AIRCRAFT NAVIGATION SYSTEM

• US 20130270394A1
• Filed: 04/12/2012
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Downs, Joshua Lee
• Granted Patent: US 8,781,650 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/76.R
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0027 involving a plurality of vehicles, e.g. fleet or convoy travelling fleet control of land vehicles from a control room G05D1/0297; traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/00; for marine craft G08G3/00; for aircraft G08G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0044 by providing the operator with a computer generated representation of the environment of the vehicle, e.g. virtual reality, maps maps used for automatic navigation G05D1/0274; flight directors G01C23/005
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0082 for monitoring traffic from a ground station radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• 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

A method and apparatus for assisting in management of unmanned aerial vehicles. Planned routes are identified for the unmanned aerial vehicles. The planned routes are displayed on a map. A set of planned routes is identified that is within a predefined distance of a selected planned route during substantially a same point in time within a viewing area on the map.

Claims

1. A method for assisting in management of unmanned aerial vehicles, the method comprising:

identifying planned routes for the unmanned aerial vehicles;

displaying the planned routes on a map; and

identifying a set of planned routes that is within a predefined distance of a selected planned route during substantially a same point in time within a viewing area on the map.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying the set of planned routes and the selected planned route in the viewing area on a display system.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

maintaining the viewing area in a fixed location.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

maintaining the viewing area in a location on the selected planned route corresponding to a fixed point in time.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

moving the viewing area on the selected planned route to maintain a fixed distance ahead of a current location of an unmanned aerial vehicle associated with the selected planned route.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

moving the viewing area on the selected planned route by a selected distance ahead of a current location of an unmanned aerial vehicle associated with the selected planned route, wherein the selected distance is based on a fixed amount of time ahead of a current time.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying other planned routes outside of the set of planned routes with less emphasis.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

changing at least one of the planned routes in the set of planned routes based on the set of planned routes identified.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the viewing area is adjustable in at least one of size and geometry.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a navigation system configured to identify planned routes for unmanned aerial vehicles;

display the planned routes on a map; and

identify a set of planned routes that is within a predefined distance of a selected planned route during substantially a same point in time within a viewing area on the map.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the navigation system is further configured to display the set of planned routes and the selected planned route in the viewing area.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the navigation system is further configured to maintain the viewing area in a fixed location.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the navigation system is further configured to maintain the viewing area in a location corresponding to an unmanned aerial vehicle at a selected point in time.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the navigation system is further configured to move the viewing area on the selected planned route to maintain a fixed distance ahead of a current location of an unmanned aerial vehicle associated with the selected planned route.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the navigation system is further configured to move the viewing area on the selected planned route by a selected distance ahead of a current location of an unmanned aerial vehicle associated with the selected planned route, wherein the selected distance is based on a fixed amount of time ahead of a current time.

16. A method for assisting in management of vehicles, the method comprising:

identifying planned routes for the vehicles;

displaying the planned routes on a map; and

identifying a set of planned routes that is within a predefined distance of a selected planned route during substantially a same point in time within a viewing area on the map.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

maintaining the viewing area in a fixed location.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

maintaining the viewing area in a location on the selected planned route corresponding to a fixed point in time.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

moving the viewing area on the selected planned route to maintain a fixed distance ahead of a current location of a vehicle associated with the selected planned route.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

moving the viewing area on the selected planned route by a selected distance ahead of a current location of a vehicle associated with the selected planned route, wherein the selected distance is based on a fixed amount of time ahead of a current time.