Autonomous landing guidance system

• US 6,311,108 B1
• Filed: 07/31/2000
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alliedsignal Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alliedsignal Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Ammar, Danny F., Sweet, Steven R., Spires, Randall C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US09/630,156
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 701/16, 701/34, 701/213, 701/220, 701/120, 701/17, 244/180, 244/183, 342/33, 342/26, 342/63, 342/152, 342/149, 342/427, 342/36
• US Class Current: 701/16
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2226 comparing the observed data with stored target data, e.g. target configuration data
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2246 Active homing systems, i.e. comprising both a transmitter and a receiver
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2286 using radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/005 with correlation of navigation data from several sources, e.g. map or contour matching G01C21/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/28 with time compression of received pulses
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/4418 with means for eliminating radar-dependent errors in angle measurements, e.g. multipath effects
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/4427 with means for eliminating the target-dependent errors in angle measurements, e.g. glint, scintillation effects
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/4463 using phased arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/87 Combinations of radar systems, e.g. primary radar and secondary radar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/913 for landing purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/933 of aircraft or spacecraft
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/935 for terrain-avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/953 mounted on aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/0263 Passive array antenna
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/282 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/285 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/412 based on a comparison between measured values and known or stored values
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0086 for monitoring terrain radar or analogous systems specially adapted for terrain avoidance G01S13/935
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 : Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

An aircraft guidance system uses radar imaging to verify airport and runway location and provide navigation updates. The system is applicable to flight operations in low visibility conditions.

Claims

1. A landing guidance device for aircraft comprising:

a first input for receiving aircraft position data;

a second input for receiving radar image data including image data from a radar sum channel, a radar delta channel and a radar delta_d channel;

a feature map of a landing area;

means, coupled to said first input and to said feature map for generating a reference image from said feature map based upon said aircraft position data; and

means, coupled to said means for generating a reference image and to said second input, for comparing said reference image to said radar image data and outputting a guidance command.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said radar image data is received from a weather radar.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said radar image data comprises X band radar image data.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a display device for displaying said guidance command.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising a means, coupled to said second input, for detecting a collision hazard positioned ahead of the aircraft.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for comparing further includes a means for verifying said radar image data is image data for a predetermined landing area.

7. A landing guidance device for aircraft comprising:

an input coupled to receive radar data including image data from a radar sum channel, a radar delta channel and a radar delta_d channel;

an airport image data base;

means, coupled to said input and to said airport image data base, for using said radar data to identify a given landing area image stored within said airport image data base; and

a display for displaying a combination of given portions of said given landing area image and said radar data.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said radar data comprises X band radar data.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein said input is coupled to receive said radar data from a weather radar.

10. The device of claim 7 wherein said display is a heads up display.

11. The device of claim 7 wherein said display displays a synthesized runway image.

12. The device of claim 7 further comprising a means, coupled to said input, for processing said radar data to detect a collision hazard to the aircraft.

13. A guidance device for aircraft comprising:

a first input coupled to receive aircraft position data;

a second input coupled to receive radar image data;

an airport features data base;

means, coupled to said first input, to said second input and to said airport features data base, for identifying a given airport and for comparing said radar image to image data for said given airport to output guidance information;

an obstacle detection means, coupled to said second input for detecting a collision hazard to the aircraft;

a ground proximity warning means, coupled to said first input and to said second input for providing a ground proximity warning, and;

wherein said radar image data comprises data from a sum squared channel, a delta squared channel and a delta_d channel.

14. A method for aircraft navigation comprising the steps of:

receiving an X band radar image data including image data from a radar sum channel, a radar delta channel and a radar delta_d channel;

comparing said X band radar image data to a stored image data for a given airport; and

using said step of comparing to output a navigation command.

15. A method for aircraft navigation comprising the steps of:

receiving an X band radar image data including image data from a radar sum channel, a radar delta channel and a radar delta_d channel;

comparing said X band radar image data to a stored image data base to identify stored image data for a given airport; and

using said X band radar image data, and said stored image data for said given airport to display a synthesized runway image.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said step of displaying a synthesized runway image further comprises the step of displaying said synthesized runway image on a heads up display.

17. A method for aircraft navigation comprising the steps of:

receiving an aircraft position information;

receiving a radar image data;

comparing said radar image data to image data from a stored image data base;

providing navigation information based on said step of comparing;

processing said radar image data to detect a collision hazard to the aircraft; and

wherein said step of receiving radar image data comprises the steps of receiving a delta squared channel, a sum squared channel and a delta_d channel.