SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING RUNWAY LANDING INFORMATION

• US 20160107766A1
• Filed: 10/21/2014
• Published: 04/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: He, Gang, Johnson, Steve, Feyereisen, Thea L
• Granted Patent: US 9,399,524 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/008 Devices for detecting or indicating hard landing
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/08 optical
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/00 Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/005 Flight directors indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for indicating to an aircrew of an aircraft a normalized runway icon to ensure visualization of a predicted touchdown point, runway length, stopping distance, energy state marking, and threat conditions, where normalization is referenced to typically available length for landing. Indications of present aircraft locations relative to the icons as well as alerts when thresholds are exceeded are provided.

Claims

1. A system for assisting a pilot of an aircraft to perform a stable landing, the system comprising:

a processor configured to;

determine an aircraft energy state of the aircraft; and

a display responsive to the processor and configured to;

display a first symbol resembling a runway;

display a second symbol indicating a length of the runway or runway length remaining;

display a third symbol associated with the first symbol indicating where the aircraft would touch down when landing at the aircraft energy state determined by the processor;

display a fourth symbol having a first format and associated with the first symbol indicating where the aircraft would be able to stop based on the aircraft energy state and assumed braking performance;

change the fourth symbol to a second format when the fourth symbol is at an end of the runway; and

if the aircraft is on the ground,

display a fifth symbol associated with the first symbol indicating the current location of the aircraft on the runway; and

display a sixth symbol associated with the first symbol indicating where the aircraft would be able to stop based on the aircraft energy state and current braking performance.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to:

consider an airspeed, altitude, and distance to the runway of the aircraft when determining the aircraft energy state.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the processor is further configured to:

consider a configuration of the aircraft when determining the aircraft energy state.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to:

change the fourth symbol to a third format when the aircraft would be unable to stop by the end of the runway.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising an audio device, wherein the processor is further configured to:

command the audio device to provide an audio alert that the aircraft would be unable to stop by the end of the runway.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine which of the second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth symbol is most critical to current aircraft operations, wherein the second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth symbols occupy layers of the display; and

wherein the display is further configured to;

display the most critical symbol in the layer closest to the pilot.

4. (canceled)

8. A system for assisting a pilot of an aircraft to perform a stable landing, the system comprising:

a database configured to store information about a runway including a length thereof;

a processor coupled to the database and configured to;

determine an aircraft energy state of the aircraft;

determine a position of the aircraft in relation to the runway;

determine a stopping distance of the aircraft when landing on the runway based on the aircraft energy state and assumed braking performance;

determine a stopping distance of the aircraft when landing on the runway based on the aircraft energy state and current braking performance; and

a display responsive to the processor and configured to;

display a first symbol resembling the runway;

display a second symbol indicating the length of the runway or runway length remaining;

display a third symbol associated with the first symbol indicating where the aircraft would touch down when landing at the aircraft energy state determined by the processor;

display a fourth symbol having a first format and associated with the first symbol indicating where the aircraft would be able to stop based on the aircraft energy state and assumed braking performance;

display a fifth symbol associated with the first symbol indicating the current location of the aircraft on the runway;

display a sixth symbol associated with the first symbol indicating where the aircraft would be able to stop based on the aircraft energy state and current braking performance; and

change the fourth symbol to a second format when the fourth symbol is at an end of the runway.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the processor is further configured to:

consider an airspeed, altitude, and distance to the runway of the aircraft when determining the aircraft energy state.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the processor is further configured to:

consider a configuration of the aircraft when determining the aircraft energy state.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the processor is further configured to:

change the fourth symbol to a third format when the aircraft would be unable to stop by the end of the runway.

13. The system of claim 8 further comprising an audio device, wherein the processor is further configured to:

command the audio device to provide an audio alert that the aircraft would be unable to stop by the end of the runway.

11. (canceled)

14. A method for assisting a pilot of an aircraft to fly a stable landing, comprising:

determining via a processor an aircraft energy state of the aircraft;

displaying via a display a first symbol resembling a runway;

displaying via the display a second symbol indicating a length of the runway or runway length remaining;

displaying via the display a third symbol associated with the first symbol indicating where the aircraft would touch down when landing at the aircraft energy state;

displaying via the display a fourth symbol having a first format and associated with the first symbol indicating where the aircraft would be able to stop based on the aircraft energy state and assumed braking performance;

displaying via the display a fifth symbol associated with the first symbol indicating the current location of the aircraft on the runway;

displaying via the display a sixth symbol associated with the first symbol indicating where the aircraft would be able to stop based on the aircraft energy state and current braking performance; and

changing via the processor the fourth symbol to a second format when the fourth symbol is at an end of the runway.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

considering via the processor the airspeed, altitude, and distance to the runway when determining the aircraft energy state.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

considering via the processor the configuration of the aircraft when determining the aircraft energy state.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

changing via the processor the fourth symbol to a third format when the aircraft would be unable to stop by the end of the runway.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

commanding via the processor an audio device to provide an audio alert that an approach of the aircraft is unstable exceeds a threshold related to the stopping distance of the aircraft.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

determining which of the second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth symbol is most critical to current aircraft operations, wherein the second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth symbols occupy layers of the display; and

displaying the most critical symbol in the layer closest to the pilot.

17. (canceled)