Telematics process for helicopters

• US 20030125849A1
• Filed: 12/02/2002
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Braun, Guenter, Klausing, Helmut
• Granted Patent: US 6,895,327 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/93 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/935 for terrain-avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/002 for traffic control, mobile tracking, guidance, surveillance or anti-collision
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0082 for monitoring traffic from a ground station radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91

Abstract

The invention relates to a telematics method for helicopters. According to the inventive method, the use spectrum of helicopters which are provided with all-weather flight guidance and obstacle warning systems is enlarged and flight security is further improved by transmitting data and/or speech by means of terrestrial and/or satellite-supported mobile radio telecommunications networks and by connecting to a locating system. Logistics processes of the helicopter operation and of the institutions benefiting from a helicopter use are optimised.

Claims

1. Telematic process for helicopters with an all-weather flight guidance and obstacle warning system which utilizes terrestrial or satellite-assisted mobile radiocommunications networks for the mobile communication, characterized in that the process is connected with a satellite-assisted and/or terrestrial locating system, wherein

a) by means of a completely or partially automated transmission of position and operational information between the helicopter and a control center, based on the connection of a locating system with a mobile voice and/or data transmission, a unit and fleet management is established,

b) an automatic, semiautomatic or manually controlled communication takes place with databanks in order to, on the one hand, retrieve data relevant to mission purposes and/or flight safety and, on the other hand, transmit actual data from the surroundings of the helicopter—

such as weather data, obstacle backdrop, images, etc.—

to databanks,

c) an indirect or direct mobile radiocommunications connection is established to existing earth-bound systems for emergency call and breakdown assistance, traffic and guiding systems system of all types, and is maintained,

d) a transmission of patient diagnostic data takes place for the selection of the most suitable hospital, its preparation for the primary care as well as for obtaining assistance from specialists for the emergency medical personnel on board,

e) data are transmitted concerning the condition of the helicopter and/or of the crew for an effective mission planning, servicing and spare parts supply.

2. Telematic process according to claim 1, characterized in that the transmission of voice and data can be implemented by way of a terrestrial mobile radiocommunications network as well as by way of a satellite radiocommunications network as well as simultaneously by way of both networks.

3. Telematic process according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the selection of the transmission path or paths can be implemented according to quality criteria of the transmission and reachability of the distant terminal in an automatic, semiautomatic or manual manner.

4. Telematic process according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the satellite mobile radiocommunications antennas are mounted above the main rotor head and above the rear rotor, in the case of helicopters without any rear rotor, close to the rearward helicopter end, and each separately but also both jointly are utilized with space and frequency diversity for an optimal radio transmission.

5. Telematic process according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the terrestrial mobile radiocommunications antennas are mounted at the highest and lowest points of the helicopter, thus above the main rotor head and above the rear rotor, in the case of helicopters without any rear rotor, close to the rearward helicopter end as well as on the underside of the helicopter in the front, in the rear and in the center, and each separately but also both jointly are used with space and frequency diversity for an optimal radio transmission.

6. Telematic process according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the satellite mobile radiocommunications antennas and the upper antennas for the terrestrial mobile radiocommunications are connected with one another or use the same radiator element.

7. Telematic process according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the lower antennas for the terrestrial radiocommunications have a directional effect and, during the flight, are mechanically or electronically tracked to a radio station which is as advantageous as possible.

8. Telematic process according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, for the purpose of a collision warning, position messages are continuously transmitted to a control center which operates an analyzing system for computing collision risks of the helicopters among one another or with other obstacles whose position is known on basis of information of a digital map or of position messages by radio, or which transmits the position data of all helicopters operating in the area and of low-flying surface airplanes to all traffic participants in the air space, the collision risk being determined by an analyzing system implemented in the helicopter.

9. Telematic process according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a road map is added to the process which is vectorized in the GDF format.

10. Telematic process according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that actual data or transaction data are transmitted from a digital map before and during the mission to the helicopter in order to update its database.

11. Telematic process according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that actual data concerning the surroundings of the helicopter are recorded by means of an on-board optical or radar-based real sight system, are compared with the digital map, and transaction data are transmitted from the helicopter by way of mobile radiocommunications or storage media to the map databank for updating the obstacle background.

12. Telematic process according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that actual data of all types sensed by the helicopter by means of sensors are transmitted by way of mobile radio communications or storage media to a databank.