METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ASSISTING IN THE NAVIGATION OF AN AIRPLANE ON THE GROUND AT AN AIRPORT

• US 20070299597A1
• Filed: 06/05/2007
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus France
• Inventors: Fetzmann, Fabien, Coldefy, Pierre, La Vielle, Isabelle, Gros, Nicolas
• Granted Patent: US 8,296,060 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/120
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/065 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. for taxiing or rolling

Abstract

The device (1) comprises means (12) for automatically presenting data relating to the path to be followed by the airplane at the airport in textual form on a display screen (14), and means (2) for automatically presenting this data in graphic form on a display screen (3), using a plot illustrating said path on an airport map.

Claims

1. A method for assisting in the navigation of an airplane on the ground at an airport, whereby:

a set of indications (4) is displayed on at least one display screen (3), comprising at least;

an airport map (5) which at least partially represents the airport; and

an airplane symbol (8) which illustrates the current position of the airplane at the airport and which is displayed on said airport map (5);

data is received which is generated by a control station (11) of the airport and which relates to a path to be followed by the airplane at said airport;

this received data is presented automatically, in graphic form, on said first display screen (3), and this using a first plot (16A) illustrating on said airport map (5) said path to be followed by the airplane; and

also, said received data is automatically presented in textual form,

wherein said data generated by the control station (11) is received via a data transmission link (7), said received data is presented in textual form on at least one second display screen (14), and, in addition, the following operations are carried out;

data relating to a second plot (16B) illustrating a new path to be followed by the airplane, is received via the data transmission link (7);

this second plot (16B) is presented on said first display screen (3), in addition to said first plot (16A), by showing it differently;

means (18) are provided enabling a pilot of the airplane to transmit information to said control station (11) in order to acknowledge the receipt of data received via said data reception means (10); and

when said means (18) have been used to acknowledge the receipt of said second plot (16B);

said first plot (16A) is deleted from said first display screen (3); and

said second plot (16B) is given its final form on said first display screen (3).

2. The method as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the width of said plot (16) is proportional each time to the actual width of the taxiing route (6) along which said path passes, also taking into account the current scale of said first display screen (3).

3. The method as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the end of a plot (16) is graphically reinforced, and symbols illustrating stop points are presented on the airport map (5).

4. The method as claimed in claim 1,

characterized in that the part of a plot (16) which is located behind said airplane symbol (8) is deleted automatically, when the airplane moves along the path illustrated by this plot (16).

5. The method as claimed in claim 1,

wherein there is shown on said first display screen (3), labels (17) of the taxiing routes (6) via which a plot passes (16), a label (17) comprising information concerning the associated taxiing route (6).

9. An airplane,

which comprises a device (1) designed to implement the method specified under claim 1.

6. A device for assisting in the navigation of an airplane on the ground at an airport, said device (1) comprising:

first display means (2) for displaying on at least one first display screen (3), a set of indications (4) comprising at least;

an airport map (5) which at least partially represents the airport; and

an airplane symbol (8) which illustrates the current position of the airplane at the airport and which is displayed on said airport map (5);

data reception means (10) for receiving data which is generated by a control station (11) of the airport and which relates to a path to be followed by the airplane at said airport; and

second display means (12) for automatically presenting said data in textual form,

said first display means (2) being designed in such a way as to automatically present this data in graphic form on said first display screen (3), using a first plot (16A) illustrating on said airport map (5) said path to be followed by the airplane,

wherein;

said data reception means (10) receive said data via a data transmission link (7);

said second display means (12) present said data, in textual form, on at least one second display screen (14);

said data reception means (10) are designed to be able to receive data relating to a second plot (16B) illustrating a new path to be followed by the airplane;

said first display means (2) are designed to present, where appropriate, this second plot (16B) on said first display screen (3) in addition to said first plot (16A), showing it differently;

said device (1) also comprises means (18) enabling a pilot of the airplane to transmit information to said control station (11) in order to acknowledge the reception of data received via said data reception means (10); and

said first display means (2) are designed in such a way as to automatically;

delete said first plot (16A) on said first display screen (3); and

have the second plot (16B) assume its final form on said first display screen (3),

when said means (18) have been used to acknowledge the receipt of said second plot (16B).

7. The device as claimed in claim 6,

which also comprises means (19) enabling a pilot of the airplane to make a request for information to said control station (11), via said data transmission link (7), so as to be able to dialog directly with a controller located in said control station (1) of the airport by using said data transmission link (7).

8. A system for assisting in the navigation of an airplane on the ground at an airport,

which comprises:

a navigation aid device (1), such as that specified under claim 6;

and

at least data transmission means (22) which are arranged on a control station (11) of the airport and which cooperate with the reception means (10) of said navigation aid device (1), so as to generate said data transmission link (7).

10. An airplane,

which comprises a device (1) such as that specified under claim 6.