IMAGING AND DISPLAY SYSTEM TO AID HELICOPTER LANDINGS IN BROWNOUT CONDITIONS
First Claim
1. A system to enhance situational awareness in a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, comprising:
- an element for receiving data representing an unobscured image of a takeoff or landing zone;
an element for receiving navigational information;
a processing element programmed to generate one or more images representing said aircraft'"'"'s flight path relative to said takeoff or landing zone by transforming said data representing said unobscured image based on said navigational information; and
an element for outputting said one or more images to a display device, wherein said display device displays one or more images depicting position of said aircraft relative to said landing zone.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An imaging and display system provides helicopter pilots with an unobstructed display of a landing area in a brownout or whiteout condition by capturing a high resolution image of the landing area prior to obscuration. Using inertial navigation information from the aircraft or an independent system, the system transforms the image to a desired viewpoint and overlays a representation of the helicopter'"'"'s current position relative to the landing area. The system thus greatly improves orientation and situational awareness, permitting safe and effective operation under zero visibility brownout conditions.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system to enhance situational awareness in a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, comprising:
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an element for receiving data representing an unobscured image of a takeoff or landing zone; an element for receiving navigational information; a processing element programmed to generate one or more images representing said aircraft'"'"'s flight path relative to said takeoff or landing zone by transforming said data representing said unobscured image based on said navigational information; and an element for outputting said one or more images to a display device, wherein said display device displays one or more images depicting position of said aircraft relative to said landing zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for enhancing situational awareness in a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, comprising the steps of:
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acquiring data representing an unobscured image of a takeoff or landing zone; acquiring navigational information; generating one or more images representing said aircraft'"'"'s flight path relative to said takeoff or landing zone by transforming said data representing said unobscured image based on said navigational information; and displaying to a crew of said aircraft at least one of said one or more images representing said aircraft'"'"'s flight path.
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20. A system to enhance situational awareness in a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft in a brownout or whiteout environment, comprising:
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an imager for acquiring a digital image of a landing area; a system for acquiring, storing and transmitting navigational information; a display device in view of one or more of the flight crew; and a computer that inputs said navigational information, inputs and processes said digital image based on said navigational information, and outputs said processed image to said display device; wherein said display device displays an image depicting said aircraft position relative to said landing area.
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Specification