidance categories corresponds to at least one of:

turbulence, icing, AIRMET Sierra, SIGMET, and volcanic ash.

10. The processing circuit of claim 8, wherein the plurality of avoidance categories comprises an avoidance category corresponding to a temporary flight restriction, the temporary flight restriction having one severity level, the severity level having either a first value indicating an active temporary flight restriction or a second value indicating an absence of the active temporary flight restriction, wherein the processing circuit identifies an avoidance area as non-traversable when the flight plan information relates to an avoidance category corresponding to the temporary flight restriction and the severity level having the first value.

11. The processing circuit of claim 8, wherein the visual representation of the avoidance area is provided as a first color in response to identifying the avoidance area as traversable and wherein the visual representation of the avoidance area is provided as a second color in response to identifying the avoidance area as non-traversable.

12. The processing circuit of claim 8, wherein the normalized cost is equal to a sum of:

a first distance value of the avoidance-traversing segment, and the first distance value of the avoidance-traversing segment multiplied by the multiplier value.

13. The processing circuit of claim 8, wherein the normalized cost is calculated based on an amount of fuel usage value associated with the avoidance-traversing segment.

14. A system for an airborne platform, comprising:

a display device configured to provide a display; and

a processing circuit communicably coupled to the display device, the processing circuit configured to;

receive avoidance configuration information, the avoidance configuration information having a plurality of avoidance categories, each of the avoidance categories having a number of severity levels, each of the severity levels associated with a multiplier value selected from a set of multiplier values;

receive flight plan information, flight plan information relating to a flight route from a starting location to an ending location, an avoidance area, an indication of an avoidance category corresponding to the avoidance area, and an indication of a severity level corresponding to the avoidance area, wherein the flight route includes at least one avoidance-traversing segment, the avoidance-traversing segment corresponding to a portion of the flight route within the avoidance area;

calculate a normalized cost associated with the flight route, the normalized cost based on a distance of the avoidance-traversing segment and on the multiplier value associated with the severity level corresponding to the avoidance area;

compare the normalized cost associated with the flight route to a threshold value;

identify the avoidance area as non-traversable when the normalized cost associated with the flight route exceeds the threshold value; and

generate a display image providing a visual representation of at least one of the normalized cost, the flight route, and the avoidance area.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of avoidance categories corresponds to at least one of:

turbulence, icing, AIRMET Sierra, SIGMET, and volcanic ash.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of avoidance categories comprises an avoidance category corresponding to a temporary flight restriction, the temporary flight restriction having one severity level, the severity level having either a first value indicating an active temporary flight restriction or a second value indicating an absence of the active temporary flight restriction;

wherein the processing circuit identifies an avoidance area as non-traversable when the flight plan information relates to an avoidance category corresponding to the temporary flight restriction and the severity level having the first value.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:

calculate a first distance value associated with a first non-traversing segment, wherein the first non-traversing segment corresponds to a portion of the flight route between the starting location and an entrance point of the avoidance area;

calculate a second distance value associated with a second non-traversing segment, wherein the second non-traversing segment corresponds to a portion of the flight route between an exit point of the avoidance area and the ending location;

calculate a total cost of the flight route, the total cost equal to a sum of a third distance value associated with the avoidance-traversing segment, the first distance value associated with the first non-traversing segment, and the second distance value associated with the second non-traversing segment; and

generate a display image providing a visual representation of total cost of the flight route.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the visual representation of the avoidance area is provided as a first color in response to identifying the avoidance area as traversable and wherein the visual representation of the avoidance area is provided as a second color in response to identifying the avoidance area as non-traversable.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the normalized cost is equal to a sum of:

a distance value of the avoidance-traversing segment, and the distance value of the avoidance-traversing segment multiplied by the multiplier value.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the normalized cost is calculated based on an amount of fuel usage value associated with the avoidance-traversing segment.