Systems and methods for selectively altering a ground proximity message

• US 20110029162A1
• Filed: 03/06/2006
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Johnson, Steve C., Ishihara, Yasuo
• Application Number:
  US11/368,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20110029162A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/9
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/005 Flight directors indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0086 for monitoring terrain radar or analogous systems specially adapted for terrain avoidance G01S13/935
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/045 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. determination of anti-collision manoeuvers radar or analogous systems specially adapted for anti-collision between aircraft G01S13/933

Abstract

Systems and methods for selectively altering a ground proximity warning message. In an embodiment, a ground proximity warning system for a flight vehicle includes a processor that is configured to generate a look-ahead envelope that defines a region extending outwardly from the flight vehicle and to generate a terrain proximity message when the defined region intersects a terrain feature. An interface device is coupled to the processor that is operable to configure the system in a first operating mode wherein the generated terrain proximity message is selectively suppressed, and a second operating mode wherein the terrain proximity message is not suppressed.

Claims

1. A ground proximity warning system for a vehicle, comprising:

a processor that is configured to generate a look-ahead envelope that defines a region extending outwardly from the vehicle and to generate a terrain proximity message when the defined region intersects a terrain feature; and

an interface device coupled to the processor that is arranged to receive at least one of a first selection and a second selection from a crew member of the vehicle, arranged to cause the processor to configure the system in a first operating mode wherein the generated terrain proximity message is selectively suppressed in response to the first selection, and arranged to cause the processor to configure the system in a second operating mode wherein the terrain proximity message is not suppressed in response to the second selection.

2. The ground proximity warning system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to generate a look-ahead envelope having a terrain warning portion defining a first region adjacent to the vehicle, and configured to generate a terrain advisory portion defining a second region that extends outwardly from the first region, and wherein the first operating mode of the system suppresses the terrain proximity message when the second region intersects a terrain feature.

3. The ground proximity warning system of claim 1, wherein the first operating mode of the system suppresses the generation of at least one of a visual terrain proximity message and an audible terrain proximity message.

4. The ground proximity warning system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to generate an alternative flight path that avoids the terrain feature and that is different from a current flight path of the vehicle, and further wherein the first operating mode suppresses the generated terrain proximity message when at least one alternative flight path is generated.

5. The ground proximity warning system of claim 2, wherein the first operating mode of the system suppresses the terrain proximity message when the second region intersects a terrain feature, and presents the terrain proximity message when the first region intersects the terrain feature.

21. The ground proximity warning system of claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to end suppression of the terrain proximity message in response to determining that no alternative flight path is available.

22. The ground proximity warning system of claim 1, wherein the processor configures the system in the first operating mode wherein a visual terrain proximity message is selectively suppressed and an audible terrain proximity message is enabled in response to the first selection, and wherein the interface device is arranged to receive a third selection from the crew member, and arranged to cause the processor to configure the system in a third operating mode wherein the audible terrain proximity message is selectively suppressed and the visual terrain proximity message is enabled in response to the third selection.

23. The ground proximity warning system of claim 1, wherein the interface device is a speech recognition device arranged to receive a first verbal command from the crew member corresponding to the first selection and arranged to receive a second verbal command from the crew member corresponding to the second selection.

6. A system for selectively altering a ground proximity message for an aircraft, comprising:

a look-ahead warning generator coupled to at least one sensor device and configured to generate selected performance and positional information for the aircraft and also coupled to a memory device that includes terrain features, the generator being arranged to generate at least one envelope that defines a region extending outwardly from the aircraft and to generate a terrain proximity message when the defined region intersects a terrain feature; and

an interface device coupled to the generator, arranged to receive at least one of a first selection and a second selection from a crew member of the aircraft, and arranged to cause the generator to configure the system in a first operating mode wherein the generated terrain proximity message is selectively suppressed in response to the first selection, and a second operating mode wherein the terrain proximity message is not suppressed in response to the second selection.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one sensor device includes one of a position sensor, an altitude sensor, an airspeed sensor, a track sensor and a heading sensor.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the look-ahead warning generator is further coupled to at least one of a display device arranged to visually display the terrain proximity message, and an aural warning generator arranged to audibly present the terrain proximity message.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the look-ahead generator is configured to generate a look-ahead envelope having a terrain warning portion defining a first region adjacent to the aircraft, and a terrain advisory portion defining a second region that extends outwardly from the first region, and wherein the first operating mode of the system suppresses the terrain proximity message when the second region intersects a terrain feature.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first operating mode of the system suppresses the presentation of the terrain proximity message on at least one of the display device and the aural warning generator.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the generator is configured to generate an alternative flight path that avoids the terrain feature and that is different from a current flight path of the aircraft, and further wherein the first operating mode suppresses the generated terrain proximity message when at least one alternative flight path is generated.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein first operating mode suppresses the terrain proximity message when the second region intersects a terrain feature, and presents the terrain proximity message when the first region intersects the terrain feature.

24. The system of claim 11, wherein the generator is configured to end suppression of the terrain proximity message in response to determining that no alternative flight path is available.

25. The system of claim 6, wherein the generator configures the system in the first operating mode wherein a visual terrain proximity message is selectively suppressed and an audible terrain proximity message is enabled in response to the first selection, and wherein the interface device is arranged to receive a third selection from the crew member, and arranged to cause the generator to configure the system in a third operating mode wherein the audible terrain proximity message is selectively suppressed and the visual terrain proximity message is enabled in response to the third selection.

26. The system of claim 6, wherein the interface device is a speech recognition device arranged to receive a first verbal command from the crew member corresponding to the first selection and arranged to receive a second verbal command from the crew member corresponding to the second selection.

13-20. -20. (canceled)