AUTOMATED LANDING AREA DETECTION FOR AIRCRAFT
First Claim
1. A method for detecting a landing area for an aircraft, the method comprising:
- obtaining sensor data indicative of an approach area of the aircraft;
extracting distinguishable features of the approach area from the sensor data;
comparing characteristics of the distinguishable features to one or more environment features associated with a desired landing area for the aircraft; and
providing flight crew feedback in response to the comparing step.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for detecting a landing area or runway for an aircraft includes a detection subsystem, a processor architecture, flight deck instrumentation, and a runway feature template database. The system is operated to perform an automated method for visually confirming the presence of a runway on approach. The method obtains sensor data indicative of an approach area of the aircraft, and extracts visually distinguishable features of the approach area from the sensor data. The method also accesses the runway feature template corresponding to the intended approach runway for the aircraft, fits the visually distinguishable features to the runway feature template, and provides flight crew feedback in response to the fitting step.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for detecting a landing area for an aircraft, the method comprising:
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obtaining sensor data indicative of an approach area of the aircraft; extracting distinguishable features of the approach area from the sensor data; comparing characteristics of the distinguishable features to one or more environment features associated with a desired landing area for the aircraft; and providing flight crew feedback in response to the comparing step. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for detecting a landing area for an aircraft, the system comprising:
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an onboard detection subsystem configured to obtain sensor data indicative of an approach area of the aircraft; a processor architecture coupled to the onboard detection subsystem, the processor architecture being configured to; receive the sensor data; extract visually distinguishable features of the approach area from the sensor data; and fit the visually distinguishable features to a runway feature template; and a flight deck instrument coupled to the processor architecture, the flight deck instrument being configured to generate feedback that is influenced by the extent of matching of the visually distinguishable features to the runway feature template. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An automated method for visually confirming a landing area for an aircraft, the method comprising:
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obtaining sensor data indicative of an approach area of the aircraft; extracting visually distinguishable features of the approach area from the sensor data; accessing a runway feature template corresponding to an intended approach runway for the aircraft; fitting the visually distinguishable features to the runway feature template; and providing flight crew feedback in response to the fitting step. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification