Runway incursion detection system and method for displaying a runway incursion

• US 20070043483A1
• Filed: 08/19/2005
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Bagge, Charles, Whalen, Donald
• Granted Patent: US 7,765,037 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/16
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0078 for monitoring traffic from the aircraft radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/065 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. for taxiing or rolling

Abstract

A method for displaying a runway incursion for an aircraft includes electronically gathering traffic information data from a traffic information system, employing a runway incursion algorithm to the traffic information data to detect a collision hazard, automatically calculating incursion data, and displaying the incursion data. A runway incursion detection system has a display unit, a computer and a software product that enables methodology herein.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a runway incursion for an aircraft, comprising:

electronically gathering traffic information data from a traffic information system;

employing a runway incursion algorithm to said traffic information data to detect a collision hazard;

automatically calculating incursion data; and

displaying said incursion data.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein said incursion data comprises an incursion time.

3. The method as in claim 2, wherein said incursion data further comprises:

an aircraft trend vector; and

a collision hazard trend vector.

4. The method as in claim 3, the step of displaying comprising:

displaying said aircraft trend vector on a display unit within the aircraft; and

displaying said collision hazard trend vector on the display unit.

5. The method as in claim 4, the step of displaying comprising arranging an endpoint of said aircraft trend vector to intersect with an endpoint of said collision hazard trend vector at an incursion point on the display unit.

6. The method as in claim 5, the step of displaying comprising displaying a graphic encircling said incursion point on the display unit.

7. The method as in claim 6, wherein:

said aircraft trend vector is truncated at said graphic; and

said collision hazard trend vector is truncated at said graphic.

8. The method as in claim 7, the step of displaying comprising displaying said incursion time inside said graphic.

9. The method as in claim 6, wherein said graphic is sized based on a size of said aircraft and a size of said collision hazard.

10. The method as in claim 6, wherein said graphic is sized based on an amount of uncertainty in said incursion data.

11. The method as in claim 2, wherein said incursion time data is based on:

aircraft position;

aircraft velocity;

aircraft heading;

collision hazard position;

collision hazard velocity; and

collision hazard heading.

12. The method as in claim 11, wherein said traffic information data provides:

said collision hazard position;

said collision hazard velocity; and

said collision hazard heading.

13. A runway incursion detection system for an aircraft, comprising:

a display unit;

a computer;

a software product comprising instructions, stored on computer-readable media, wherein the instructions, when executed by said computer, perform steps for evaluating a runway incursion and displaying the runway incursion on said display unit, the instructions comprising;

instructions for gathering traffic information data from a traffic information system;

instructions for employing a runway incursion algorithm to said traffic information data for detecting a collision hazard;

instructions for automatically calculating incursion data; and

instructions for displaying said incursion data on said display unit.

14. The system as in claim 13, wherein said incursion data comprises:

an incursion time;

an aircraft trend vector; and

a collision hazard trend vector.

15. The system as in claim 14, said instructions for displaying comprising:

instructions for displaying said aircraft trend vector on said display unit; and

instructions for displaying said collision hazard trend vector on said display unit.

16. The system as in claim 15, said instructions for displaying comprising instructions for arranging an endpoint of said aircraft trend vector to intersect with an endpoint of said collision hazard trend vector at an incursion point on said display unit.

17. The system as in claim 16, said instructions for displaying comprising instructions for displaying a graphic encircling said incursion point on said display unit.

18. The system as in claim 17, said instructions for displaying comprising instructions for:

truncating said aircraft trend vector at said graphic;

truncating said collision hazard trend vector at said graphic; and

displaying said incursion time inside said graphic.

19. The system as in claim 17, wherein said graphic is sized based on a size of said aircraft and a size of said collision hazard.

20. The system as in claim 17, wherein said graphic is sized based on an amount of uncertainty in said incursion data.