On-board system for constructing an aircraft track

• US 20060069468A1
• Filed: 09/28/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Helicopters
• Original Assignee: Eurocopter
• Inventors: Astruc, Joel
• Granted Patent: US 7,558,652 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 5/0086 for monitoring terrain radar or analogous systems specially adapted for terrain avoidance G01S13/935

Abstract

A system (20) on board or suitable for use on board an aircraft to define an aircraft track having a plurality of segments, the system includes a display unit (10) arranged to display an image (11) containing a representation of the footprint of a segment (S, S1, S2) in a plane or level; an analog input member (17) for inputting altitude data (A) into a computer (13) connected to the display unit; and a calculation program or module arranged to determine a representation (C1, C2, PR1, PR2) of relief that is dangerous for a flight altitude equal to the value of the altitude data (A), and to superimpose (or include) the representation on (in) the image (11).

Claims

1. A system (20) enabling an operator to define or modify in interactive manner an aircraft track comprising a plurality of segments, the system being characterized in that it comprises:

display means (10) arranged to display an image (11) representing the footprint of a segment (S, S1, S2) of the aircraft track on a plane or level;

an analog input member (17) or means enabling the operator to input altitude data (A) for a point or segment of the aircraft track into a computer (13) connected to the display means; and

a calculation program or module arranged to determine a representation (C1, C2, PR1, PR2) of relief that is dangerous for a flight altitude equal to the altitude data (A) and to superimpose said representation on the image (11).

2. A system according to claim 1, in which the analog input member or means enables two parameters of a point or segment of the track to be input substantially simultaneously, such as latitude and longitude,

3. A system according to claim 1, in which the analog input member or means enable three parameters of a track segment or point to be input substantially simultaneously, such as latitude, altitude, and longitude.

4. A system according to claim 3, in which the analog input member or means comprises a pointer member such as a joystick or a track-ball or a scroll-wheel, and a confirmation member such as a button or a switch for confirming the data corresponding to the position of the pointer member.

5. A system according to claim 4, in which the member(s) is/are simulated.

6. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a module for extracting cartographic data from a cartographic database (14) and for integrating said data in the image (11).

7. A system according to claim 1, in which the calculation program or module includes means for determining at least one first contour line (C1) of dangerous relief and at least one second contour line (C2) of dangerous relief surrounding at least the first contour line, on the basis of a vertical positioning error (EPV) and of an overflight margin (MS).

8. A system according to claim 7, in which the zones of the image (11) defined by the contour lines (C1 and C2) are of different colors and/or textures.

9. A system according to claim 1, in which the representation of the footprint of a segment comprises a strip corresponding to a horizontal positioning error (EPH), and a strip corresponding to an avoidance margin (MC).

10. A system according to claim 1, in which the image includes a representation of two successive segments (S1, S2) of a track, the segments having respective axes (211 and 212), and in which the representation of dangerous relief intersected by the bisector (BI) of the angle formed by said axes is defined by open contour lines (C11, C21, C12, C22) and by the bisector.

11. A system (20) on board a rotary wing aircraft and enabling an operator to define or modify interactively an aircraft track comprising a plurality of track segments, the system being characterized in that it comprises:

a computer (13);

display means (10) arranged to display an image containing a representation in a horizontal plane or level of at least one strip centered on an aircraft track segment (S, S1, S2), the display means being connected to the computer;

analog input means (17) arranged to enable the operator to input altitude data (A) into the computer (13) for at least one point of the aircraft track segment, the analog input means being connected to the computer; and

a calculation module co-operating with the computer to determine a representation (C1, C2, PR1, PR2) of relief that is dangerous for a flight altitude equal to the value of the altitude data (A), and to include said representation of dangerous relief in the image (11).

12. A system according to claim 11, in which the analog input member or means enables two coordinates of a track segment or point to be input substantially simultaneously.

13. A system according to claim 11, in which the analog input member or means enables the latitude, the altitude, and the longitude of a track segment or point to be input substantially simultaneously.

14. A system according to claim 13, in which the analog input member or means comprises a pointer member and a member for confirming data corresponding to the position of the pointer member.

15. A system according to claim 14, in which the positioning and confirmation members are simulated.

16. A system according to claim 11, further comprising a module for extracting cartographic data from a cartographic database (14) and a module for integrating cartographic data in the image (11).

17. A system according to claim 11, in which the calculation module includes means for determining at least a first contour line (C1) of dangerous relief and at least a second contour line (C2) of dangerous relief surrounding the first contour line, on the basis of a vertical positioning error (EPV) and of an overflight margin (MS).

18. A system according to claim 17, in which the zones of the image (11) defined by the contour lines (C1 and C2) are of different colors or textures.

19. A system according to claim 11, in which the strip centered on the track segment comprises a strip of width corresponding to a horizontal positioning error (EPH) together with a strip of width corresponding to an avoidance margin (MC).

20. A system according to claim 11, in which the image includes a representation of two successive track segments (S1, S2) having respective axes (211 and 212), and in which the representation of dangerous relief intersected by the bisector (BI) of the angle formed by said axes is defined by open contour lines (C11, C21, C12, C22) and by the bisector.