Automated Safe Flight Vehicle

• US 20090105890A1
• Filed: 10/17/2007
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Whelan, David A., Jones, Richard D., Wenberg, Lynne L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,527,118 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/18 using automatic pilot
• 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

Abstract

Control systems and methods of use provide for fully automated phases of flight of an aircraft. Such fully automated phases include takeoff, cruising flight, and landing without the need for operator input or other operator intervention. Control systems and methods also provide for self-limited compliance with an operators desired deviation from a predetermined flight path, as well as automatic contingency response to non-normal conditions. Onboard and/or ground-based operators may cooperate with the control system in order to control the associated aircraft. Furthermore, an operator need not have any flight skill in order to affect changes in the flight path or other aspects of flight control.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a plurality of subsystems cooperatively configured to automatically control an aircraft during one or more phases of travel without requiring operator input to the system, the aircraft configured to transport passengers or non-flight-related cargo, the system configured to perform;

automated takeoff,

automated cruising flight toward a predetermined destination; and

automated landing.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is further configured to automatically control the aircraft in accordance with at least one of:

remote input received by way of wireless signals, and onboard operator input.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is further configured to:

receive operator input corresponding to a desired deviation away from a predetermined flight path;

automatically control travel of the aircraft away from the predetermined flight path in compliance with the desired deviation; and

automatically return the aircraft to travel along the predetermined flight path.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the system is further configured to limit compliance with the desired deviation away from the predetermined flight path in accordance with at least one of a no-fly zone, a distance-based limitation, and a fuel-based limitation.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the system is further configured to provide force feedback to the operator corresponding to the limited compliance with the desired deviation away from the predetermined flight path.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of subsystems includes at least one of:

an onboard operator interface, a collision sensing and avoidance subsystem, an automated navigation subsystem, a weather sensing subsystem, a communications subsystem, a path planning and steering subsystem, a flight control subsystem, an upset recovery subsystem, a terrain database, a terminal area database, a vehicle health management subsystem, a flight anomaly management subsystem, an emergency landing subsystem, a fuel management subsystem, and an aircraft weight and balance management subsystem.

7. The system of claim 6, the onboard operator interface including at least one of a visual highway-in-the-sky representation, heads up display of aircraft operating parameters, and a force feedback mechanism.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is further configured to automatically:

detect an anomalous condition during travel of the aircraft;

calculate a contingency response to the anomalous condition; and

implement the contingency response without requiring operator input.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the contingency response includes at least one of:

landing the aircraft at a location different than a predetermined destination, communicating the anomalous condition to a remote entity by way of wireless signals, and rerouting the aircraft along a flight path different than a predetermined flight path.

10. A method, comprising:

automatically controlling an aircraft without requiring operator intervention, the aircraft configured to carry passengers or non-flight-related cargo, the method including at least one of;

automated takeoff, and

automated landing.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising automatically controlling the aircraft in accordance with at least one of:

remote input to a control system of the aircraft received by way of wireless signals, and onboard operator input to the control system of the aircraft.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising automatically:

detecting an anomalous condition during flight of the aircraft;

calculating a contingency response to the anomalous condition; and

implementing the contingency response without requiring onboard operator input.

14. The method of claim 13, the contingency response including at least one of landing the aircraft at a location different than a predetermined destination, communicating the anomalous condition to a remote entity by way of wireless signals, and rerouting the aircraft along a flight path different than a predetermined flight path.

12. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving operator input to a control system of the aircraft corresponding to a desired deviation from a predetermined flight path;

automatically controlling travel of the aircraft away from the predetermined flight path in compliance with the desired deviation; and

automatically returning the aircraft to travel along the predetermined flight path.

15. A computer-readable storage media including a computer-readable code, the computer-readable code configured to cause one or more processors to automatically control an aircraft without operator intervention, the computer-readable code further configured to cause one or more processors to perform:

automated takeoff,

automated cruising flight toward a predetermined destination; and

automated landing.

16. The computer-readable storage media of claim 15, the computer-readable code further configured to cause the one or more processors to perform at least one of:

flight anomaly management, automated control of the aircraft in accordance with remote operator input, automated control of the aircraft in accordance with onboard operator input, collision sensing and avoidance, automated navigation, weather sensing, terrain database management, terminal area database management, wireless communications, path planning and steering, upset recovery, vehicle health management, fuel management, and aircraft weight and balance management.

17. The computer-readable storage media of claim 15, the computer-readable code further configured to cause the one or more processors to control an onboard operator interface, the onboard operator interface including at least one of:

a visual highway-in-the-sky representation, heads up display of aircraft operating parameters, and a force feedback mechanism.

18. The computer-readable storage media of claim 15, the computer-readable code further configured to cause the one or more processors to:

receive operator input corresponding to a desired deviation from a predetermined flight path;

automatically control travel of the aircraft away from the predetermined flight path in compliance with the desired deviation; and

automatically return the aircraft to travel along the predetermined flight path.

19. The computer-readable storage media of claim 15, the computer-readable code further configured to cause the one or more processors to:

detect an anomalous condition during travel of the aircraft;

calculate a contingency response to the anomalous condition; and

implement the contingency response without requiring operator input.

20. The computer-readable storage media of claim 19, the computer-readable code further configured such that the contingency response includes at least one of:

landing the aircraft at a location different than a predetermined destination, communicating the anomalous condition to a remote entity by way of wireless signals, and rerouting the aircraft along a flight path different than a predetermined flight path.