PASSIVE AIRCRAFT WINGTIP STRIKE DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A method for passively detecting aircraft wingtip strikes, comprising the steps of:
- in a processing system;
generating a digital base map of at least a portion of an aerodrome that includes one or more specific wingtip strike threats, the digital base map represented by a plurality of aerodrome cells;
assigning a numeric value to each of the aerodrome cells, the numeric value assigned to each aerodrome cell representative of the specific wingtip strike threat associated with that aerodrome cell;
generating an index count array, the index count array having a separate entry for each numeric value;
generating a digital aircraft structure representative of an aircraft, the digital aircraft structure represented by a plurality of aircraft cells;
replacing a portion of the aerodrome cells with the plurality of aircraft cells;
counting each numeric value of the aerodrome cells that are replaced to determine a replacement count associated therewith;
entering the replacement count associated with each numeric value into the separate entry in the index count array for that numeric value;
detecting one or more potential aircraft wingtip strikes based on the replacement counts in the index count array.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for passively detecting aircraft wingtip strikes includes generating a digital base map represented by a plurality of aerodrome cells. A numeric value is assigned to each of the aerodrome cells that is representative of the specific wingtip strike threat associated with that aerodrome cell. An index count array is generated that has a separate entry for each numeric value. A digital aircraft structure is generated that is representative of an aircraft, and is represented by a plurality of aircraft cells. A portion of the aerodrome cells are replaced with the plurality of aircraft cells. Each numeric value of the aerodrome cells that are replaced is counted to determine a replacement count associated therewith and that is entered into the separate entry in the index count array for that numeric value. One or more potential aircraft wingtip strikes are detected based on the replacement counts.
13 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for passively detecting aircraft wingtip strikes, comprising the steps of:
in a processing system; generating a digital base map of at least a portion of an aerodrome that includes one or more specific wingtip strike threats, the digital base map represented by a plurality of aerodrome cells; assigning a numeric value to each of the aerodrome cells, the numeric value assigned to each aerodrome cell representative of the specific wingtip strike threat associated with that aerodrome cell; generating an index count array, the index count array having a separate entry for each numeric value; generating a digital aircraft structure representative of an aircraft, the digital aircraft structure represented by a plurality of aircraft cells; replacing a portion of the aerodrome cells with the plurality of aircraft cells; counting each numeric value of the aerodrome cells that are replaced to determine a replacement count associated therewith; entering the replacement count associated with each numeric value into the separate entry in the index count array for that numeric value; detecting one or more potential aircraft wingtip strikes based on the replacement counts in the index count array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 17, 18)
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11. A passive aircraft wingtip strike detection system, comprising:
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an aerodrome database having aerodrome data stored therein, the aerodrome data including data representative of specific wingtip strike threats; and a processor in operable communication with the aerodrome database, the processor configured to selectively retrieve aerodrome data from the aerodrome database and, upon retrieval thereof to; generate a digital base map of at least a portion of an aerodrome that includes one or more specific wingtip strike threats, the digital base map represented by a plurality of aerodrome cells; assign a numeric value to each of the aerodrome cells, the numeric value assigned to each aerodrome cell representative of the specific wingtip strike threat associated with that aerodrome cell; generate an index count array, the index count array having a separate entry for each numeric value; generate a digital aircraft structure representative of an aircraft, the digital aircraft structure represented by a plurality of aircraft cells; replace a portion of the aerodrome cells with the plurality of aircraft cells; count each numeric value of the aerodrome cells that are replaced to determine a replacement count associated therewith; enter the replacement count associated with each numeric value into the separate entry in the index count array for that numeric value; and detect one or more potential aircraft wingtip strikes based on the replacement counts in the index count array. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20)
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Specification