Midair collision avoidance system
First Claim
1. A midair collision avoidance system for use aboard an aircraft, the system comprisingan air traffic management module for monitoring and tracking aircraft in the air traffic control environment external to the aircraft on which the system is located, a tactical based management module distinct from said air traffic management module, said tactical based management module for monitoring and tracking tactical aircraft in the tactical environment external to the aircraft on which the system is located, and an internal communication link between said air traffic management module and said tactical based management module.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A midair collision avoidance system (MCAS) employs an existing design of Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) as a module and seamlessly integrates it with a customized tactical module which is capable of providing unique tactical avoidance guidance control and display. The tactical module handles all phases of a tactical mission, including formation flight (e.g., formation fall-in, arming formation flight, engaging formation flight following, and formation break-away), and an air-refueling sequence (e.g., rendezvous, linkup, re-fueling, and disengaging air-refueling). The tactical module divides the air space around the aircraft into advisory, caution, and warning zones and for each provides display, tone and voice alerts to facilitate pop-up avoidance guidance commands. Military aircraft can thus effectively avoid mid air and near mid air collision situations in all three different operation modes: air traffic control (ATC) management mode, tactical mode, and a mixed mode.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A midair collision avoidance system for use aboard an aircraft, the system comprising
an air traffic management module for monitoring and tracking aircraft in the air traffic control environment external to the aircraft on which the system is located, a tactical based management module distinct from said air traffic management module, said tactical based management module for monitoring and tracking tactical aircraft in the tactical environment external to the aircraft on which the system is located, and an internal communication link between said air traffic management module and said tactical based management module.
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23. A midair alert and collision avoidance system comprising
a plurality of data link transponders for generating and broadcasting data to a host airplane, and a traffic alert and collision avoidance system located on the airplane and including receivers in communication with said transponders, said traffic alert and collision system further comprising an air traffic management system for monitoring and tracking objects in the air traffic control environment external to the aircraft and a tactical based management system, in communication with said air traffic management system, for monitoring objects in the tactical environment external to the airplane.
Specification