METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CALCULATING A TIME WINDOW

• US 20110153204A1
• Filed: 12/20/2010
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thales SA
• Original Assignee: Thales SA
• Inventors: LACOMBE, Antoine, BARAILLER, Fany, BLANCHON, Xavier, COULMEAU, François
• Granted Patent: US 8,386,174 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0052 for cruising combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value G01C23/00

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for calculating a time window for a time constraint of arrival of an aircraft at a given point, the aircraft receiving wind predictions and including a sensor for measuring the wind. The method includes a calculation of a first time window, and the calculation of an overall confidence index having the determination of a first confidence index on the basis of a deviation between wind predictions and wind measurements performed by the aircraft, the calculation of a margin for the time constraint on the basis of the overall confidence index, and the calculation of a second window on the basis of the first time window and of the calculated margin.

Claims

1. A method for calculating a time window for a time constraint of arrival of an aircraft at a given point, the aircraft receiving wind predictions and comprising a sensor for measuring the wind, said method comprising a calculation of a first time window, said method further comprising:

the calculation of an overall confidence index comprising the determination of a first confidence index on the basis of a deviation between wind predictions and wind measurements performed by the aircraft;

the calculation of a margin for the time constraint on the basis of the overall confidence index;

the calculation of a second time window on the basis of the first time window and of the calculated margin; and

the transmission of the second time window to an air traffic controller.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determination of a first confidence index comprises the calculation of a bias defining a mean deviation between the wind predictions and measurements performed during a time interval.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the calculation of the overall confidence index comprises the determination of a second confidence index, taking into account the stability of the winds, on the basis of the calculation of a standard deviation in the winds measured by the aircraft.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein

the wind forecasts are delivered by a source, and

the calculation of an overall confidence index comprises the determination of a third confidence index on the basis of a confidence level accorded to the source delivering the wind forecasts.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein

the wind predictions are updated at regular intervals, and

the calculation of the overall confidence index comprises the determination of a fourth confidence index taking into account the last date of updating of the wind predictions.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the calculation of the overall confidence index comprises the determination of a fifth confidence index on the basis of the distance between the aircraft and the point at which the time constraint is fixed.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein

the time constraint is established by a communication between the aircraft and an air traffic controller, and

the calculation of the overall confidence index comprises the determination of a sixth confidence index on the basis of the duration of the communications between the air traffic controller and the aircraft.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the calculation of the overall confidence index is carried out by an arbitrary combination of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth confidence indexes, said arbitrary combination being a weighted sum.

9. The method to claim 1, wherein, the aircraft following a trajectory to attain the given point, the trajectory comprising speed limitations, the method further comprises:

the addition of a margin in the speed limitations of the trajectory and the calculation of a minimum time of arrival at the given point on the basis of a maximum speed complying with the margins in the speed limitations; and

the calculation of the second time window taking into account the minimum time of arrival at the given point.

10. A device for calculating a time window for a time constraint of arrival of an aircraft at a given point, the aircraft receiving wind predictions and comprising a sensor for measuring the wind, said device comprising means for calculating a first time window, said device further comprising:

means for calculating an overall confidence index comprising the determination of a first confidence index on the basis of a deviation between wind predictions and wind measurements performed by the aircraft;

means for calculating a margin for the time constraint on the basis of the overall confidence index;

means for calculating a second time window on the basis of the first time window and of the calculated margin; and

means for transmitting the second time window to an air traffic controller.