Collision-avoidance device for aircraft, notably for avoiding collisions with the ground
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1. A collision-preventing device for an aircraft, said device comprising:
- means for locating a geographical location of said aircraft;
a data base containing a description of safety altitudes as a function of at least geographical locations, wherein said description of safety altitudes is at least a function of elevation points of an area on a surface of the earth in a vicinity of said aircraft so that a single safety altitude encompasses a region in said area having a plurality of elevation points, said single safety altitude being greater than a maximum elevationmeans for computing an air floor between said aircraft and said region, said computing means being connected to said locating means and to said data base, wherein said air floor is a function of the geographical location of said aircraft and said description of safety altitudes, wherein an overall altitude of said floor is greater than or equal to said safety altitudes between said aircraft and said surface of the earth, said floor being computed throughout a flight of said aircraft and encompassing a plurality of said safety altitudes within said region;
means for predicting an air position of said aircraft between a first given instant and a second given instant, said predicting means being connected to said locating means, wherein an altitude of said aircraft is known at said first given instant;
means for comparing said predicted air position of said aircraft with said floor, said comparing means being connected to said prediction means and to said computing means; and
an alarm connected to said comparing means, said alarm being triggered when a result of said comparing means indicates that said predicted air position of said aircraft is beneath said floor.
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Abstract
A device for avoiding aircraft collisions with the ground determines the geographical location of the aircraft, and has a data base containing a description of safety altitudes for the geographical location. From the geographical location and the description of safety altitudes, the collision-avoidance device computes an air floor about the vertical of the aircraft. The altitude of the floor is greater than or equal to the safety altitudes about this vertical. In addition, the collision-avoidance device predicts the air position of the aircraft and compares this situation with the air floor. An alarm sounds when the aircraft passes beneath the floor.
80 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A collision-preventing device for an aircraft, said device comprising:
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means for locating a geographical location of said aircraft; a data base containing a description of safety altitudes as a function of at least geographical locations, wherein said description of safety altitudes is at least a function of elevation points of an area on a surface of the earth in a vicinity of said aircraft so that a single safety altitude encompasses a region in said area having a plurality of elevation points, said single safety altitude being greater than a maximum elevation means for computing an air floor between said aircraft and said region, said computing means being connected to said locating means and to said data base, wherein said air floor is a function of the geographical location of said aircraft and said description of safety altitudes, wherein an overall altitude of said floor is greater than or equal to said safety altitudes between said aircraft and said surface of the earth, said floor being computed throughout a flight of said aircraft and encompassing a plurality of said safety altitudes within said region; means for predicting an air position of said aircraft between a first given instant and a second given instant, said predicting means being connected to said locating means, wherein an altitude of said aircraft is known at said first given instant; means for comparing said predicted air position of said aircraft with said floor, said comparing means being connected to said prediction means and to said computing means; and an alarm connected to said comparing means, said alarm being triggered when a result of said comparing means indicates that said predicted air position of said aircraft is beneath said floor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A collision-preventing device for an aircraft, said device comprising:
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means for locating a geographical location of said aircraft; a data base containing safety altitudes associated with all regions of the earth as a function of at least geographical locations, wherein each of said, safety altitudes is at least a function of elevation points of a region on a surface of the earth in a vicinity of said,aircraft so that a single safety altitude encompasses, said region having a plurality of elevation points, said single safety altitude being greater than a maximum elevation point in said region; means for computing an air floor between said aircraft and said region, said computing means being connected to said locating means and to said data base, wherein said air floor is a function of the geographical location of said aircraft and said description of safety altitudes, wherein an overall altitude of said floor is greater than or equal to said safety altitudes between said aircraft and said surface of the earth, said floor being computed throughout a flight of said aircraft and encompassing a plurality of said safety altitudes within said region; means for predicting an air position of said aircraft between a first given instant and a second given instant, said predicting means being connected to said locating means, wherein an altitude of said aircraft is known at said first given instant; means for comparing said predicted air position of said aircraft with said floor, said comparing means being connected to said prediction means and to said computing means; and an alarm connected to said comparing means, said alarm being triggered when a result of said comparing means indicates that said predicted air position of said aircraft is beneath said floor.
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Specification