SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISPLAYING OBSTACLE-AVOIDANCE INFORMATION DURING SURFACE OPERATIONS

• US 20130321176A1
• Filed: 02/11/2013
• Published: 12/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Vasek, Jiri, Khatwa, Ratan, Kirk, James C., Olofinboba, Olukayode, Kolcarek, Pavel, Svoboda, Tomas, Dusik, Matej
• Granted Patent: US 9,959,774 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/945
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/93 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/934 on airport surfaces, e.g. while taxiing
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0078 for monitoring traffic from the aircraft radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/04 Anti-collision systems
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/065 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. for taxiing or rolling

Abstract

Systems and methods for aiding in pilot awareness of obstacles relative to aircraft features. An exemplary processor receives sensor information from one or more sensors mounted in an aircraft feature (e.g. light modules), determines if at least one obstacle is located within a predefined field of view based on the received sensor or database information and generates an image. The image includes an ownship icon having at least one feature representing wingtips of the aircraft and at least one indicator associated with the determined at least one obstacle. A display device presents the generated image. The display device presents a tip of a first sense coverage area adjacent to one wingtip feature associated with the port wing and a tip of the second sense coverage area adjacent to one wingtip feature associated with the starboard wing. The indicator is presented within at least one of the coverage areas.

Claims

1. A system for an aircraft, the system comprising:

a processor configured to

receive sensor information from one or more sensors mounted in at least one of a wingtip light module, fuselage, engine cowling, landing gear or tail component;

determine if at least one obstacle is located within a predefined field of view based on the received sensor information; and

generate an image comprising;

an ownship icon comprising at least one feature representing the at least one wingtip light module, fuselage, engine cowling, landing gear or tail component of the aircraft; and

at least one indicator associated with the determined at least one obstacle; and

a display device configured to present the generated image.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the generated image comprises a first sense coverage area and a second sense coverage area, wherein the display device presents a tip of the first sense coverage area adjacent the at least one feature associated with the port wing of the aircraft and a tip of the second sense coverage area adjacent the at least one feature associated with the starboard wing of the aircraft,

wherein the at least one indicator is presented within at least one of the coverage areas.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the coverage areas and the ownship icon are presented in a one-to-one relationship and the coverage areas and the ownship icon are presented in one of at least two different range resolutions.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one indicator comprises uniquely depicting a range feature of at least one of the coverage areas, wherein the uniquely depicted range feature corresponds to obstacle distance information included in at least one of the received sensor or the stored information.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one indicator comprises a distance value located in at least one of the coverage areas, wherein the distance value corresponds to obstacle distance information included in the received sensor information.

6. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

memory configured to store airport facility information,

wherein the at least one indicator comprises at least a partial outline of the at least one determined obstacle, based on at least one of the received sensor information or the stored airport facility information,

wherein the at least a partial outline is presented within at least one of the coverage areas.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the generated image comprises:

a first zone associated with first areas outside the aircraft, the first areas being one where, if an obstacle was detected therein, the aircraft would avoid contact based on current heading of the aircraft; and

a second zone associated with a second area outside the aircraft, the second area being one where, if an obstacle was detected therein, the aircraft would be likely to collide with the obstacle based on current heading of the aircraft.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein a first portion of the first zone and a first portion of the second zone are presented from a port wingtip of the ownship icon,

wherein a second portion of the first zone and a second portion of the second zone are presented from a starboard wingtip of the ownship icon.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one indicator comprises a nearest obstacle icon presented in a first format in one of the zone portions based on the sensor information,

wherein the at least one indicator comprises a next-nearest obstacle icon presented in a second format in one of the zone portions, based on the sensor information.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one indicator comprises a nearest obstacle icon in the first zone presented in a first format in one of the zone portions of the first zone, based on the sensor information,

wherein the at least one indicator comprises a nearest obstacle icon in the second zone presented in a second format in one of the zone portions of the second zone, based on the sensor information.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine trajectory of at least one aircraft element based on a location of the at least one aircraft element and current aircraft speed and heading,

wherein the generated image comprises:

a first vector generated, based on the determined trajectory of the associated aircraft element; and

a second vector generated, based on the determined trajectory of the associated aircraft element,

wherein the vectors are based on at least one of a distance or time value.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the determined trajectories are not linear.

13. A method performed on an aircraft, the method comprising:

at a processor,

receiving sensor information from one or more sensors mounted in at least one aircraft feature;

determining if at least one obstacle is located within a predefined field of view based on the received sensor information; and

generating an image comprising;

an ownship icon comprising the at least one aircraft feature; and

at least one indicator associated with the determined at least one obstacle; and

at a display device presenting the generated image.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the generated image comprises a first sense coverage area and a second sense coverage area, wherein presenting comprises presenting a tip of the first sense coverage area adjacent the at least one aircraft feature associated with the port wing of the aircraft and a tip of the second sense coverage area adjacent the at least one aircraft feature associated with the starboard wing of the aircraft,

wherein the at least one indicator is presented within at least one of the coverage areas.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the coverage areas and the ownship icon are presented in a one-to-one relationship and the coverage areas and the ownship icon are presented in one of at least two different range resolutions.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one indicator comprises uniquely depicting a range feature of at least one of the coverage areas, wherein the uniquely depicted range feature corresponds to obstacle distance information included in the received sensor information.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one indicator comprises a distance value located in at least one of the coverage areas, wherein the distance value corresponds to obstacle distance information included in the received sensor information.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

at a memory storing airport facility information,

wherein the at least one indicator comprises at least a partial outline of the at least one determined obstacle, based on at least one of the received sensor information or the stored airport facility information,

wherein the at least a partial outline is presented within at least one of the coverage areas.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the generated image comprises:

a first zone associated with first areas outside the aircraft, the first areas being one where, if an obstacle was detected therein, the aircraft would avoid contact based on current heading of the aircraft; and

a second zone associated with a second area outside the aircraft, the second area being one where, if an obstacle was detected therein, the aircraft would be likely to collide with the obstacle based on current heading of the aircraft.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein a first portion of the first zone and a first portion of the second zone are presented from a port wingtip of the ownship icon,

wherein a second portion of the first zone and a second portion of the second zone are presented from a starboard wingtip of the ownship icon,

wherein the at least one indicator comprises a nearest obstacle icon presented in a first format in one of the zone portions based on the sensor information,

wherein the at least one indicator comprises a next-nearest obstacle icon presented in a second format in one of the zone portions, based on the sensor information.