PROCEDURE TO MINIMIZE THE RISK OF MID-AIR COLLISION FOR PERSONAL AIR VEHICLES

• US 20090099712A1
• Filed: 05/08/2008
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: COLICH, JOSEPH M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,676,304 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/8
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/006 in accordance with predefined flight zones, e.g. to avoid prohibited zones
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0065 for taking-off
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913

Abstract

A method of and a system for controlling personal air vehicle (PAV) traffic provides a take-off-and-landing zone, and a forward flight zone. The take-off-and-landing zone may be from the ground up to a first altitude. The forward flight zone may be from the first altitude up to a second altitude. A maximum airspeed is provided in the take-off-and-landing zone. Minimum and maximum airspeeds are provided in the forward flight zone. In the forward flight zone there is a single heading for each altitude. Any change in heading must be accompanied by a change in altitude.

Claims

1. A method of controlling personal air vehicle traffic, which comprises:

establishing a take-off-and-landing zone; and

,

establishing a forward flight zone.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, including:

establishing a maximum airspeed in said take-off-and-landing zone; and

,

establishing a minimum airspeed and a maximum airspeed in said forward flight zone.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the maximum airspeed in said take-off-and-landing zone is equal to the minimum air speed in said forward flight zone.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said maximum airspeed in said take-off-and-landing zone is about twenty-five miles per hour.

5. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said maximum airspeed in said forward flight zone is about one hundred miles per hour.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said take-off-and-landing zone is defined by a first altitude range; and

,

said forward flight zone is defined by a second altitude range.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first altitude range is from zero to a first altitude above the ground.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second altitude range is from said first altitude to a second altitude above the ground.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

said first altitude is about two hundred feet; and

,

said second altitude is about one thousand feet.

10. The method as claimed in claim 6, including:

establishing for each heading in said forward flight zone a single altitude.

11. The method as claimed in claim 6, including:

establishing for each altitude in said forward flight zone a single heading.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, including:

establishing in said forward flight zone a maximum heading change airspeed.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said maximum heading change airspeed is established for heading changes greater than a minimum heading change.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said maximum heading change airspeed is about thirty-five miles per hour.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said minimum heading change is about twenty degrees.

16. The method as claimed in claim 1, including:

establishing in said forward flight zone a minimum altitude difference for passing personal air vehicles.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said minimum altitude difference is about forty-five feet.

18. The method as claimed in claim 16, including:

requiring an overtaking personal air vehicle to pass an overtaken personal air vehicle at an altitude difference greater than said minimum altitude difference.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, including:

Whenever the altitude difference between said overtaking personal air vehicle and said overtaken personal air vehicle is less than said minimum altitude difference and said over overtaking personal air vehicle is above said overtaken personal air vehicle, requiring said overtaking personal air vehicle to ascend to an altitude such that the altitude difference between said overtaking personal air vehicle and said overtaken personal air vehicle is at least equal to said minimum altitude difference.

20. The method as claimed in claim 18, including:

Whenever the altitude difference between said overtaking personal air vehicle and said overtaken personal air vehicle is less than said minimum altitude difference and said over overtaking personal air vehicle is below said overtaken personal air vehicle, requiring said overtaking personal air vehicle to descend to an altitude such that the altitude difference between said overtaking personal air vehicle and said overtaken personal air vehicle is at least equal to said minimum altitude difference.

21. The method as claimed in claim 1, including:

requiring, in said forward flight zone, that any personal air vehicle ascend when turning in a first direction; and

,

requiring, in said forward flight zone, that any personal air vehicle descend when turning in a second direction.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein:

said any personal air vehicle is required to ascend at a mandatory rate of ascent per degree of heading change; and

,

said any personal air vehicle is required to descend at a mandatory rate of descent per degree of heading change.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein said mandatory rate of descent is equal to said mandatory rate of ascent.

24. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein:

said forward flight zone is defined by a minimum altitude and a maximum altitude; and

,

said mandatory rates of ascent and descent are equal to the difference between said maximum altitude and said minimum altitude divided by three hundred sixty degrees.

25. The method as claimed in claim 23, including:

establishing, in said forward flight zone, a mandatory altitude for each heading.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein establishing said mandatory altitude for each heading includes:

establishing for said minimum altitude a mandatory initial heading;

establishing for each altitude above said minimum altitude a mandatory heading, said mandatory heading being equal to said initial heading plus the difference between said minimum altitude and said altitude above said minimum altitude multiplied by said mandatory rate of ascent.

27. The method as claimed in claim 1, including:

requiring a personal air vehicle to emit a turn signal before making a heading change.

28. The method as claimed in claim 27, wherein said personal air vehicle is required to emit a turn signal before making a heading change greater than a minimum amount.

29. The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein said minimum amount is twenty degrees.