Low cost flight instrumentation system
First Claim
1. A backup system configured to provide flight condition information in the event of partial or complete inoperability of a primary flight instrument system, said backup system comprising:
- a source of electrical power;
a plurality of sensors configured to collect flight data;
a processor signally coupled to said plurality of sensors such that it operates on said collected flight data to generate at least a portion of said flight condition information, said flight condition information comprising at least flight path angle, turn rate, and lateral acceleration; and
a display signally coupled to said processor such that said display conveys said at least a portion of said flight condition information in such a way as to provide a pilot with a reduced cognitive workload.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device for providing flight condition information and a method of displaying such information. In one form, the device functions as a backup system to provide flight condition information in the event of partial or complete inoperability of a primary flight instrument system, or to complement such primary flight instrument system. Numerous sensors collect flight data, which can pass through devices to convert and manipulate the data to produce flight condition information that can be displayed in such a way as to reduce a pilot'"'"'s cognitive workload. The information displayed includes at least flight path angle, lateral acceleration, and turn rate. Additional information that may be displayed includes heading information, as well as information relating to airspeed and altitude, among others. In another form, the device can be part of either a primary or backup system.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A backup system configured to provide flight condition information in the event of partial or complete inoperability of a primary flight instrument system, said backup system comprising:
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a source of electrical power;
a plurality of sensors configured to collect flight data;
a processor signally coupled to said plurality of sensors such that it operates on said collected flight data to generate at least a portion of said flight condition information, said flight condition information comprising at least flight path angle, turn rate, and lateral acceleration; and
a display signally coupled to said processor such that said display conveys said at least a portion of said flight condition information in such a way as to provide a pilot with a reduced cognitive workload. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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4. The system of claim 4, wherein said pneumatic pressure sensors further comprise a static pressure sensor and a dynamic pressure sensor.
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18. A device for displaying aircraft flight condition information, said device comprising:
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a primary display; and
a standby display independently operable of said primary display, said standby display configured to convey at least flight path angle, lateral acceleration, and turn rate information in such a way as to provide a pilot with a reduced cognitive workload in event of a failure of said primary display or another component providing said aircraft flight condition information to said primary display.
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19. A method of providing flight condition information to a user, said method comprising:
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collecting a plurality of flight data;
manipulating at least a portion of said plurality of flight data such that it can be used as said flight condition information; and
displaying said flight condition information to include at least flight path angle, lateral acceleration and aircraft turn rate. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of displaying estimated aircraft heading information, said method comprising:
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collecting data corresponding to an aircraft yaw rate;
manipulating said collected aircraft yaw rate data to put it in a form that can be displayed;
retrieving data corresponding to at least one of an aircraft pitch angle and an aircraft roll angle;
adjusting said aircraft yaw rate data that is in a form that can be displayed with said retrieved data; and
displaying said estimated aircraft heading information. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A system configured to provide flight condition information, said system comprising:
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a source of electrical power;
a plurality of sensors configured to collect flight data;
a processor signally coupled to said plurality of sensors such that it operates on at least a portion of said collected flight data to generate said flight condition information, said flight condition information comprising at least flight path angle, turn rate, and lateral acceleration; and
a display signally coupled to said processor such that said display conveys said flight condition. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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Specification