PREDICTED PATH SELECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HAZARD CODING IN SELECTIVELY CONSTRAINED AIRCRAFT CONTROL SYSTEMS
First Claim
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1. A predicted path selection system for aircraft:
- a controlling means for controlling control surfaces and propulsion systems of an aircraft to cause an aircraft to follow an actual path, the controlling means receiving a first input describing a planned path and a second input indicating a constraint on the actual path in at least one direction, the controlling means selectively causing the aircraft to conform the actual path to the planned path or a constrained path corresponding to the constraint;
a means for inputting the constraint to the controlling means;
a flight planning means for calculating a planned path comprising a plurality of waypoints sequenced by the aircraft and inputting the planned path to the controlling means;
a surveillance means for detecting locations of hazards and producing alerts corresponding to hazards near a predicted flight path, the surveillance means detecting activation of the constraint, detecting an aircraft location, comparing the aircraft location to the constrained path and planned path after detecting activation, and selecting the constrained path as the predicted flight path when the aircraft location is within a tolerance distance from the constrained path and the aircraft location and a next unsequenced waypoint forming the planned path either both satisfy the constraint or both violate the constraint.
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Abstract
A surveillance system detects potential hazards and alerts the pilot to them. The alerts can be modified to indicate proximity to the predicted path of the aircraft. An autopilot receives instructions from a flight management system (FMS) regarding a planned path and is subject to constraints preempting the planned path. The surveillance system selects which of the planned and a constrained path will be followed for alerting and hazard coding purposes. Means are disclosed to determine when the constrained path will be followed by evaluating the current position of an aircraft, the planned path, and the constraint data.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A predicted path selection system for aircraft:
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a controlling means for controlling control surfaces and propulsion systems of an aircraft to cause an aircraft to follow an actual path, the controlling means receiving a first input describing a planned path and a second input indicating a constraint on the actual path in at least one direction, the controlling means selectively causing the aircraft to conform the actual path to the planned path or a constrained path corresponding to the constraint; a means for inputting the constraint to the controlling means; a flight planning means for calculating a planned path comprising a plurality of waypoints sequenced by the aircraft and inputting the planned path to the controlling means; a surveillance means for detecting locations of hazards and producing alerts corresponding to hazards near a predicted flight path, the surveillance means detecting activation of the constraint, detecting an aircraft location, comparing the aircraft location to the constrained path and planned path after detecting activation, and selecting the constrained path as the predicted flight path when the aircraft location is within a tolerance distance from the constrained path and the aircraft location and a next unsequenced waypoint forming the planned path either both satisfy the constraint or both violate the constraint. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A predicted path selection system for aircraft:
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a controlling means for controlling control surfaces and propulsion systems of an aircraft to cause an aircraft to follow an actual path, the controlling means receiving a first input describing a planned path and a second input indicating a constraint on the actual path in at least one direction, the controlling means selectively causing the aircraft to conform the actual path to the planned path or a constrained path corresponding to the constraint; a means for inputting the constraint to the controlling means; a flight planning means for calculating a planned path and inputting the planned path to the controlling means; a surveillance means for detecting locations of hazards and producing alerts corresponding to hazards near a predicted flight path, the surveillance means operable to detect activation of the constraint, detect an aircraft location, compare the aircraft location to the constrained path and planned path after detecting activation, select a constrained path corresponding to the constraint as the current predicted flight path if the aircraft current location is within a constraint tolerance distance from the constraint and outside a flight plan tolerance distance from the planned path, and select the planned path as the current predicted flight path if the aircraft current location is not within the constraint tolerance from the constrained path and is within the flight plan tolerance from the planned path. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification