METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR GRAPHICALLY DISPLAYING SOURCES FOR AND NATURES OF AIRCRAFT FLIGHT CONTROL INSTRUCTIONS

• US 20070164877A1
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Mumaw, Randall, Boorman, Daniel, Griffin, John, Gunn, Peter, Bresley, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,256,710 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/973
• 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

Abstract

Methods and systems for graphically displaying sources for aircraft flight control instructions are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes displaying at a display medium a map of a region at least proximate to an aircraft and displaying an aircraft indicator at least proximate to the map. The aircraft indicator can identify current location of the aircraft, and its location relative to the map can be updated as the aircraft executes a flight. The method can further include displaying at least proximate to the map an indication of a current mode by which a path of the aircraft is currently being automatically controlled.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for presenting aircraft control and navigation information, comprising:

displaying at a display medium a map of a region at least proximate to an aircraft;

displaying an aircraft indicator at least proximate to the map, the aircraft indicator identifying a current location of the aircraft;

updating a location of the aircraft indicator relative to the map as the aircraft executes a flight;

displaying at least proximate to the map an indication of a current mode by which a flight path of the aircraft is currently being automatically controlled;

displaying a flight plan route, the flight plan route including at least one segment to be initiated automatically when the aircraft meets a threshold condition;

when the aircraft is not being automatically controlled to the flight plan route, displaying a current route to which the aircraft is being automatically controlled;

displaying an indication of where the current route will transition to the flight plan route; and

displaying an indication of a vertical speed required to make a transition from the current route to the flight plan route.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying a map includes displaying a map at a flight deck of the aircraft during flight.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying an indication of a current mode includes displaying an indication of a current pitch mode.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying an indication of a current mode includes displaying an indication of a current pitch mode, and wherein the method further comprises displaying an indication of an airspeed target at least proximate to the map.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein displaying an indication of an airspeed target includes displaying an indication of an airspeed target provided by a flight plan the flight plan including at least one flight segment to be initiated automatically when the aircraft meets a threshold condition, and wherein displaying the airspeed target includes displaying the airspeed target in a first manner when the aircraft is being controlled to the airspeed target, and displaying the airspeed target in a second manner different than the first manner when the aircraft is not being controlled to the airspeed target

6. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying a map includes displaying a plan view map of an area over which the aircraft is flying.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying a map includes displaying an elevation view map of altitude as a function of ground distance.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a flight plan route, the flight plan route including at least one flight segment to be initiated automatically when the aircraft meets a threshold condition.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying at least proximate to the map an indication of a subsequent mode by which the aircraft will be subsequently automatically controlled.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a route to which the aircraft will subsequently be controlled to comply with an operator-authorized directive that is not part of the flight plan route.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

ceasing to display the flight plan route when the location of the aircraft deviates from the flight plan route by at least a threshold amount.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the flight plan route includes:

a plurality of first flight segments to be initiated automatically when the aircraft meets corresponding threshold conditions, the first flight segments being received from a flight management computer; and

wherein the method further comprises;

superimposing the flight plan route on the map;

receiving from a mode control panel data corresponding to a second flight segment that is initiated automatically upon authorization from an operator, the second flight segment corresponding to the current route; and

superimposing the second flight segment on the display of the map.

10-13. -13. (canceled)

17. A computer-implemented method for presenting aircraft control and navigation information, comprising:

displaying a map of a region at least proximate to an aircraft at a flight deck of the aircraft;

displaying an aircraft indicator superimposed on the map, the aircraft indicator identifying a current location of the aircraft;

superimposing on the map an indication of a current mode by which a flight path of the aircraft is currently being automatically controlled;

superimposing on the map a strategic flight plan route including at least one segment to be initiated automatically when the aircraft meets a threshold condition;

when the aircraft is not being automatically controlled to the flight plan route, displaying a current tactical route to which the aircraft is being automatically controlled and displaying an indication of where the current tactical route will transition to the strategic flight plan route if the current tactical route intersects the strategic flight plan route;

displaying an indication of a vertical speed required to make a transition from the current route to the flight plan route;

when the operator authorizes a directive that is not part of the strategic flight plan route, displaying a tactical route to which the aircraft will subsequently be controlled to comply with an operator-authorized directive that is not part of the strategic flight plan route; and

ceasing to display the strategic flight plan route when the location of the aircraft deviates from the strategic flight plan route by at least a threshold amount.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein displaying the current tactical route includes displaying the current tactical route in a first manner and wherein displaying the strategic flight plan route includes displaying the strategic flight plan route in a second manner different than the first manner.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising displaying at least proximate to the map an indication of which phase of flight the aircraft is currently in.

20. A computer-implemented method for presenting aircraft control and navigation information, comprising:

displaying a map of a region at least proximate to an aircraft;

displaying at least proximate to the map an indication of which flight mode the aircraft will enter when an operator authorizes an altitude target via an input device, wherein the input device is configured to direct motion of the aircraft to a target only upon authorization from an operator; and

displaying proximate to the map a textual indicator identifying an effect of authorizing the target.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

displaying an aircraft indicator at least proximate to the map, the aircraft indicator identifying a current location of the aircraft; and

displaying an indication of a current mode by which a flight path of the aircraft is currently being automatically controlled.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the input device includes an altitude control knob of a mode control panel.

23. A system for presenting aircraft control and navigation information, comprising:

a computer-readable medium having contents capable of performing a method that includes;

displaying at a display medium a map of a region at least proximate to an aircraft;

displaying an aircraft indicator at least proximate to the map, the aircraft indicator identifying a current location of the aircraft;

updating a location of the aircraft indicator relative to the map as the aircraft executes a flight;

displaying at least proximate to the map an indication of a current mode, including a pitch mode, by which a flight path of the aircraft is currently being automatically controlled; and

displaying an indication of an airspeed target at least proximate to the map, the airspeed target being provided by a flight plan, the flight plan including at least one flight segment to be initiated automatically when the aircraft meets a threshold condition, and wherein displaying the airspeed target includes displaying the airspeed target in a first manner when the aircraft is being controlled to the airspeed target, and displaying the airspeed target in a second manner different than the first manner when the aircraft is not being controlled to the airspeed target.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the computer-readable medium forms a portion of a flight guidance computer, and wherein the flight guidance computer includes a first portion configured to receive instructions for flight segments to be automatically initiated upon authorization by an operator and a second portion configured to receive and store instructions for flight segments to be initiated at future times upon meeting corresponding threshold conditions.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein the computer-readable medium forms a portion of a flight guidance computer, and wherein the flight guidance computer includes a first portion configured to receive instructions for flight segments to be automatically initiated upon authorization by an operator and a second portion configured to receive and store instructions for flight segments to be initiated at future times upon meeting corresponding threshold conditions, the first portion including an input device to receive an authorization input from the operator, and wherein the computer-readable medium is capable of displaying at least proximate to the map an indication of which flight mode the aircraft will enter when the operator authorizes an altitude target at the input device.

26. The system of claim 23 wherein the computer-readable medium forms a portion of a flight guidance computer, and wherein the flight guidance computer includes a mode control panel configured to receive instructions for flight segments to be automatically initiated upon authorization by an operator and a flight management system configured to receive and store instructions for flight segments to be initiated at future times upon meeting corresponding threshold conditions.

27. The system of claim 23 wherein the computer-readable medium is configured to display the map at a flight deck of the aircraft during flight.

29. The system of claim 23 wherein the computer-readable medium is configured to display an elevation view map of altitude as a function of ground distance.

30. The system of claim 23 wherein the computer-readable medium is configured to display a flight plan route, the flight plan route including at least one flight segment to be initiated automatically when the aircraft meets a threshold condition.

31. The system of claim 23 wherein the computer-readable medium is configured to display at least proximate to the map an indication of a subsequent mode by which the aircraft will be subsequently automatically controlled.

32. The system of claim 23 wherein the computer-readable medium is configured to:

display a flight plan route, the flight plan route including at least one flight segment to be initiated automatically when the aircraft meets a threshold condition; and

when the aircraft is not being automatically controlled to the flight plan route, display a current route to which the aircraft is being automatically controlled.

33. The system of claim 23 wherein the computer-readable medium is configured to:

display a flight plan route, the flight plan route including at least one segment to be initiated automatically when the aircraft meets a threshold condition;

when the aircraft is not being automatically controlled to the flight plan route, display a current route to which the aircraft is being automatically controlled; and

display an indication of where the current route will transition to the flight plan route.

34. The system of claim 23 wherein the computer-readable medium is configured to:

display a flight plan route, the flight plan route including at least one segment to be initiated automatically when the aircraft meets a threshold condition; and

display a route to which the aircraft will subsequently be controlled to comply with an operator-authorized directive that is not part of the flight plan route.

35. The system of claim 23 wherein the computer-readable medium is configured to:

display a flight plan route, the flight plan route including at least one segment to be initiated automatically when the aircraft meets a threshold condition; and

cease displaying the flight plan route when the location of the aircraft deviates from the flight plan route by at least a threshold amount.

36. The system of claim 23 wherein the computer-readable medium is configured to:

receive from a flight management computer data corresponding to the locations of a plurality of first flight segments to be initiated automatically when the aircraft meets corresponding threshold conditions;

superimpose a flight plan route on the map, the flight plan route including at least one of the first flight segments;

receive from a mode control panel data corresponding to a second flight segment that is initiated automatically upon authorization from an operator; and

superimpose the second flight segment on the display of the map.

28. (canceled)

37. A system for presenting aircraft control and navigation information, comprising:

a flight guidance computer including;

a first portion configured to receive instructions for flight segments to be automatically initiated upon authorization by an operator, the first portion including an input device to receive an authorization input from the operator;

a second portion configured to receive and store instructions for flight segments to be initiated at future times upon meeting corresponding threshold conditions; and

a computer-readable medium having contents capable of;

displaying a map of a region at least proximate to an aircraft;

displaying at least proximate to the map an indication of which flight mode the aircraft will enter when the operator authorizes an altitude target at the input device;

displaying a flight plan route, the flight plan route including at least one segment to be initiated automatically when the aircraft meets a threshold condition;

when the aircraft is not being automatically controlled to the flight plan route, displaying a current route to which the aircraft is being automatically controlled;

displaying an indication of where the current route will transition to the flight plan route; and

displaying an indication of a vertical speed required to make a transition from the current route to the flight plan route.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein the first portion includes a mode control panel, the input device includes an altitude knob of the mode control panel, and the second portion includes a flight management system.

39. (canceled)

40. (canceled)

41. A computer-implemented method for presenting aircraft control and navigation information, comprising:

displaying at a display medium a map of a region at least proximate to an aircraft;

displaying an aircraft indicator at least proximate to the map, the aircraft indicator identifying a current location of the aircraft;

updating a location of the aircraft indicator relative to the map as the aircraft executes a flight;

displaying at least proximate to the map an indication of a current mode by which a flight path of the aircraft is currently being automatically controlled including a pitch mode; and

displaying an indication of an airspeed target at least proximate to the map, the airspeed target begin provided by a flight plan, the flight plan including at least one flight segment to be initiated automatically when the aircraft meets a threshold condition, and wherein displaying the airspeed target includes displaying the airspeed target in a first manner when the aircraft is being controlled to the airspeed target, and displaying the airspeed target in a second manner different than the first manner when the aircraft is not being controlled to the airspeed target.