Survivability system

• US 20080133070A1
• Filed: 12/04/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Herman, Carl R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,848,879 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/4
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0202 specially adapted to aircraft

Abstract

A system determines a course of action for a vehicle. The system includes an altitude module, a threat detection module, a route module, and a threat avoidance module. The altitude module contains a list of types of threats. The list includes a predetermined threshold time for maximum safe visibility by the vehicle for each type. The threat detection module detects threats. The route module stores a planned route for the vehicle. The threat avoidance module determines types of threats detected by the threat detection module. The threat avoidance module utilizes the predetermined threshold times from the altitude module for each threat detected by the threat detection module to determine whether the planned route may safely enter visibility range of each threat detected by the threat detection module.

Claims

1. A system for determining a course of action for a vehicle, said system comprising:

an altitude module containing a list of types of threats, the list including a predetermined threshold time for maximum safe visibility by the vehicle for each type;

a threat detection module for detecting threats;

a route module for storing a planned route for the vehicle; and

a threat avoidance module for determining types of the threats detected by said threat detection module, said threat avoidance module utilizing the predetermined threshold times from said altitude module for each threat detected by said threat detection module to determine whether the planned route may safely enter visibility range of each threat detected by said threat detection module.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said threat avoidance module determines a first elapsed time that the planned route brings the vehicle within the visibility range of a first threat detected by said threat detection module.

3. The system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said threat avoidance module determines whether the first elapsed time is less than a predetermined threshold time of the first threat.

4. The system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said threat avoidance module maintains the planned route of the vehicle if the first elapsed time is less than the predetermined threshold time of the first threat.

5. The system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said threat avoidance module reroutes the vehicle out of visibility of the first threat if the first elapsed time is greater than the predetermined threshold time of the first threat.

6. The system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said threat avoidance module determines a second elapsed time that the planned route brings the vehicle within the visibility range of a second threat detected by said threat detection module.

7. The system as set forth in claim 6 wherein said threat avoidance module determines whether the second elapsed time is less than a predetermined threshold time of the second threat.

8. The system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said threat avoidance module maintains the planned route of the vehicle if the second elapsed time is less than the predetermined threshold time of the second threat.

9. The system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said threat avoidance module reroutes the vehicle out of visibility of the second threat if the second elapsed time is greater than the predetermined threshold time of the second threat.

10. The system as set forth in claim 1 further including an operator alerts module for communicating to an operator of the vehicle that said threat avoidance module suggests a deviation from the planned route.

11. A computer program product for determining a course of action for a vehicle, said computer program product comprising:

a first instruction for listing types of threats, each type including a predetermined threshold time for maximum safe visibility by the vehicle for each type;

a second instruction for detecting threats;

a third instruction for storing a planned route for the vehicle;

a fourth instruction for determining types of the threats detected by the vehicle; and

a fifth instruction for utilizing the predetermined threshold times for each threat detected by the vehicle to determine whether the planned route may safely enter visibility range of each threat detected by the vehicle.

12. The computer program product as set forth in claim 11 further including a sixth instruction for determining a first elapsed time that the planned route brings the vehicle within the visibility range of a first threat detected by the vehicle.

13. The computer program product as set forth in claim 12 further including a seventh instruction for determining whether the first elapsed time is less than a predetermined threshold time of the first threat.

14. The computer program product as set forth in claim 13 further including an eighth instruction for maintaining the planned route of the vehicle if the first elapsed time is less than the predetermined threshold time of the first threat.

15. The computer program product as set forth in claim 13 further including an eighth instruction for rerouting the vehicle out of visibility of the first threat if the first elapsed time is greater than the predetermined threshold time of the first threat.

16. The computer program product as set forth in claim 12 further including a seventh instruction for determining a second elapsed time that the planned route brings the vehicle within the visibility range of a second threat detected by the vehicle.

17. The computer program product as set forth in claim 16 further including an eighth instruction for determining whether the second elapsed time is less than a predetermined threshold time of the second threat.

18. The computer program product as set forth in claim 17 further including a ninth instruction for maintaining the planned route of the vehicle if the second elapsed time is less than the predetermined threshold time of the second threat.

19. The computer program product as set forth in claim 17 further including a ninth instruction for rerouting the vehicle out of visibility of the second threat if the second elapsed time is greater than the predetermined threshold time of the second threat.

20. The computer program product as set forth in claim 19 further including a tenth instruction for alerting an operator of the vehicle a deviation from the planned route.