System and method for automatically controlling a path of travel of a vehicle

• US 20040162670A1
• Filed: 02/19/2003
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Klein, Walter von Jr., Cameron, Douglas C., Brown, Eric D., Krothapalli, Krish R., Williams, Todd M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,142,971 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0015 Devices specially adapted for the protection against criminal attack, e.g. anti-hijacking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0031 means for overriding or restricting access to flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0061 for transition from automatic pilot to manual pilot and vice versa

Abstract

The method and system for automatically controlling a path of travel of a vehicle include engaging an automatic control system when the security of the onboard controls is jeopardized. Engagement may be automatic or manual from inside the vehicle or remotely via a communication link. Any onboard capability to supersede the automatic control system may then be disabled by disconnecting the onboard controls and/or providing uninterruptible power to the automatic control system via a path that does not include the onboard accessible power control element(s). The operation of the vehicle is then controlled via the processing element of the automatic control system. The control commands may be received from a remote location and/or from predetermined control commands that are stored onboard the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for automatically controlling a path of travel of a vehicle comprising:

engaging an automatic control system of the vehicle;

disabling any onboard capability to supersede the engaged automatic control system; and

controlling operation of the vehicle via the automatic control system.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a signal indicating the safety of the vehicle is jeopardized prior to engaging the automatic control system of the vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein engaging the automatic control system comprises manually engaging the automatic control system from onboard the vehicle.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein engaging the automatic control system comprises automatically engaging the automatic control system when the security of the controls onboard the vehicle is jeopardized.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising communicating with at least one location off-board the vehicle via a communication link between the vehicle and the at least one off-board location.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein engaging the automatic control system comprises remotely engaging the automatic control system from the at least one location off-board the vehicle via the communication link.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein controlling operation of the vehicle via the automatic control system comprises receiving control commands from the at least one location off-board the vehicle via the communication link and carrying out the control commands.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein disabling any onboard capability to supersede the engaged automatic control system comprises disabling any onboard capability to disengage the engaged automatic control system.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein disabling any onboard capability to supercede the engaged automatic control system comprises disconnecting onboard controls.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein disabling any onboard capability to supercede the engaged automatic control system comprises bypassing at least one onboard accessible power control element by providing power to the automatic control system from an alternative power control element that is inaccessible.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein controlling operation of the vehicle via the automatic control system comprises receiving predetermined control commands stored onboard the vehicle and executing the predetermined control commands.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein engaging an automatic control system comprises engaging an automatic flight control system of an air vehicle, wherein disabling any onboard capability to supersede the engaged automatic control system comprises disabling any onboard capability to supersede the engaged automatic flight control system, and wherein controlling operation of the vehicle comprises controlling operation of the air vehicle via the automatic flight control system.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein controlling operation of the air vehicle via the automatic flight control system comprises determining a navigation path of the air vehicle to control at least one of a flight operation of the air vehicle and a landing of the air vehicle.

14. A system for automatically controlling a path of travel of a vehicle comprising:

at least one engagement element capable of engaging an automatic control system of the vehicle; and

at least one processing element capable of disabling any onboard capability to supersede the engaged automatic control system and any onboard capability to disengage the engaged automatic control system, and wherein said processing element is capable of receiving instructions for controlling operation of the vehicle via the automatic control system.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said at least one engagement element is located onboard the vehicle and is capable of receiving an input from onboard the vehicle to engage the automatic control system.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein said at least one engagement element is located onboard the vehicle and is capable of automatically engaging the automatic control system when the security of the controls onboard the vehicle is jeopardized

17. The system according to claim 14, further comprising a communication system capable of communicating with at least one location off-board the vehicle via a communication link between the vehicle and the at least one off-board location.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein one of said at least one engagement element is located outside the vehicle and is capable of remotely engaging the automatic control system via the communication link of said communication system.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein said processing element is also capable of receiving control commands from at least one location outside the vehicle via the communication link of said communication system.

20. The system according to claim 14, wherein said processing element is also capable of disconnecting onboard controls.

21. The system according to claim 14, wherein said processing element is also capable of bypassing at least one onboard accessible power control element and providing power to the automatic control system from an alternative power control element that is inaccessible.

22. The system according to claim 14, further comprising a storage element onboard the vehicle, and wherein said processing element is also capable of receiving predetermined control commands from said storage element for controlling operation of the vehicle via the automatic control system.

23. The system according to claim 14, wherein said at least one engagement element is capable of engaging an automatic flight control system of an air vehicle, wherein said at least one processing element is capable of disabling any onboard capability to supersede the engaged automatic flight control system and any onboard capability to disengage the engaged automatic flight control system, and wherein said at least one processing element is capable of receiving instructions for controlling operation of the air vehicle via the automatic flight control system.

24. A method of engaging an uninterruptible autopilot mode to automatically control flight operations of an air vehicle, comprising:

initiating an autopilot system of the air vehicle;

disconnecting onboard flight controls and bypassing at least one onboard accessible power control element to directly connect the autopilot system of the air vehicle to a n alternative, inaccessible power supply, such that the uninterruptible autopilot mode of the air vehicle is engaged; and

automatically navigating the air vehicle without input from onboard the air vehicle via the uninterruptible autopilot mode of the air vehicle.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein initiating an autopilot mode of the air vehicle comprises transmitting an uninterruptible autopilot mode signal from onboard the air vehicle to the autopilot system of the air vehicle.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein transmitting an uninterruptible autopilot mode signal from onboard the air vehicle comprises automatically transmitting an uninterruptible autopilot mode signal upon an occurrence of an event onboard the air vehicle.

27. The method according to claim 24, wherein initiating an autopilot mode of the air vehicle comprises transmitting an uninterruptible autopilot mode signal from a remote location to the autopilot system of the air vehicle.

28. The method according to claim 24, further comprising transmitting a signal from the air vehicle to at least one remote location to indicate that the uninterruptible autopilot mode of the air vehicle has been engaged, subsequent to initiating the autopilot mode of the air vehicle.

29. The method according to claim 24, wherein automatically navigating the air vehicle comprises automatically navigating the air vehicle away from populated areas.

30. The method according to claim 24, wherein automatically navigating the air vehicle comprises automatically navigating the air vehicle to one of a plurality of predetermined landing sites and automatically landing the air vehicle at the landing site.

31. An uninterruptible autopilot system for automatically controlling flight operations of an air vehicle, comprising:

an autopilot system capable of receiving a signal to initiate the uninterruptible autopilot system of the air vehicle;

at least one switching element capable of disconnecting onboard manual flight controls and bypassing at least one onboard accessible power control element to directly connect said autopilot system of the air vehicle to an alternative inaccessible power supply, such that the uninterruptible autopilot system of the air vehicle is engaged; and

a processing element capable of automatically navigating the air vehicle without input from onboard the air vehicle via the uninterruptible autopilot system of the air vehicle.

32. The system according to claim 31, wherein said autopilot system is capable of receiving a signal from onboard the air vehicle to initiate the uninterruptible autopilot system of the air vehicle.

33. The system according to claim 32, wherein said autopilot system is capable of receiving an automatically generated signal from onboard the air vehicle to initiate the uninterruptible autopilot system of the air vehicle.

34. The system according to claim 31, wherein said autopilot system is capable of receiving a signal from a location off-board the air vehicle to initiate the uninterruptible autopilot system of the air vehicle.

35. The system according to claim 31, wherein said autopilot system is capable of transmitting a signal to at least one remote location to indicate that the uninterruptible autopilot system of the air vehicle has been engaged.

36. The system according to claim 31, wherein said processing element is capable of receiving directions to automatically navigate the air vehicle away from populated areas.

37. The system according to claim 31, wherein said processing element is capable of receiving directions to automatically navigate the air vehicle to one of a plurality of predetermined landing sites and automatically landing the air vehicle at the landing site.

38. The system according to claim 31, wherein said autopilot system comprises said processing element.