Flight information computation and display

• US 20040143393A1
• Filed: 01/22/2003
• Published: 07/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christian Aka Kip Smith, William R. Knecht
• Original Assignee: Christian Aka Kip Smith, William R. Knecht
• Inventors: Knecht, William R., Smith, Christian aka Kip
• Granted Patent: US 6,970,104 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/301
• 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: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• 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

Flight information display apparatus and methods compute and display maneuver space (MS) target or ownship aircraft and conflict regions (CR) with surrounding obstacles such as traffic, weather, and terrain. The display utilizes coordinates based upon heading and altitude, and optionally also upon ground speed. Capability for selecting non-conflicting maneuvers and executing the maneuvers may be built in.

Claims

1. Improved apparatus for computing and displaying flight information comprising:

a processor for computing a maneuver space, comprising at least two-dimensional coordinates based upon heading and altitude, for an ownship or target aircraft and for computing a conflict region arising from a separate aircraft within the maneuver space; and

a display variant for displaying the maneuver space for the ownship or target aircraft and the conflict region arising from the separate aircraft.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor computes maneuver space including a third coordinate based upon ground speed.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor computes conflict regions for more than one separate aircraft within the maneuver space, and wherein the display displays conflict regions for the more than one separate aircraft within the maneuver space.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further including means for selecting a maneuver for an ownship or target ship based upon the computed maneuver space and conflict region.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further including means for executing a maneuver for an ownship or target ship based upon the computed maneuver space and conflict region.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display variant is located in the cockpit of an airplane.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display variant is located in an aircraft control workstation.

8. A method for computing and displaying flight information comprising the steps of:

computing maneuver space, based on at least two dimensions including heading and altitude, for a ownship or target aircraft;

computing a conflict region for a separate aircraft within the maneuver space; and

displaying the maneuver space for the ownship or target aircraft and the conflict region for the separate aircraft.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of computing maneuver space is further based upon a third dimension of ground speed.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of computing a conflict region includes the steps of:

(a) determining a lookahead time for the computation; and

(b) calculating present and predicted future positions of the ownship or target ship and the separate aircraft within the maneuver space based upon the lookahead time.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of computing a conflict region computes conflict regions for more than one separate aircraft within the maneuver space, and wherein the displaying step displays conflict regions for the more than one separate aircraft within the maneuver space.

12. The method of claim 8, further including the step of selecting a maneuver for an ownship or target ship based upon the computed maneuver space and conflict region.

13. The method of claim 12, further including the step of executing a maneuver for an ownship or target ship based upon the computed maneuver space and conflict region.