Apparatuses and methods for displaying and receiving tactical and strategic flight guidance information

• US 20050143871A1
• Filed: 12/24/2003
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Gunn, Peter D., Mumaw, Randall J., Griffin, John C. III, Boorman, Daniel J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,188,007 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/3
• 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 5/0052 for cruising combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value G01C23/00

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for displaying and receiving tactical and strategic flight guidance information are disclosed. A method in accordance with one aspect of the invention includes displaying at least one first indicator to an operator of the aircraft, with a first indicator corresponding to a first instruction input by the operator for directing a first aircraft behavior and implemented upon receiving an activation instruction from the operator. At least one second indicator corresponding to a second instruction for directing a second aircraft behavior at least proximately the same as the first aircraft behavior is displayed, with the at least one second instruction to be automatically implemented at a future time. The at least one second indicator is at least approximately the same as the at least one first indicator. Indicators can be hierarchically organized to simplify presentation and reduce pilot training time.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for controlling an aircraft, comprising:

displaying at least one first indicator to an operator of an aircraft, the at least one first indicator corresponding to at least one first instruction input by the operator for directing a first aircraft behavior and implemented upon receiving an activation instruction from the operator; and

displaying at least one second indicator to the operator, the at least one second indicator corresponding to at least one second instruction for directing a second aircraft behavior at least approximately the same as the first aircraft behavior, the at least one second instruction to be automatically implemented at a future time, the at least one second indicator being at least approximately the same as the at least one first indicator.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying the at least one first indicator includes displaying an indicator corresponding to a first type of maneuver directed to a first target, and wherein displaying the at least one second indicator includes displaying an indicator corresponding to a second type of maneuver at least generally similar to the first type of maneuver directed to a second target different than the first target.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying at least one first indicator includes displaying at least one first indicator corresponding to any aircraft behavior mode or submode selectable by the operator.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying at least one first indicator includes displaying an indicator identifying the behavior of the aircraft in a vertical direction.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying at least one first indicator includes displaying an indicator identifying the behavior of the aircraft in a lateral direction.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying at least one first indicator includes displaying an indicator identifying the airspeed of the aircraft.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying the at least one first indicator includes displaying an indicator identifying the direction of travel of the aircraft and a target to which the aircraft is directed.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically implementing the second instruction.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising implementing the first instruction, and wherein implementing the first instruction includes automatically directing the aircraft to a target.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an input from the operator to automatically implement the first instruction; and

automatically implementing the first instruction by automatically directing the aircraft to a target.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising implementing the first instruction, and wherein implementing the first instruction includes displaying a guide by which the operator can manually fly the aircraft.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying the at least one first indicator includes displaying the at least one first indicator on a mode control panel of the aircraft, and wherein displaying the at least one second indicator includes displaying the at least one second indicator on the mode control panel, the mode control panel including at least one input device positioned to receive control inputs from the operator, and wherein the method further comprises receiving at least one aircraft control input from the operator at the at least one input device.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying the at least one first indicator includes displaying an identification of a mode for controlling the aircraft.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying the at least one first indicator includes displaying a textual indicator.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying the at least one first indicator includes displaying an identification of a mode and a submode for controlling the aircraft, the submode being one of a plurality of available submodes corresponding to the mode.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying the at least one first indicator includes displaying at least one lateral indicator corresponding to an aspect of the lateral motion of the aircraft, at least one vertical indicator corresponding to an aspect of the vertical motion of the aircraft, and at least one speed indicator corresponding to an aspect of the speed of the aircraft.

17. A computer-implemented method for controlling an aircraft, comprising:

presenting a plurality of first level options for controlling an aspect of the aircraft'"'"'s motion, at least one of the first level options having associated with it a plurality of second level options;

receiving a first input corresponding to a selection of the at least one first level option;

presenting a plurality of second level options corresponding to the at least one first level option; and

receiving a second input corresponding to a selection of one of the second level options.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

displaying the first level options on a display panel; and

changing a characteristic of a display of the at least one first level option after receiving a first input corresponding to a selection of the at least one first level option.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein presenting a plurality of first level options includes presenting at least two of the first level options at a display as a switch is manipulated.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein presenting a plurality of second level options includes providing at least two of the second level options as text messages on a display panel.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein presenting a plurality of second level options includes providing temporally sequential alphanumeric indications of the second level options as the operator manipulates a switch.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein presenting a plurality of first level options includes providing a first set of first level options for controlling a lateral motion of the aircraft, a second set of first level options for controlling a vertical motion of the aircraft, and a third set of first level options for controlling a speed of the aircraft.

23. A computer-implemented method for operating an aircraft, comprising:

receiving an input corresponding to a selected landing site;

storing as part of a flight plan for an aircraft, aircraft control information corresponding to at least one of a landing approach and a go-around for potential subsequent execution at the landing site;

automatically retrieving the aircraft control information when the aircraft is at least proximate to the landing site; and

providing guidance instructions to execute the aircraft control information.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein storing aircraft control information includes storing aircraft control information corresponding to both lateral and vertical motion of the aircraft during landing.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein providing guidance instructions includes at least one of providing a visual guide to an operator of the aircraft and providing control signals to at least one aircraft actuator.

26. An aircraft system including a computer-readable medium having contents that perform a method, comprising:

displaying at least one first indicator to an operator of an aircraft, the at least one first indicator corresponding to at least one first instruction input by the operator for directing a first aircraft behavior and implemented upon receiving an activation instruction from the operator; and

displaying at least one second indicator to the operator, the at least one second indicator corresponding to at least one second instruction for directing a second aircraft behavior at least approximately the same as the first aircraft behavior, the at least one second instruction to be automatically implemented at a future time, the at least one second indicator being at least approximately the same as the at least one first indicator.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the contents of the computer-readable medium are configured to display the at least one first indicator to include an indicator corresponding to a first type of maneuver directed to a first target, and display the at least one second indicator to include an indicator corresponding to a second type of maneuver at least generally similar to the first type of maneuver directed to a second target different than the first target.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein the contents of the computer-readable medium are configured to display at least one first indicator to include at least one first indicator corresponding to any aircraft behavior mode or submode selectable by the operator.

29. The system of claim 26 wherein the contents of the computer-readable medium are configured to display at least one first indicator to include an indicator identifying the behavior of the aircraft in a vertical direction.

30. The system of claim 26 wherein the contents of the computer-readable medium are configured to display at least one first indicator to include an indicator identifying the behavior of the aircraft in a lateral direction.

31. The system of claim 26 wherein the contents of the computer-readable medium are configured to display the at least one first indicator to include an indicator identifying the direction of travel of the aircraft and a target to which the aircraft is directed.

32. The system of claim 26, further comprising a mode control panel, and wherein the contents of the computer-readable medium are configured to display the at least one first indicator at the mode control panel and display the at least one second indicator at the mode control panel, the mode control panel including at least one input device positioned to receive control inputs from the operator, and wherein the contents of the computer-readable medium are configured to receive at least one aircraft control input from the operator at the at least one input device.

33. The system of claim 26 wherein the contents of the computer-readable medium are configured to display the at least one first indicator to include an identification of a mode for controlling the aircraft.

34. The system of claim 26 wherein the contents of the computer-readable medium are configured to display the at least one first indicator to include a textual indicator.

35. The system of claim 26 wherein the contents of the computer-readable medium are configured to display the at least one first indicator to include an identification of a mode and a submode for controlling the aircraft, the submode being one of a plurality of available submodes corresponding to the mode.

36. The system of claim 26 wherein the contents of the computer-readable medium are configured to display the at least one first indicator to include at least one lateral indicator corresponding to an aspect of the lateral motion of the aircraft, at least one vertical indicator corresponding to an aspect of the vertical motion of the aircraft, and at least one speed indicator corresponding to an aspect of the speed of the aircraft.

37. An aircraft system including a computer-readable medium having contents that perform a method, comprising:

presenting a plurality of first level options for controlling an aspect of the aircraft'"'"'s motion, at least one of the first level options having associated with it a plurality of second level options;

receiving a first input corresponding to a selection of the at least one first level option;

presenting a plurality of second level options corresponding to the at least one first level option; and

receiving a second input corresponding to a selection of one of the second level options.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein the contents of the computer-readable medium are configured to:

display the first level options on a display panel; and

change a characteristic of a display of the at least one first level option after receiving a first input corresponding to a selection of the at least one first level option.

39. The system of claim 37 wherein the contents of the computer-readable medium are configured to present a plurality of second level options to include at least two of the second level options as text messages on a display panel.

40. The system of claim 37 wherein the contents of the computer-readable medium are configured to present a plurality of first level options to include a first set of first level options for controlling a lateral motion of the aircraft, a second set of first level options for controlling a vertical motion of the aircraft, and a third set of first level options for controlling a speed of the aircraft.

41. An aircraft system including a computer-readable medium having contents that perform a method, comprising:

receiving an input corresponding to a target for directing an aircraft;

when the target is in a first direction relative to a current position of the aircraft, displaying a first indicator corresponding to an instruction for directing the aircraft to move toward the target; and

when the target is in a second direction opposite the first direction, displaying a second indicator corresponding to an instruction for directing the aircraft to move toward the target, the second indicator being different than the first indicator.

42. The system of claim 41, further comprising a computer having an least one input device to receive the input and at least one output device to display the first and second indicators.

43. The system of claim 41 wherein a receiver portion receives the input and a display portion displays the first and second indicators.

44. The system of claim 41, further comprising:

the aircraft; and

a computer having an least one input device to receive the input and at least one output device to display the indicators.

45. The system of claim 41, wherein the contents of the computer-readable medium are configured to display a first indicator to include a first textual indicator corresponding to a right turn, and wherein the contents of the computer-readable medium are configured to display a second indicator to include a second textual indicator corresponding to a left turn.

46. The system of claim 41, wherein the contents of the computer-readable medium are configured to display a first indicator to include a first indicator corresponding to a climb, and wherein the contents of the computer-readable medium are configured to display a second indicator to include a second indicator corresponding to a descent.

47. An aircraft system including a computer-readable medium having contents that perform a method, comprising:

receiving an input corresponding to an instruction for directing an aircraft to a target position above or below its current position; and

automatically directing the aircraft to the target position by;

automatically controlling a first force on the aircraft by directing one of a pitch axis control device and a thrust axis control device; and

automatically controlling a second force on the aircraft by directing the other of the pitch axis control device and a thrust axis control device.

48. The system of claim 47 wherein the contents of the computer-readable medium are configured to automatically direct one of an aircraft elevator, an aircraft engine and an aircraft speed brake.

49. The system of claim 47, further comprising a computer having an least one input device to receive the input.

50. The system of claim 47 wherein a receiver portion receives the input.

51. The system of claim 47, further comprising:

the aircraft; and

a computer having an least one input device to receive the input.

52. The system of claim 47, wherein the contents of the computer-readable medium are configured to perform the following processes:

when a requested rate of altitude change is above a threshold value, automatically control a speed of the aircraft by directing an elevator of the aircraft and automatically controlling a rate of altitude change of the aircraft by controlling engine thrust; and

when a requested rate of altitude change is below the threshold value, automatically control a speed of the aircraft by controlling engine thrust and automatically controlling a rate of altitude change of the aircraft by directing an elevator of the aircraft.

53. An aircraft system including a computer-readable medium having contents that perform a method, comprising:

receiving an input corresponding to a target for an aircraft;

displaying at least one indicator corresponding to an instruction for directing a behavior of the aircraft; and

directing activation of the instruction only if the instruction is consistent with the target.

54. The system of claim 53, further comprising a computer having an least one input device to receive the input and at least one output device to display the indicator.

55. The system of claim 53 wherein a receiver portion receives the input and a display portion displays the at least one indicator.

56. The system of claim 53, further comprising:

the aircraft; and

a computer having an least one input device to receive the input and at least one output device to display the at least one indicator.

57. The system of claim 53 wherein the contents of the computer-readable medium are configured to receive an input for a target altitude above a current altitude of the aircraft, and wherein the contents of the computer-readable medium are configured to not direct activation of the instruction if the instruction is for an aircraft descent.

58. An aircraft system including a computer-readable medium having contents that perform a method, comprising:

receiving an indication of an altitude clearance limit for an aircraft;

displaying the indication of the altitude clearance limit at a display portion of the aircraft;

receiving an instruction from an operator to cease displaying the indication of the altitude clearance limit for the aircraft;

ceasing to display the clearance limit; and

controlling the aircraft to a pre-programmed altitude.

59. The system of claim 58, further comprising a computer having an least one input device to receive the instruction.

60. The system of claim 58, further comprising:

the aircraft; and

a computer having an least one input device to receive the instruction.

61. The system of claim 58 wherein the contents of the computer-readable medium are configured to receive the indication of a clearance limit directly from air traffic control.

62. The system of claim 58 wherein the contents of the computer-readable medium are configured to receive the indication of a clearance limit from an operator in communication with air traffic control.

63. An aircraft system including a computer-readable medium having contents that perform a method, comprising:

displaying in a sequential manner a plurality of aircraft altitudes including a current target altitude to which the aircraft is currently being directed, and a plurality of subsequent target altitudes to which the aircraft will be directed upon attaining the current target altitude;

receiving an indication of a current altitude of the aircraft; and

providing an alert to an operator of the aircraft only if the current altitude of the aircraft differs from the displayed current target altitude by more than a predetermined amount.

64. The system of claim 63, further comprising a computer having a flight plan list display to display the target altitudes.

65. The system of claim 63, further comprising:

the aircraft; and

a computer having a flight plan list display to display the target altitudes.

66. The system of claim 63 wherein the current target altitude includes a target altitude for a level flight maneuver during at least one of a climb phase of flight, a descent phase of flight and a cruise phase of flight.

67. An aircraft system including a computer-readable medium having contents that perform a method, comprising:

receiving a request from an aircraft operator for an aircraft descent when the aircraft is at a first altitude above a threshold altitude;

based solely on the request, automatically directing the aircraft to descend to a second altitude along a path that at least approximately minimize the descent rate of the aircraft.

68. The system of claim 67, further comprising a computer having an least one input device to receive the request.

69. The system of claim 67, further comprising:

the aircraft; and

a computer having an least one input device to receive the request.

70. The system of claim 67 wherein the contents of the computer-readable medium are configured to receive a request that includes a request to be executed during engine-out operation of the aircraft.

71. An aircraft system including a computer-readable medium having contents that perform a method, comprising:

receiving a request corresponding to an instruction for directing an aircraft behavior, the request to be implemented by directing first and second forces to be imposed on the aircraft, the first force being in a first direction and the second force being in a second direction different than the first direction; and

displaying a first indicator corresponding to the first force and a second indicator corresponding to the second force;

wherein displaying the first indicator includes displaying the first indicator in a first manner if the first force is to be implemented before the second force, and displaying the first indicator in a second manner different than the first manner if the first force is to be implemented after the second force.

72. The system of claim 71, further comprising a computer having an least one input device to receive the input and at least one output device to display the instruction.

73. The system of claim 71 wherein a receiver portion receives the input and a display portion displays the first and second indicators.

74. The system of claim 71, further comprising:

the aircraft; and

a computer having an least one input device to receive the input and at least one output device to display the instruction.

75. The system of claim 71 wherein the contents of the computer-readable medium are configured to receive a request from an operator to be implemented upon receiving an activation instruction from the operator.

76. The system of claim 71 wherein the first force includes at least one of an axial force, a pitch force and a lateral force, and wherein the second force includes another of an axial force, a pitch force and a lateral force.

77. The system of claim 71 wherein the contents of the computer-readable medium are configured to receive a request corresponding to a mode for operating the aircraft and a target to which the aircraft will be directed.