Threat avoidance system and methods using adjustments to built-in values

• US 20040068372A1
• Filed: 10/03/2002
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Reynolds, Zachary R., Ybarra, Kathryn W.
• Application Number:
  US10/263,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20040068372A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/106 Change initiated in response to external conditions, e.g. avoidance of elevated terrain or of no-fly zones
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0086 for monitoring terrain radar or analogous systems specially adapted for terrain avoidance G01S13/935
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0091 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 enhancing flight safety of a host aircraft receives an adjustment value from a portable memory device; determines a working value of a parameter in accordance with the adjustment value; and provides an advice for threat avoidance in accordance with the working value of the parameter, a terrain database, and an expected climb gradient capability of the host aircraft. The adjustment value may describe an adjustment to at least one of: an aircraft capability parameter, a flight crew capability parameter, a mission parameter, a threat detection technique parameter, a threat advice parameter, or a threat avoidance parameter. Threats include a risk of colliding with other aircraft, colliding with terrain, and encountering adverse weather conditions.

Claims

1. A system installed on the host aircraft for enhancing flight safety of the host aircraft, the system comprising:

a. means for receiving an adjustment value from a portable memory device;

b. means for determining a working value of a parameter in accordance with the adjustment value, the parameter describing other than terrain and expected climb gradient; and

c. means for threat avoidance that provides an advice in accordance with the working value of the parameter, a terrain database, and an expected climb gradient capability of the host aircraft.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for receiving comprises a PCMCIA interface for operation with the portable memory device.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for determining comprises means for assigning the adjustment value to the working value.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for determining comprises means for selecting, in accordance with the adjustment value, a built-in value for the working value.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for determining comprises means for combining the adjustment value and a built-in value to provide the working value.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the means for combining combines in accordance with at least one of addition and subtraction.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the means for combining combines in accordance with at least one of multiplication and division.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the parameter describes a flight crew capability.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the parameter describes a mission of the host aircraft.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for threat avoidance comprises means for performing a threat detection technique in accordance with a threat detection technique parameter that comprises the working value of the parameter.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for threat avoidance provides the advice in accordance with a threat advice parameter comprising the working value of the parameter.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for threat avoidance comprises a threat avoidance parameter comprising the working value of the parameter.

13. A method for enhancing flight safety of an aircraft, the method comprising:

a. a step for receiving an adjustment value from a portable memory device;

b. a step for determining a working value of a parameter in accordance with the adjustment value, the parameter describing other than terrain and expected climb gradient; and

c. a step for providing an advice for threat avoidance in accordance with the working value of the parameter, a terrain database, and an expected climb gradient capability of the host aircraft.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step for receiving comprises a receiving via a PCMCIA interface in operation with the portable memory device.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the step for determining comprises a step for assigning the adjustment value to the working value.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the step for determining comprises a step for selecting, in accordance with the adjustment value, a built-in value for the working value.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the step for determining comprises a step for combining the adjustment value and a built-in value to provide the working value.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step for combining comprises at least one of a step for adding and a step for subtracting.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the step for combining comprises at least one of a step for multiplying and a step for dividing.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the parameter describes a flight crew capability.

21. The method of claim 13 wherein the parameter describes a mission of the host aircraft.

22. The method of claim 13 wherein the step for threat avoidance comprises step for performing a threat detection technique in accordance with a threat detection technique parameter that comprises the working value of the parameter.

23. The method of claim 13 wherein the step for threat avoidance provides the advice in accordance with a threat advice parameter comprising the working value of the parameter.

24. The method of claim 13 wherein providing an advice for threat avoidance is performed in accordance with a threat avoidance parameter comprising the working value of the parameter.

25. A system installed on the host aircraft for enhancing flight safety of the host aircraft, the system comprising:

a. means for receiving an adjustment value from a portable memory device;

b. means for determining a working value of a parameter in accordance with the adjustment value, the parameter describing other than expected climb gradient; and

c. means for traffic collision avoidance that provides an advice in accordance with the working value of the parameter and an expected climb gradient capability of the host aircraft.