Airplane takeoff and landing performance monitoring system
First Claim
1. In an airplane takeoff and landing performance monitoring system including a display for graphically and continuously depicting the position of an airplane on a runway from and during takeoff relative to where particular events are predicted to occur, the improvement comprising:
- transducer means for continuously sensing ambient conditions and airplane loading and acceleration information and generating information signals representative thereof;
computer means responsive to said information signals for generating an acceleration history curve and predicting future airplane performance from and during takeoff and landing based on said acceleration history curve and said information signals; and
head-up display means responsive to signals from said computer means for depicting the position of said airplane on the runway and for depicting the predicted location on the runway where said airplane will achieve any particular speed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is a real-time takeoff and landing performance monitoring system for an aircraft which provides a pilot with graphic and metric information to assist in decisions related to achieving rotation speed (VR) within the safe zone of a runway, or stopping the aircraft on the runway after landing or take-off abort.
The system processes information in two segments: a pretakeoff segment and a real-time segment. One-time inputs of ambient conditions and airplane configuration information are used in the pretakeoff segment to generate scheduled performance data. The real-time segment uses the scheduled performance data, runway length data and transducer measured parameters to monitor the performance of the airplane throughout the takeoff roll. Airplane and engine performance deficiencies are detected and annunciated. A novel and important feature of this segment is that it updates the estimated runway rolling friction coefficient. Airplane performance predictions also reflect changes in head wind occurring as the takeoff roll progresses.
The system provides a head-down display and a head-up display. The head-up display is projected onto a partially reflective transparent surface through which the pilot views the runway. By comparing the present performance of the airplane with a predicted nominal performance based upon given conditions, performance deficiencies are detected by the system.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. In an airplane takeoff and landing performance monitoring system including a display for graphically and continuously depicting the position of an airplane on a runway from and during takeoff relative to where particular events are predicted to occur, the improvement comprising:
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transducer means for continuously sensing ambient conditions and airplane loading and acceleration information and generating information signals representative thereof; computer means responsive to said information signals for generating an acceleration history curve and predicting future airplane performance from and during takeoff and landing based on said acceleration history curve and said information signals; and head-up display means responsive to signals from said computer means for depicting the position of said airplane on the runway and for depicting the predicted location on the runway where said airplane will achieve any particular speed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. In an airplane takeoff and landing performance monitoring system including a display for graphically and continuously depicting the position of an airplane on a runway from and during takeoff relative to where particular events are predicted to occur, the improvement comprising:
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transducer means for continuously sensing ambient conditions and airplane loading and acceleration information and generating information signals representative thereof; computer means responsive to said information signals for generating an acceleration history curve and predicting future airplane performance from and during takeoff and landing based on said acceleration history curve and said information signals; and head-up and head-down display means responsive to signals from said computer means for depicting the position of said airplane on the runway and for depicting the predicted location on the runway where said airplane will achieve any particular speed. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification