Coriolis indicator for situational awareness

• US 5,353,226 A
• Filed: 08/25/1992
• Issued: 10/04/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force
• Inventors: Repperger, Daniel W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCFADDEN, SUSAN IRIS
• Application Number:
  US07/934,226
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 364/433, 364/578, 73/510, 73/505
• US Class Current: 702/141
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 43/00 Arrangements or adaptations of instruments arrangements of cameras B64D47/08; aeronautical measuring instruments per se G01C
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/18 in two or more dimensions

Abstract

A system for indicating the presence of Coriolis accelerations within an aircraft which might affect pilot perception of aircraft attitude and spatial orientation, which comprises sensors for measuring vehicle angular position, rotations and velocities operatively connected to an onboard computer program which calculates the Coriolis accelerations according to an analysis presented herein and presented on a display to the pilot.

Claims

1. A system for indicating the presence of Coriolis accelerations in a moving vehicle, comprising:

(a) a plurality of sensors for measuring angular displacement and angular velocity of a vehicle in a first coordinate system defining said vehicle relative to a second coordinate system relative to which said vehicle moves, said plurality of sensors including means for providing signals defining the measured angular displacements and angular velocities;

(b) means for analyzing said signals and for determining from said measured angular displacements and angular velocities of said vehicle any Coriolis acceleration acting within said vehicle; and

(c) means for displaying any said Coriolis acceleration acting within said vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of sensors consist of magnetic position sensors, resolvers, potentiometers or optical encoders for measuring angular displacement relative to said second coordinate system, and consist of digital velocity indicators or tachometers for measurement of angular velocity relative to said second coordinate system.