Controller for an Aircraft Tracker

• US 20170082455A1
• Filed: 09/18/2015
• Published: 03/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Adler, Charles Otis, Eigle, Ted, Richards, William Raymond, Murphy, Timothy Allen, Roberson, John Harvey, Thalakottur, Thomas Jose, Fricks, Ricardo Messias, Khalil, Fadl Ibrahim, Walstrom, Steven Mark, Holton, Daniel Bruce, Turner, Jessie, Jackson, Timothy Edward
• Granted Patent: US 10,030,995 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0065 Black boxes, devices automatically broadcasting distress signals
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0059 by communicating emergency situations to ground control or between crew members
• 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: G01S 13/91 for traffic control G01S13/93 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/002 for traffic control, mobile tracking, guidance, surveillance or anti-collision
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0056 in an emergency situation, e.g. hijacking

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and aircraft tracker system for reporting state information for an aircraft. A state of the aircraft is identified using sensor data received from an aircraft sensor system in the aircraft. The state information is transmitted at a reporting rate set using the state of the aircraft identified from the sensor data, at least one of a crew command or a ground command when at least one of the crew command is received from a crew interface or the ground command is received from a ground source, and a policy defining priorities for reporting that are based on at least one of the crew command, the ground command, or the state of the aircraft identified from the sensor data.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an aircraft tracker configured to;

identify, based upon sensor data received from an aircraft sensor system in the aircraft a state of an aircraft;

receive a crew command from a crew interface;

receive a ground command from a ground source; and

transmit state information at a reporting rate determined based upon;

the state of the aircraft identified from the sensor data;

a reception of at least one of the crew command, and the ground command; and

a reporting priority based on at least one of;

the crew command, the ground command, and the state of the aircraft.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aircraft tracker comprises:

a behavior analyzer configured to identify the state of the aircraft using the sensor data; and

a state information reporter configured to transmit the state information at the reporting rate set using the state of the aircraft identified from the sensor data and the at least one of the crew command or the ground command when the at least one of the crew command or the ground command is received.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

a transmit state identifier configured to indicate whether the state information should be transmitted; and

wherein the state information reporter comprises;

a rate identifier configured to identify the reporting rate using the state of the aircraft identified from the sensor data and the at least one of the crew command or the ground command when the at least one of the crew command or the ground command is received; and

a reporter configured to identify the state information for transmission and transmit the state information at the reporting rate when the transmit state identifier indicates that the state information should be transmitted.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a crew interface configured to generate the crew command and send the crew command to the aircraft tracker.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein policies are present and the aircraft tracker is configured to select the policy in the policies based on a selection received in the ground command.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein in being configured to identify the state of the aircraft using the sensor data received from the aircraft sensor system in the aircraft, the behavior analyzer is configured to identify the state of the aircraft using the sensor data received from the aircraft sensor system in the aircraft and a policy that defines states of the aircraft based on the sensor data.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aircraft sensor system comprises at least one of a satellite navigation system, an inertial measurement unit, or an accelerometer system.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in being configured to transmit the state information, the aircraft tracker is configured to transmit the state information at the reporting rate set using the state of the aircraft identified from the sensor data;

the at least one of the crew command or the ground command when the at least one of the crew command or the ground command is received; and

a location of the aircraft.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor data is selected from at least one of a location of the aircraft, altitude, attitude, power information, a number of parameters for a maneuver performed by the aircraft, airspeed, roll angle, roll rate, pitch angle, pitch rate, pressure, temperature, or fuel use.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a housing, wherein the aircraft tracker and the aircraft sensor system are located inside the housing, and wherein the housing is tamper-resistant.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the state information includes information selected from at least one of the state of the aircraft identified, the sensor data, or information derived from the sensor data.

12-22. -22. (canceled)

23. An apparatus configured to tamper-proof an aircraft tracker, such that the apparatus comprises:

a housing that is tamper-resistant;

a sensor system located in the housing, wherein the sensor system is configured to generate sensor data about an aircraft;

a behavior analyzer located in the housing, wherein the behavior analyzer is configured to identify a state of the aircraft using the sensor data;

a state information reporter located in the housing, wherein the state information reporter is configured to report state information at a reporting rate set based upon the state and at least one of;

a location of the aircraft, and a policy that defines a priority for reporting based on at least one of;

a command received by the aircraft tracker, and the state; and

a communications system located in the housing and configured to;

receive a ground command, and send the state information.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the sensor system is selected from at least one of a satellite navigation system, an inertial measurement unit, or an accelerometer system.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the aircraft tracker comprises a behavior analyzer that identifies the state of the aircraft based upon:

the sensor data, and a state information reporter that transmits the state information at the reporting rate based upon;

the state of the aircraft identified from the sensor data, and responsive to at least one of;

a crew command, and the ground command.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising the housing comprising the aircraft tracker comprising the communications system configured to transmit the state information at the reporting rate responsive to a determination is present that the state information should be transmitted.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the aircraft tracker further comprises a crew interface configured to generate a crew command and send the crew command to the aircraft tracker.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising the aircraft tracker comprising a set of policies that comprises the policy.

29. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the sensor system is selected from at least one of a satellite navigation system, an inertial measurement unit, or an accelerometer system.

30. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:

wherein the sensor data comprising at least one of;

power information, a location of the aircraft, or a number of parameters for a maneuver performed by the aircraft.

31. A method for tamper-proofing a transmitter of an aircraft tracker, the method comprising:

identifying, using sensor data received from a sensor system, a state of an aircraft carrying the aircraft tracker;

determining, using the state of the aircraft, and a policy defining priorities for reporting that are based on at least one of;

a command received by the aircraft tracker, and the state of the aircraft, a reporting rate for the transmitter; and

transmitting, using a communications system located in the aircraft tracker, the state at the reporting rate.