SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMANDING A PAYLOAD OF AN AIRCRAFT

• US 20150251756A1
• Filed: 08/11/2014
• Published: 09/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Casado, Enrique, Perez Villar, Victor, Maza, Ivan, Caballero, Fernando
• Granted Patent: US 10,384,779 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0094 involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0808 specially adapted for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft

Abstract

A system and method is provided for commanding a payload of an aircraft. A plurality of flight segments, which comprise trajectory information of the aircraft, are received. A plurality of payload commands are generated using statements of payload intents. Each one of the payload commands are synchronized with at least one of the plurality of flight segments. The system and method express the operations to be performed by the payload onboard in order to achieve the established mission goals of the aircraft.

Claims

1. A method for commanding a payload of an aircraft, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of trajectory events which comprise trajectory information of the aircraft;

generating a plurality of payload commands using statements of payload intent; and

synchronizing each one of the payload commands with at least one of the plurality of trajectory events.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the statements of payload intent comprise an operation statement and an execution interval.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the execution interval is defined by a beginning trigger and an end trigger.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the beginning trigger and the end trigger are further associated with at least one of the plurality of trajectory events.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the statements of payload intent comprises a sequence of concatenated operation statements.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the statements of payload intent further comprise one or more logical operations associated with a plurality of triggers associated with the payload intent.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of trajectory events are defined by a value of one or more aircraft state variables.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the aircraft state variables are selected among a predefined instant, a predefined location, a predefined attitude of the aircraft, or a combination thereof.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the aircraft is an unmanned air vehicle.

10. A system for commanding a payload of an aircraft, the system comprising:

means for receiving and processing trajectory events which comprise trajectory information of the aircraft;

means for reading data and generating payload commands using statements of payload intent for commanding the payload of the aircraft; and

,

means for synchronizing each payload command with at least one of the trajectory events of the aircraft.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the means for reading data and generating payload commands comprise a payload computation engine and a database which stores payload performance models.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein inputs of the payload computation engine comprise the statements of payload intent and data performance of the performance models of the payload.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein the statements of payload intent comprise an operation statement and an execution interval.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the execution interval is defined by a beginning trigger and an end trigger.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the beginning trigger and the end trigger are further associated with at least one of the trajectory events.

16. The system according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the statements of payload intent comprises a sequence of concatenated operation statements.

17. The system according to claim 10, wherein the statements of payload intent further comprise one or more logical operations associated with a plurality of triggers associated with the payload intent.

18. The system according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the trajectory events are defined by a value of one or more aircraft state variables.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the aircraft state variables are selected among a predefined instant, a predefined location, a predefined attitude of the aircraft, or a combination thereof.

20. The system according to claim 10, wherein the aircraft is an unmanned air vehicle.