System for tanker entering rendezvous orbit
First Claim
1. A method for maneuvering an aircraft for entering into a holding pattern, the aircraft position being known and the location and orientation of the holding pattern being known, the method comprising the steps of:
- dividing an airspace around the holding pattern into at least three zones;
determining a relative bearing between a line from the aircraft to a control point of the holding pattern and an inbound leg line through the control point of the holding pattern;
selecting an entry zone from the at least three zones based on the determined relative bearing;
providing a predetermined entry maneuver for the selected entry zone; and
executing the predetermined entry maneuver.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A navigation and guidance computer system using navigation sensors to determine aircraft position, and automatically control the aircraft to fly from an initial position to intercept and follow a crew-selected rendezvous orbit in accordance with Air Traffic Control and military specified rules. It creates maneuvers that result in smooth, efficient motion of the aircraft from an initial position to the execution of a rendezvous orbit. It controls the aircraft by applying commands to the aircraft'"'"'s autopilot. The system creates the smooth and coordinated maneuvers by considering and anticipating all constraints on the aircraft flight path by creating a single maneuver that is a re-entry maneuver, an over fly maneuver, and a turning maneuver all as a single turn that is contained entirely within the allowable airspace. All maneuvers are created and executed recognizing the turning capability of the aircraft considering allowable bank angles, current wind conditions and true airspeed.
21 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for maneuvering an aircraft for entering into a holding pattern, the aircraft position being known and the location and orientation of the holding pattern being known, the method comprising the steps of:
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dividing an airspace around the holding pattern into at least three zones;
determining a relative bearing between a line from the aircraft to a control point of the holding pattern and an inbound leg line through the control point of the holding pattern;
selecting an entry zone from the at least three zones based on the determined relative bearing;
providing a predetermined entry maneuver for the selected entry zone; and
executing the predetermined entry maneuver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for maneuvering an aircraft for entering into a holding pattern, the aircraft position being known and the location and orientation of the holding pattern being known, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining a relative bearing between a line from the aircraft to a control point of the holding pattern and an inbound leg line through the control point of the holding pattern;
dividing an airspace around the holding pattern into at least three entry zones, the three entry zones comprising;
a first zone comprising the relative bearing of an angle between −
180 degrees to <
0 degrees;
a second zone comprising the relative bearing of an angle between >
+90 degrees to <
+180 degrees, wherein second zone further comprises;
zone 2b comprising a portion of second zone that lies between the inbound leg and an outbound leg extended; and
zone 2a comprising a remaining portion of the second zone not within zone 2b;
anda third zone comprising the relative bearing of an angle between 0 to +90 degrees;
providing a preselected entry maneuver for each entry zone, wherein the entry maneuver for the first zone comprises flying over the control point and capturing the outbound leg of the holding pattern;
the entry maneuver for 2a comprises initially flying toward the control point and turning to capture the outbound leg of the holding pattern;
the entry maneuver for zone 2b comprises initially flying toward the control point and initiating a turn to capture the outbound leg of the holding pattern at a distance from the control point equal to twice an aircraft'"'"'s worst case turning radius; and
the entry maneuver for zone 3 comprises flying to intersect tangentially semicircle with a radius equal to an aircraft'"'"'s worst-case turn radius which lies within zone 3 and which passes through the holding pattern control point tangential to the holding pattern inbound leg;
selecting an entry zone base on the determined relative bearing; and
executing the preselected maneuver for the selected entry zone.
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Specification