Remote aircraft flight recorder and advisory system

• US 5,890,079 A
• Filed: 12/17/1996
• Issued: 03/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seymour Levine
• Original Assignee: Seymour Levine
• Inventors: Levine, Seymour
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US08/768,313
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 701/14, 701/29, 701/35, 701/301, 701/120, 340/945, 340/961, 340/963, 340/971, 342/29, 342/36-38, 342/454, 342/455, 342/456
• US Class Current: 701/14
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/00 Designing, manufacturing, assembling, cleaning, maintaining or repairing aircraft, not otherwise provided for; Handling, transporting, testing or inspecting aircraft components, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/003 for aircraft positioning relative to the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18502 Airborne stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18508 with satellite system used as relay, i.e. aeronautical mobile satellite service
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

This invention is a system that monitors many performance parameters and many aircraft operational parameters, and broadcasts this information along with aircraft identification, audio, video, global positioning and altitude data, to a world wide two-way rf network. This information is monitored and recorded at a remote, centralized location. At this location, this information is combined with archived data, ATC data, weather data, topological data, map data, and manufacturers'"'"' data. Analysis of this combined data allows identification of problems and generation of advisories. Six types of advisories are generated: maintenance, safety of flight, flight efficiency, flight separation, safe to fly and safe to take off. In the event of a crash the remotely recorded data provides an instant indication of the cause of the crash as well as where the crashed plane can be found. Use of this invention allows replacement of the current, on-board flight data recorders thus saving costs and weight. Having the recorded data at a remote site eliminates the need to search for flight data recorders. Other advantages are back-up for ATC radar position data, better control of aircraft separation, improved flight efficiency, and allowing use of simpler and lower power radar.

Claims

1. A remote flight recorder and aircraft advisory system comprising:

an aircraft performance means for detecting aircraft performance and control parameters;

a cockpit audio detector means for detecting cockpit sounds and turning them into an audio signal;

a video camera means for capturing activities in the cockpit, passenger compartment and cargo compartment, and turning them into a video signal;

a position and altitude detector means for accurately determining aircraft position and altitude data, and turning these data into a position signal and an altitude signal;

a pilot'"'"'s audio and visual advisory means, located in the cockpit of an aircraft, for providing audio and visual advice to the pilot;

a maintenance communications means, located on board said aircraft, for providing maintenance advice to maintenance personnel;

a sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter means, located on board said aircraft, for;

accepting said aircraft performance and control parameters, said audio signal, said video signal, said position signal and said altitude signal;

converting said aircraft performance and control parameters, when necessary, to digital form;

adding an aircraft identification and configuration label;

converting said aircraft performance and control parameters, said audio signal, said video signal, said position signal, said altitude signal and said identification and configuration label to an outgoing rf signal and broadcasting said outgoing rf signal; and

receiving an incoming rf signal, converting it to a ground advisory, an in-flight advisory and a maintenance advisory, feeding said ground advisory and said in-flight advisory to said pilot'"'"'s audio and visual advisory means and feeding said maintenance advisory to said maintenance communication means;

an airport traffic control database means for providing information about airport ground and air traffic;

an area traffic control database means for providing information about area traffic;

a weather database means for providing global weather information;

a map database means for providing a map;

a global topographic database means for providing topographic elevation data;

an aircraft manufacturer'"'"'s database means for providing aircraft data, maintenance information, and performance, problem and crash avoidance simulations;

a central station means, located on the ground, for receiving said outgoing rf signal and converting it to said aircraft performance and control parameters, said audio signal, said video signal, said position signal, said altitude signal and said aircraft identification and configuration label, and broadcasting said incoming rf signal;

a processing means, connected to said central station means, for;

archiving said aircraft performance and control parameters, said audio signal, said video signal, said position signal and said altitude signal thus creating an archived data database;

combining said aircraft performance and control parameters, said audio signal, said video signal, said position signal and said altitude signal with the archived data, said airport ground and air traffic information, said area traffic information, said global weather information, said map, said topographic elevation data, said aircraft data and said performance, problem and crash avoidance simulations;

performing additional performance, problem and crash avoidance simulations;

generating said on ground, in-flight and maintenance advisories; and

converting said on ground, in-flight and maintenance advisories to said incoming rf signal;

a display and control means, connected to said processing means, for displaying operation of said processing means and for allowing operator control of said processing means;

a global rf communications network means for conveying said outgoing signal from said aircraft to said central station means and conveying said incoming rf signal from said central station means to said aircraft; and

a communications means for allowing communication between said processing means and said airport traffic control database means, said area traffic control database means, said weather database means, said map database means, and said topographic database means.

2. A remote flight recorder and aircraft advisory system as claimed in claim 1 in which said position and altitude detector means has its own antenna.

3. A remote flight recorder and aircraft advisory system as claimed in claim 1 in which said position and altitude detector means shares an antenna with said sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter means.

4. A remote flight recorder and aircraft advisory system comprising:

an aircraft sensor which detects aircraft performance and control parameters;

a cockpit audio sensor which detects cockpit sounds and turns them into an audio signal;

a video camera system which captures activities in the cockpit, passenger compartment and cargo compartment and turns them into a video signal;

a position and altitude detector which determines aircraft position and altitude data and turns these data into a position signal and an altitude signal;

means, located in the cockpit of an aircraft, for providing audio and visual advice to the pilot;

means, located on board said aircraft, for providing maintenance advice to maintenance personnel;

a sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter, located on board said aircraft, which;

accepts said aircraft performance and control parameters, said audio signal, said video signal, said position signal and said altitude signal;

converts said aircraft performance and control parameters, when necessary, to digital form;

adds an aircraft identification and configuration label;

converts said aircraft performance and control parameters, said audio signal, said video signal, said position signal, said altitude signal and said aircraft identification and configuration label to an outgoing rf signal and broadcasts said outgoing rf signal; and

receives an incoming rf signal, converts it to an on ground advisory, an in-flight advisory and a maintenance advisory, feeds said on ground advisory and said in-flight advisory to said pilot'"'"'s audio and visual advisory means and feeds said maintenance advisory to said maintenance communication means;

an airport ground and air traffic control database for providing airport ground and air traffic information;

an area traffic control database for providing area traffic information;

a weather database for providing global weather information;

a map database for providing a map;

a topographic elevation database for providing topographic elevation data;

an aircraft manufacturer'"'"'s database for providing aircraft data;

a central station, located on the ground, which receives said outgoing rf signal and converts it to said aircraft performance and control parameters, said audio signal, said video signal, said position signal, said altitude signal and said aircraft identification and configuration label, and broadcasts said incoming rf signal;

a processing means, connected to said central station means, for;

archiving said aircraft performance and control parameters, said audio signal, said video signal, said position signal and said altitude signal thus creating an archived data database;

combining said aircraft performance and control parameters, said audio signal, said video signal, said position signal and said altitude signal with the archived data, said airport ground and air traffic information, said area traffic information, said global weather information, said map, said topographic elevation data, said aircraft data and said aircraft data;

performing performance, problem and crash avoidance simulations;

generating said on ground, in-flight and maintenance advisories; and

converting said on ground, in-flight and maintenance advisories to said incoming rf signal;

a display and control subsystem, connected to said processing means,

a global rf communications network which conveys said outgoing signal from said aircraft to said central station and conveys said incoming rf signal from said central station to said aircraft; and

a communications link which allows communication between said processing means and said airport traffic control database, said area traffic control database, said weather database, said map database, and said topographic elevation database.

5. A remote flight recorder and aircraft advisory system as claimed in claim 4 in which said position and altitude detector has its own antenna.

6. A remote flight recorder and aircraft advisory system as claimed in claim 4 in which said position and altitude detector shares an antenna with said sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter.

7. A method of remotely recording flight data and providing aircraft advisories comprising the steps:

mounting a performance sensor in an aircraft;

mounting a control sensor in said aircraft;

mounting an audio sensor in the cockpit of said aircraft;

mounting a video camera in the cockpit of said aircraft;

mounting a video camera in the passenger compartment of said aircraft;

mounting a video camera in the cargo compartment of said aircraft;

installing an aircraft position and altitude detector within said aircraft;

mounting a means in said cockpit for providing audio and visual advice to the pilot;

mounting a means in said aircraft for providing maintenance advice to maintenance personnel;

mounting a sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter system, in said aircraft;

providing communications access to an airport ground and air traffic control database;

providing communications access to an area air traffic control database;

providing communications access to a weather database;

providing communications access to a map database;

providing communications access to a topographic elevation database;

providing communications access to an aircraft manufacturer'"'"'s database;

providing a central ground based station;

providing a processing means within said central ground based station;

providing a display and control subsystem, connected to said processing means;

providing a global, rf communications network;

accepting signals from said aircraft performance and control sensors, said audio sensor, said video cameras, and said position and altitude detector into said sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter;

converting, in said sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter, said signal from said aircraft performance and control sensors, when necessary, to digital form;

adding an aircraft identification and configuration label;

converting said signals, and said aircraft identification and configuration label, in said sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter, to an outgoing rf signal;

transmitting said outgoing rf signal from said sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter to said central ground base station via said global rf communications network;

receiving said outgoing rf signal at said central ground based station;

converting said outgoing rf signal at said ground based central station to said signals plus said aircraft identification and configuration label;

performing within said processing means the steps of;

archiving said signals thus creating an archived data database;

combining said signals with the archived data, and information from said airport traffic database, said area traffic database, said weather database, said map database, said topographic database and said aircraft manufacturer'"'"'s database;

performing real-time performance, problem and crash avoidance simulations;

generating ground, in-flight and maintenance advisories; and

converting said ground, in-flight and maintenance advisories to an incoming rf signal;

sending said incoming rf signal, via said global communications network, from said central ground based station to said sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter;

converting said incoming rf signal, at said sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter, to said ground, in-flight and maintenance advisories;

feeding said in-flight advisory from said sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter to said pilot'"'"'s audio and visual advisory means; and

feeding said maintenance advisory from said sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter to said maintenance communication means.

8. A remote flight recorder and aircraft advisory system comprising:

an aircraft performance means for detecting aircraft performance and control parameters;

a position and altitude detector means for accurately determining aircraft position and altitude data, and turning these data into a position signal and an altitude signal;

a pilot'"'"'s audio and visual advisory means, located in the cockpit of an aircraft, for providing audio and visual advice to the pilot;

a sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter means, located on board said aircraft, for;

accepting said aircraft performance and control parameters, said position signal and said altitude signal;

converting said aircraft performance and control parameters, when necessary, to digital form;

adding an aircraft identification and configuration label;

converting said aircraft performance and control parameters, said position signal, said altitude signal and said identification and configuration label to an outgoing rf signal and broadcasting said outgoing rf signal; and

receiving an incoming rf signal, converting it to a ground advisory, an in-flight advisory and a maintenance advisory, feeding said ground advisory and said in-flight flight advisory to said pilot'"'"'s audio and visual advisory means and feeding said maintenance advisory to said maintenance communication means;

an airport traffic control database means for providing information about airport ground and air traffic;

an area traffic control database means for providing information about area traffic;

a global weather database means for providing weather information;

a map database means for providing a map;

a global topographic database means for providing topographic elevation data;

a central station means, located on the ground, for receiving said outgoing rf signal and converting it to said aircraft performance and control parameters, said position signal, said altitude signal and said aircraft identification and configuration label, and broadcasting said incoming rf signal;

a processing means, connected to said central station means, for;

archiving said aircraft performance and control parameters, said position signal and said altitude signal thus creating an archived data database;

combining said aircraft performance and control parameters, said position signal and said altitude signal with the archived data, said airport ground and air traffic information, said area traffic information, said global weather information, said map and said topographic elevation data;

a display and control means, connected to said processing means, for displaying operation of said processing means and for allowing operator control of said processing means; and

a global rf communications network means for conveying said outgoing signal from said aircraft to said central station means and conveying said incoming rf signal from said central station means to said aircraft.

9. A remote flight recorder and aircraft advisory system as claimed in claim 8 in which said position and altitude detector means has its own antenna.

10. A remote flight recorder and aircraft advisory system as claimed in claim 8 in which said position and altitude detector means shares an antenna with said sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter means.

11. A remote flight recorder and aircraft advisory system comprising:

an aircraft sensor which detects aircraft performance and control parameters;

a position and altitude detector which determines aircraft position and altitude data and turns these data into a position signal and an altitude signal;

means, located in the cockpit of an aircraft, for providing audio and visual advice to the pilot;

a sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter, located on board said aircraft, which;

accepts said aircraft performance and control parameters, said position signal and said altitude signal;

converts said aircraft performance and control parameters, when necessary, to digital form;

adds an aircraft identification and configuration label;

converts said aircraft performance and control parameters, said position signal, said altitude signal and said aircraft identification and configuration label to an outgoing rf signal and broadcasts said outgoing rf signal; and

receives an incoming rf signal, converts it to an on ground advisory, an in-flight advisory and a maintenance advisory, feeds said on ground advisory and said in-flight advisory to said pilot'"'"'s audio and visual advisory means and feeds said maintenance advisory to said maintenance communication means;

an airport ground and air traffic control database for providing airport ground and air traffic information;

an area traffic control database for providing area traffic information;

a weather database for providing global weather information;

a map database for providing a map;

a topographic elevation database for providing topographic elevation data;

a central station means, located on the ground, which receives said outgoing rf signal and converts it to said aircraft performance and control parameters, said position signal, said altitude signal and said aircraft identification and configuration label, and broadcasts said incoming rf signal;

a processing means, connected to said central station means, for;

archiving said aircraft performance and control parameters, said position signal and said altitude signal thus creating an archived data database;

combining said aircraft performance and control parameters, said position signal and said altitude signal with the archived data, said airport ground and air traffic information, said area traffic information, said global weather information, said map and said topographic elevation data;

a display and control subsystem connected to said processing means; and

a global rf communications network which conveys said outgoing signal from said aircraft to said central station and conveys said incoming rf signal from said central station to said aircraft.

12. A remote flight recorder and aircraft advisory system as claimed in claim 11 in which said position and altitude detector has its own antenna.

13. A remote flight recorder and aircraft advisory system as claimed in claim 11 in which said position and altitude detector shares an antenna with said sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter.

14. A method of remotely recording flight data and providing aircraft advisories comprising the steps:

mounting a performance sensor in an aircraft;

mounting a control sensor in said aircraft;

installing an aircraft position and altitude detector within said aircraft;

mounting a means in said cockpit for providing audio and visual advice to the pilot;

mounting a sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter system, in said aircraft;

providing communications access to an airport ground and air traffic control database;

providing communications access to an area air traffic control database;

providing communications access to a weather database;

providing communications access to a map database;

providing communications access to a topographic elevation database;

providing a central ground based station;

providing a processing means within said central ground based station;

providing a display and control subsystem, connected to said processing means;

providing a global, rf communications network;

accepting signals from said aircraft performance and control sensors and said position and altitude detector into said sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter;

converting, in said sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter, said signal from said aircraft performance and control sensors, when necessary, to digital form;

adding an aircraft identification and configuration label;

converting said signals and aircraft identification and configuration label, in said sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter, to an outgoing rf signal;

transmitting said outgoing rf signal from said sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter to said central ground base station via said global rf communications network;

receiving said outgoing rf signal at said central ground based station;

converting said outgoing rf signal at said ground based central station to said signals plus said aircraft identification and configuration label;

performing within said processing means the steps of;

archiving said signals thus creating an archived data database;

combining said signals with the archived data, and information from said airport traffic database, said area traffic database, said weather database, said map database and said topographic database;

performing real-time performance, problem and crash avoidance simulations;

generating ground,and in-flight advisories; and

converting said ground and in-flight advisories to an incoming rf signal;

sending said incoming rf signal, via said global communications network, from said central ground based station to said sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter;

converting said incoming rf signal, at said sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter, to said ground and in-flight advisories; and

feeding said in-flight advisory from said sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter to said pilot'"'"'s audio and visual advisory means.

15. A remote flight recorder and aircraft advisory system comprising:

a position and altitude detector means for accurately determining aircraft position and altitude data, and turning these data into a position signal and an altitude signal;

a pilot'"'"'s audio and visual advisory means, located in the cockpit of an aircraft for providing audio and visual advice to the pilot;

a sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter means, located on board said aircraft, for;

accepting said aircraft position signal and said altitude signal;

adding an aircraft identification and configuration label;

converting said aircraft position signal, said altitude signal and said identification and configuration label to an outgoing rf signal and broadcasting said outgoing rf signal; and

receiving an incoming rf signal, converting it to an in-flight advisory feeding said in-flight advisory to said pilot'"'"'s audio and visual advisory means;

an airport traffic control database means for providing information about airport ground and air traffic;

an area traffic control database means for providing information about area traffic;

a global weather database means for providing weather information;

a map database means for providing a map;

a central station means, located on the ground, for receiving said outgoing rf signal and converting it to said position signal, said altitude signal and said aircraft identification and configuration label, and broadcasting said incoming rf signal;

a processing means, connected to said central station means, for;

combining said aircraft position signal and said altitude signal with said airport ground and air traffic information, said area traffic information, said global weather information and said map;

generating said in-flight advisory; and

converting said in-flight advisory to said incoming rf signal;

a display and control means, connected to said processing means, for displaying operation of said processing means and for allowing operator control of said processing means;

a global rf communications network means for conveying said outgoing signal from said aircraft to said central station means and conveying said incoming rf signal from said central station means to said aircraft; and

a communications means for allowing communication between said processing means and said airport traffic control database, said area traffic control database, said weather database and said map database.

16. A remote flight recorder and aircraft advisory system as claimed in claim 15 in which said position and altitude detector means has its own antenna.

17. A remote flight recorder and aircraft advisory system as claimed in claim 15 in which said position and altitude detector means shares an antenna with said sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter means.

18. A remote flight recorder and aircraft advisory system as claimed in claim 15 in which said in flight advisory relates to weather conditions including clear air turbulence and lightening.

19. A remote flight recorder and aircraft advisory system as claimed in claim 15 in which said in flight advisory relates to optimum and efficient aircraft routing.

20. A remote flight recorder and aircraft advisory system as claimed in claim 15 in which said in flight advisory relates to optimal aircraft separation to avoid clear air turbulence.

21. A remote flight recorder and aircraft advisory system comprising:

a position and altitude detector which determines aircraft position and altitude data and turns these data into a position signal and an altitude signal;

means, located in the cockpit of an aircraft, for providing audio and visual advice to the pilot;

a sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter, located on board said aircraft, which;

accepts said aircraft position signal and said altitude signal;

adds an aircraft identification and configuration label;

converts said aircraft position signal, said altitude signal and said aircraft identification and configuration label to an outgoing rf signal and broadcasts said outgoing rf signal; and

receives an incoming rf signal, converts it to an in-flight advisory and feeds said in-flight advisory to said pilot'"'"'s audio and visual advisory means;

an airport ground and air traffic control database for providing aircraft ground and air traffic information;

an area traffic control database for providing area traffic information;

a weather database for providing global weather information;

a map database for providing a map;

a topographic elevation database for providing topographic elevation data;

a central station, located on the ground, which receives said outgoing rf signal and converts it to said aircraft position signal, said altitude signal and said aircraft identification and configuration label, and broadcasts said incoming rf signal;

a processing means, connected to said central station means, for;

combining said aircraft airport ground and air traffic information, said area traffic information, said global weather information, said map and said topographic elevation data;

generating said in-flight advisory; and

converting said in-flight advisory to said incoming rf signal;

a display and control subsystem, connected to said processing means,

a global rf communications network which conveys said outgoing signal from said aircraft to said central station and conveys said incoming rf signal from said central station to said aircraft; and

a communications link which allows communication between said processing means and said airport traffic control database, said area traffic control database, said weather database, said map database, and said topographic elevation database.

22. A remote flight recorder and aircraft advisory system as claimed in claim 21 in which said position and altitude detector has its own antenna.

23. A remote flight recorder and aircraft advisory system as claimed in claim 21 in which said position and altitude detector shares an antenna with said sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter.

24. A remote flight recorder and aircraft advisory system as claimed in claim 21 in which said in flight advisory relates to weather conditions including clear air turbulence and lightening.

25. A remote flight recorder and aircraft advisory system as claimed in claim 21 in which said in flight advisory relates to optimum and efficient aircraft routing.

26. A remote flight recorder and aircraft advisory system as claimed in claim 21 in which said in flight advisory relates to optimal aircraft separation to avoid clear air turbulence.

27. A method of remotely recording flight data and providing aircraft advisories comprising the steps of:

installing an aircraft position and altitude detector within an aircraft;

mounting a means in said cockpit for providing audio and visual advice to the pilot;

mounting a sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter system, in said aircraft;

providing communications access to an airport ground and air traffic control database;

providing communications access to an area air traffic control database;

providing communications access to a weather database;

providing communications access to a map database;

providing communications access to a topographic elevation database;

providing a central ground based station;

providing a processing means within said central ground based station;

providing a display and control subsystem, connected to said processing means;

providing a global, rf communications network;

accepting signals from said aircraft position and altitude detector into said sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter;

adding an aircraft identification and configuration label;

converting said signals, and aircraft identification and configuration label, in said sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter, to an outgoing rf signal;

transmitting said outgoing rf signal from said sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter to said central ground base station via said global rf communications network;

receiving said outgoing rf signal at said central ground based station;

converting said outgoing rf signal at said ground based central station to said signals plus said aircraft identification and configuration label;

performing within said processing means the steps of;

combining said signals with information from said airport traffic database, said area traffic database, said weather database, said map database and said topographic elevation database;

generating in-flight advisories; and

converting said in-flight advisories to an incoming rf signal;

sending said incoming rf signal, via said global communications network, from said central ground based station to said sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter;

converting said incoming rf signal, at said sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter, to said in-flight advisories; and

feeding said in-flight advisories from said sensor multiplexer receiver and transmitter to said pilot'"'"'s audio and visual advisory means.