VEHICLE TRAJECTORY VISUALIZATION SYSTEM

• US 20080300745A1
• Filed: 05/30/2007
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Goossen, Katherine, Leo, Maurizio
• Granted Patent: US 7,912,596 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/25
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0044 by providing the operator with a computer generated representation of the environment of the vehicle, e.g. virtual reality, maps maps used for automatic navigation G05D1/0274; flight directors G01C23/005
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground

Abstract

A vehicle trajectory visualization system capable of displaying real-time (or recorded) vehicle orientation, position, velocity, and waypoint data using a 3D rendering system. The aforementioned data is transmitted from the vehicle to a base station that processes and manipulates the data prior to 3D rendering and insertion into a database. Due to the storing of the vehicle trajectory data, playback of past trajectories is possible, enabling enhanced visual After-Action Review. This system provides instant visual inspection of any virtual or real vehicle'"'"'s planned trajectory and waypoints versus actual traveled trajectory.

Claims

1. A vehicle trajectory visualization system comprising:

a communication component configured to receive orientation, position, and velocity information from a vehicle;

a display device; and

a processor in signal communication with the memory, the communication component, and the display device, the processor configured to generate vehicle trajectory icons based on the received vehicle orientation, position, and velocity information and waypoint icons based on previously defined waypoint information,

wherein the display device displays the generated icons in a 3D environment based on a predefined viewpoint, wherein the vehicle trajectory icons include one or more nodes and trajectory lines connected to the nodes and the waypoint icons include one or more waypoint nodes with lines that link the waypoint nodes.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication component receives according to a wireless communication protocol.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor performs coordinate system transformation on at least one of the vehicle orientation, position, and velocity information for use in the 3D environment.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor generates one or more velocity vectors associated with at least one of the trajectory icon nodes and the display device displays the generated velocity vectors.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory comprises terrain and obstacle information, the processor generates display features based on the stored terrain and obstacle information, and the display device displays the generated features.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor generates a calculated vehicle trajectory based on dynamics information associated with the vehicle and environmental conditions of the vehicle, and the display device displays the generated calculated vehicle trajectory.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the environmental conditions include terrain and obstacle information and at least one of the waypoint icons or the trajectory icons.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface component in signal communication with the processor, the user interface component configured to generate a viewpoint signal, wherein the processor alters viewpoint of the generated icons in the 3D environment based on the generated viewpoint signal.

9. A vehicle trajectory visualization method comprising:

receiving orientation, position, and velocity information from a vehicle;

generating vehicle trajectory icons based on the received vehicle orientation, position, and velocity information; and

generating waypoint icons based on previously defined waypoint information, displaying the generated icons in a 3D environment based on a predefined viewpoint,

wherein the vehicle trajectory icons include one or more nodes and trajectory lines connected to the nodes and the waypoint icons include one or more waypoint nodes with lines that link the waypoint nodes.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving is performed according to a wireless communication protocol.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein generating comprises a coordinate system transformation of at least one of the vehicle orientation, position, and velocity information into the 3D environment.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein generating comprises generating one or more velocity vectors associated with at least one of the trajectory icon nodes and displaying displays the generated velocity vectors.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein generating comprises generating display features based on stored terrain and obstacle information, and displaying displays the generated features.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein generating comprises generating a calculated vehicle trajectory based on dynamics information associated with the vehicle and environmental conditions of the vehicle and displaying displays the generated calculated vehicle trajectory.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the environmental conditions include terrain and obstacle information and at least one of the waypoint icons or the trajectory icons.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising generating a viewpoint signal using a user interface device, wherein generating comprises altering a viewpoint of the generated icons in the 3D environment based on the generated viewpoint signal.