System And Method For Aiding Pilot Preview, Rehearsal, Review, and Real-Time Visual Acquisition Of Flight Mission Progress

• US 20080195309A1
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Original Assignee: Space Administration, The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Inventors: Bailey, Randall E., Williams, Steven P., Arthur, Jarvis J., Kramer, Lynda J., Pope, Alan T., Prinzel III, Lawrence J., Schutte, Paul C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,164,485 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0141 characterised by the informative content of the display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/045 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. determination of anti-collision manoeuvers radar or analogous systems specially adapted for anti-collision between aircraft G01S13/933
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention permit flight paths (current and planned) to be viewed from various orientations to provide improved path and terrain awareness via graphical two-dimensional or three-dimensional perspective display formats. By coupling the flight path information with a terrain database, uncompromising terrain awareness relative to the path and ownship is provided. In addition, missed approaches, path deviations, and any navigational path can be reviewed and rehearsed before performing the actual task. By rehearsing a particular mission, check list items can be reviewed, terrain awareness can be highlighted, and missed approach procedures can be discussed by the flight crew. Further, the use of Controller Pilot Datalink Communications enables data-linked path, flight plan changes, and Air Traffic Control requests to be integrated into the flight display of the present invention.

Claims

1. A system for displaying flight mission progress of an aircraft, the system comprising:

a processing element configured to render an exocentric flight display of the aircraft, the flight display comprising at least an external scene topography, a current flight path, a planned flight paths one or more obstacles within a predefined distance of either the current or planned flight path, and one or more navigational symbologies; and

a display element configured to receive and display the flight display.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing element is further configured to render a side-view terrain image showing either a current flight path or a planned flight path and terrain height at corresponding points along the respective current or planned flight path.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing element is further configured to receive current location and attitude information of the aircraft and to render the current location and attitude on the flight display.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the processing element is further configured to render the current location, a past location, or a future location of the aircraft on the flight display.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the external scene topography corresponds to the current aircraft location.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing element is further configured to receive current location information of other aircraft within a predefined distance the aircraft and to render the other aircraft within the flight display.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing element is further configured to receive air traffic control (ATC) clearance information and wherein the rendered planned flight path corresponds to the ATC clearance information.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing element is further configured to determine if the current flight path or the planned flight path is predicted to cause the aircraft to approach within (a) a first predefined distance from terrain or (2) a second predefined distance from an obstacle.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processing element is further configured to render an alternate flight path selected to avoid causing the aircraft to approach within (a) the first predefined distance from terrain or (2) the second predefined distance from an obstacle.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the external scene topography corresponds to a future location along either the current or planned flight path.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the processing element is further configured to advance in time the rendered external scene topography along either the current or planned flight path.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processing element is further configured to advance in time the rendered external scene topography at a selected speed.

13. The system of claim 3, wherein the processing element is further configured to determine whether the current aircraft location is greater than a predefined distance from the current flight path.

14. A method for displaying flight mission progress, the method comprising the steps of:

rendering by a processing element, an exocentric flight display of the aircraft, the flight display comprising at least an external scene topography, a current flight path, a planned flight path, one or more obstacles within a predefined distance of either the current or planned flight path, and one or more navigational symbologies;

receiving, in a display element, the flight display; and

displaying, in the display element, the flight display.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of:

rendering, by the processing element, a side-view terrain image showing either a current flight path or a planned flight path and terrain height at corresponding points along the respective current or planned flight path.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

receiving, in the processing element, current location information of the aircraft; and

rendering, by the processing element, the current location on the flight display.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of:

rendering, by the processing element, the current location, a past location, or a future location of the aircraft on the flight display.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the external scene topography corresponds to the current aircraft location.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

receiving, in the processing element, current location information of other aircraft within a predefined distance the aircraft; and

rendering, by the processing element, the other aircraft within the flight display.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of:

receiving, in the processing element, air traffic control (ATC) clearance information;

wherein the rendered planned flight path corresponds to the ATC clearance information.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of,

determining, by the processing element, if the current flight path or the planned flight path is predicted to cause the aircraft to approach within (a) a first predefined distance from terrain or (2) a second predefined distance from an obstacle.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of:

rendering, by the processing element, an alternate flight path selected to avoid causing cause the aircraft to approach within (a) the first predefined distance from terrain or (2) the second predefined distance from an obstacle.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the external scene topography corresponds to a future location along either the current or planned flight path.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of:

advancing in time, by the processing element, the rendered external scene topography along either the current or planned flight path.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein rendered external scene topography is advanced in time at a selected speed.