METHOD AND A DEVICE FOR FLYING SAFELY AT LOW ALTITUDE IN AN AIRCRAFT

• US 20110225212A1
• Filed: 03/09/2011
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Helicopters
• Original Assignee: Eurocopter
• Inventors: Pire, Richard, Filias, Francois-Xavier
• Granted Patent: US 8,392,475 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/812
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/006 in accordance with predefined flight zones, e.g. to avoid prohibited zones
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0086 for monitoring terrain radar or analogous systems specially adapted for terrain avoidance G01S13/935
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0091 for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of flying safely and at low altitude in an aircraft, in which method unsafe relief (R0) of terrain is determined as is the position of at least one high point (4, 5) representing an obstacle (4′, 5′) overlying said unsafe relief (R0). A main volume (V0) is added to said unsafe relief (R0), the main volume being defined between a main volume base (2) placed on the unsafe relief (R0) and an envelope (1), thereby obtaining safe relief (R1) for overflying that contains at least said unsafe relief (R0) and said main volume (V0), said main volume base (2) having an area (2′) defined by a closed peripheral curve (3) resting on said unsafe relief (R0), said envelope (1) being generated using a moving segment (S) of predetermined length (L) extending from said high point (4, 5) to a second point (3′) moving along said peripheral curve (3).

Claims

1. A method of making a safe database in order to fly safely at low altitude by means of an aircraft, during which method the following steps are performed:

determining unsafe relief of said terrain and determining the position of at least one high point representing an obstacle overlying said unsafe relief, by making use of a primary database of said terrain containing said unsafe relief and said obstacle; and

adding to said unsafe relief a main volume that is defined between a main volume base placed on the unsafe relief and an envelope, so as to obtain safe relief for overflying that contains at least said unsafe relief and said main volume, said main volume base having an area defined by a closed peripheral curve resting on said unsafe relief, said envelope being generated using a moving segment of predetermined length extending from said high point to a second point that moves along said peripheral curve.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined length is equal to a maximum distance between a first upright and a second upright connected to the first upright by a wire obstacle.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least two high points overlie said relief, a link line connects together said two high points, the link line having a predetermined thickness, and a link length that is shorter than said predetermined length, and a secondary volume is added to said unsafe relief, the secondary volume lying between said link line and an orthogonal projection of said link line onto said unsafe relief in order to optimize said safe relief.

4. A method according claim 1, wherein a secondary database is used that contains only said unsafe relief, and said secondary database is enriched with the help of obstacles detected by obstacle detector means in order to obtain said primary database.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein a protection volume is added to the unsafe relief, the protection volume being determined and positioned by an operator in order to optimize said safe relief.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said safe relief is recorded in order to provide a reusable safe database of said terrain that includes wire and non-wire obstacles.

7. A device for making a safe database in order to fly safely at low altitude in an aircraft, wherein the device comprises:

a primary database comprising at least unsafe relief of terrain for overflying and an obstacle overlying said unsafe relief; and

a primary computer for adding at least one main volume to said unsafe relief, the main volume being defined between a main volume base placed on the unsafe relief and by an envelope, thereby obtaining safe relief for overflying containing at least said unsafe relief and said main volume, said main volume base having an area defined by a closed peripheral curve resting on said unsafe relief, said envelope being generated by using a moving segment of a predetermined length extending from a high point to a second point that moves along said peripheral curve.

8. A device according to claim 7, comprising:

a secondary database containing solely said unsafe relief;

active obstacle detector means; and

a secondary computer for enriching said secondary database with obstacles detected by the obstacle detector means in order to obtain said primary database.

9. A device according to claim 7, including interface means to enable an operator to add a protection volume to the unsafe relief, the protection volume being determined and positioned by said operator in order to optimize said safe relief.