Vehicle specific hazard estimation, presentation, and route planning based on meteorological and other environmental data

• US 6,381,538 B1
• Filed: 05/26/2000
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DTN, LLC (TBG AG)
• Original Assignee: Aerotech Research (USA), Inc.
• Inventors: Robinson, Paul Aaron, Bowles, Roland L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/583,042
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/14, 701/201, 701/202, 701/210, 701/211, 701/1, 702/3, 342/26
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/00 Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0005 with arrangements to save energy
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0039 Modification of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0091 for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W

Abstract

This invention combines meteorological and other environmental data with data specific to a particular craft or vehicle, such as, for example, the weight, speed, response characteristics, propulsion, mode of propulsion, and configuration, of a particular aircraft, and produces a simplified display map showing environmental conditions data as the environmental conditions data relates to that specific vehicle. The environmental conditions data is presented on the display map in the form of environmental condition annotations that have different coloring, shading, and/or iconization as determined by the type, severity, and area of the various environmental conditions relative to the vehicle. This invention separately provides travel route optimization for a particular craft or vehicle based on the combination of meteorological and other environmental data with data specific to the particular craft or vehicle. The travel route may be optimized based on default criteria or criteria selected by a user, such as, for example, best fuel economy, most comfortable ride, fastest traverse of a particular region, and/or changing configuration of the particular craft or vehicle. The travel route may be altered or updated by this invention based on either a request from the user or a change in either the environmental conditions or the characteristics of the particular craft or vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of displaying environmental conditions as the environmental conditions relate to a particular vehicle, comprising:

receiving environmental conditions information;

receiving vehicle information;

receiving vehicle specific information;

determining, based on the received environmental conditions information, the received vehicle information, and the received vehicle specific information, whether any environmental conditions represent environmental conditions that are severe enough to affect the particular vehicle;

creating, if the environmental conditions represent environmental conditions that are severe enough to affect the particular vehicle, at least one environmental condition annotation for each environmental condition that represents an environmental condition that is severe enough to affect the particular vehicle; and

inserting the at least one environmental condition annotation in an appropriate location on a display device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving environmental conditions information includes receiving information regarding at least one of cloud type, cloud altitude, visibility, storms, rain, turbulence, lightning, icing, fog, volcanic ash, wind speed, wind direction, wind variation, water depth, water conditions, water temperature, wave height, water current, water undercurrent, accumulated precipitation, restricted areas, surface conditions, road conditions and grade of terrain traversed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving environmental conditions information includes receiving environmental conditions information from at least one ground-based source.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving environmental conditions information includes receiving environmental conditions information from at least one satellite.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving environmental conditions information includes receiving environmental conditions information from at least one other vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving environmental conditions information includes receiving environmental conditions information from at least one system onboard the particular vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving vehicle information includes receiving dynamic vehicle information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving vehicle specific information includes receiving static vehicle information.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein creating at least one environmental condition annotation includes creating at least one icon or symbol having characteristics that reflect the spatial extent and severity of the environmental condition.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein creating at least one icon or symbol having characteristics that reflect the spatial extent and severity of the environmental condition includes creating the at least one icon or symbol using at least one of specific shading, coloring, and patterning techniques.

11. A method of planning or updating a travel route based on a potential affect of environmental conditions on a particular vehicle, comprising:

receiving at least a starting location of a journey and an end point of a journey;

determining a best travel route from at least the starting location of the journey to the end point of the journey;

receiving environmental conditions information for at least the determined best travel route;

receiving vehicle information;

receiving vehicle specific information;

determining, based on the determined best travel route, the received environmental conditions information, the received vehicle information, and the received vehicle specific information, whether any environmental conditions represent environmental conditions that are severe enough to affect the particular vehicle;

re-determining, if any environmental conditions represent environmental conditions that are severe enough to affect the particular vehicle, the best travel route to traverse the environmental conditions that represent environmental conditions that are severe enough to affect the particular vehicle; and

creating a display that shows at least the determined best travel route and at least one environmental condition annotation that represents each environmental condition that is severe enough to affect the particular vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein re-determining the best travel route includes redetermining the best travel route based on a selected criteria.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the selected criteria include at least one of, total avoidance of any environmental conditions severe enough to affect the particular vehicle, best fuel economy, most comfortable ride, fastest traverse of a particular region, and changing configuration of the vehicle.

14. An apparatus for displaying environmental conditions as the environmental conditions relate to a particular vehicle, comprising:

a display;

an input circuit that receives incoming information;

a vehicle information database that at least stores static data specific to the particular vehicle;

a vehicle conditions database that at least periodically receives and stores dynamic data specific to the particular vehicle;

an environmental conditions database that at least periodically receives and stores weather and other environmental conditions information;

a map annotation database that stores environmental condition annotations;

an annotation injection circuit that injects appropriate environmental condition annotations in one or more appropriate locations on the display;

a memory that contains at least a software program and specific algorithms used by the environmental conditions display apparatus;

an output circuit that outputs the environmental condition annotations to the display; and

a controller coupled to the display, the input circuit, the vehicle information database, the vehicle conditions database, the environmental conditions database, the map annotation database, the memory, and the output circuit, and configured to determine, based on the specific algorithms, the static data, the dynamic data, and the weather and other environmental conditions information, whether any environmental conditions represent environmental conditions that are severe enough to affect the particular vehicle, to create, using the environmental condition annotations, at least one environmental condition annotation for each environmental condition that represents an environmental condition that is severe enough to affect the particular vehicle, and to control the annotation injection circuit to inject, via the output circuit, appropriate environmental condition annotations in one or more appropriate locations on the display.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the display also displays a best travel route on the display from at least one first location to at least one second location.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the weather and other environmental conditions information includes at least one of instrument meteorological conditions, visual meteorological conditions, cloud type, cloud altitude, visibility, storms, rain, turbulence, lightning, icing, fog, volcanic ash, wind speed, wind direction, wind variation, water depth, water conditions, water temperature, wave height, water current, water undercurrent, accumulated precipitation, restricted areas, surface conditions, road conditions and grade of terrain traversed.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the static data includes at least one of the vehicle'"'"'s size, propulsion, mode of propulsion, structure, type of control system(s), control surfaces, longitudinal and lateral aerodynamics, maximum weight, maximum operational ceiling, maximum Mach number, structural limitations, mechanical limitations, and performance limitations.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the dynamic data includes data about at least one of the vehicle'"'"'s weight, performance characteristics, center of gravity, configuration, functionality of any automated control systems, speed, and direction.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the environmental condition annotations include a particular style or color of at least one of patterning, shading, and iconization.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein each particular style or color of patterning, shading, or iconization represents a different spatial extent or severity of an environmental condition.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the memory also stores map display software and communications software.

22. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the environmental conditions database is located onboard the vehicle.

23. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the environmental conditions database is located onboard another vehicle.

24. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the environmental conditions database is located remote from the vehicle.

25. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the environmental conditions database receives weather and other environmental conditions information from at least one system that is remote from the vehicle.

26. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the environmental conditions database receives weather and other environmental conditions information from at least one system that is onboard the vehicle.

27. The apparatus of claim 14, further including one or more input devices to update or alter the display.

28. An environmental conditions display system that displays environmental conditions as the environmental conditions relate to a particular vehicle, comprising:

a display;

an input circuit that receives incoming information;

a vehicle information database that at least stores static data specific to the particular vehicle;

a vehicle conditions database that at least periodically receives and stores dynamic data specific to the particular vehicle;

an environmental conditions database that at least periodically receives and stores weather and other environmental conditions information;

a map annotation database that stores environmental condition annotations;

an annotation injection circuit that injects appropriate environmental condition annotations in one or more appropriate locations on the display;

a memory that contains at least a software program and specific algorithms used by the environmental conditions display apparatus;

an output circuit that outputs the environmental condition annotations to the display; and

a controller coupled to the display, the input circuit, the vehicle information database, the vehicle conditions database, the environmental conditions database, the map annotation database, the memory, and the output circuit, and configured to determine, based on the specific algorithms, the static data, the dynamic data, and the weather and other environmental conditions information, whether any environmental conditions represent environmental conditions that are severe enough to affect the particular vehicle, to create, using the environmental condition annotations, at least one environmental condition annotation for each environmental condition that represents an environmental condition that is severe enough to affect the particular vehicle, and to control the annotation injection circuit to inject, via the output circuit, appropriate environmental condition annotations in one or more appropriate locations on the display.

29. The environmental conditions display system of claim 28, wherein the weather and other environmental conditions information includes at least one of cloud type, cloud altitude, visibility, storms, rain, turbulence, lightning, icing, fog, volcanic ash, wind speed, wind direction, wind variation, water depth, water conditions, water temperature, wave height, water current, water undercurrent, accumulated precipitation, restricted areas, surface conditions, road conditions and grade of terrain traversed.

30. The environmental conditions display system of claim 28, wherein the display also displays a best travel route on the display from at least one first location to at least one second location.

31. The environmental conditions display system of claim 28, wherein the static data includes at least one of the vehicle'"'"'s size, propulsion, mode of propulsion, structure, type of control system(s), control surfaces, longitudinal and lateral aerodynamics, maximum weight, maximum operational ceiling, maximum Mach number, structural limitations, mechanical limitations, and performance limitations.

32. The environmental conditions display system of claim 28, wherein the dynamic data includes data about at least one of the vehicle'"'"'s weight, performance characteristics, center of gravity, configuration, functionality of any automated control systems, speed, and direction.

33. The environmental conditions display system of claim 28, wherein the environmental condition annotations include a particular style or color of patterning, shading, or iconization.

34. The environmental conditions display system of claim 30, wherein each particular style or color of patterning, shading, or iconization represents a different spatial extent or severity of an environmental condition.

35. The environmental conditions display system of claim 28, wherein the memory also stores map display software and communications software.

36. The environmental conditions display system of claim 28, wherein the environmental conditions database is located onboard the vehicle.

37. The environmental conditions display system of claim 28, wherein the environmental conditions database is located onboard another vehicle.

38. The environmental conditions display system of claim 28, wherein the environmental conditions database is located remote from the vehicle.

39. The environmental conditions display system of claim 28, wherein the environmental conditions database receives weather and other environmental conditions information from at least one system that is remote from the vehicle.

40. The environmental conditions display system of claim 28, wherein the environmental conditions database receives weather and other environmental conditions information from at least one system that is onboard the vehicle.

41. The environmental conditions display system of claim 28, further including one or more input devices to update or alter the display.

42. A method of displaying environmental conditions as the environmental conditions relate to a particular vehicle, comprising the steps of:

receiving at least some static vehicle information from at least one second vehicle;

receiving at least some dynamic vehicle information from the at least one second vehicle;

comparing at least some of the static vehicle information and at least some of the dynamic vehicle information received from the at least one second vehicle to at least some static vehicle information and at least some dynamic vehicle information from the particular vehicle;

determining, based on the compared information, whether there are any environmental conditions that are severe enough to affect the particular vehicle;

creating, if it is determined that there are environmental conditions that are severe enough to affect the particular vehicle, at least one environmental condition annotation for each environmental condition that represents an environmental condition that is severe enough to affect the particular vehicle; and

producing a display of environmental conditions, wherein the display of environmental conditions includes the at least one environmental condition annotation inserted in an appropriate location on a display so as to indicate a relationship between the environmental condition and the particular vehicle.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the dynamic vehicle information includes at least one of the vehicle'"'"'s weight, performance characteristics, center of gravity, configuration, functionality of any automated control systems, location, speed, direction, altitude, and Mach number.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the static vehicle information includes at least one of the vehicle'"'"'s size, propulsion, mode of propulsion, structure, type of control system(s), type of control surfaces, longitudinal aerodynamics, lateral aerodynamics, maximum weight, structural limitations, mechanical limitations, performance limitations, maximum operational ceiling, and maximum Mach number.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein at least some of the static vehicle information or at least some of the dynamic vehicle information from the particular vehicle is predetermined static or dynamic vehicle information.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein at least some of the static vehicle information or at least some of the dynamic vehicle information from the at least one second vehicle is predetermined static or dynamic vehicle information.

47. The method of claim 42, wherein the display of environmental conditions as the environmental conditions relate to the particular vehicle is based on at least some present static vehicle information or at least some present dynamic vehicle information.

48. The method of claim 42, wherein the display of environmental conditions as the environmental conditions relate to the particular vehicle is based on at least some projected static vehicle information or at least some projected dynamic vehicle information for the particular vehicle when the particular vehicle reaches a location of the at least one second vehicle, wherein the location of the at least one second vehicle is the location from which the at least one second vehicle transmitted the static vehicle information or the projected dynamic vehicle information that is being compared.

49. The method of claim 42, wherein at least one of the static vehicle information and the dynamic vehicle information from at least one second vehicle is received from a source remote from the at least one second vehicle.

50. The method of claim 42, wherein the display of environmental conditions includes at least one environmental condition annotation for each environmental condition that is severe enough to affect the particular vehicle and wherein the at least one environmental condition annotation is inserted in an appropriate location on a display device to represent the location and severity of the environmental condition, as the location and the severity relate to the particular vehicle.

51. A method of providing environmental conditions data as the environmental conditions data relates to a particular vehicle, comprising the steps of:

receiving at least some static vehicle information from the particular vehicle;

receiving at least some dynamic vehicle information from the particular vehicle;

receiving at least some static vehicle information from at least one second vehicle;

receiving at least some dynamic vehicle information from the at least one second vehicle;

comparing at least some of the static vehicle information and at least some of the dynamic vehicle information received from the at least one second vehicle to at least some of the static vehicle information and at least some of the dynamic vehicle information from the particular vehicle;

determining environmental conditions data that relates to the particular vehicle,

wherein the determined environmental conditions data is based on the comparison of the at least some static vehicle information and the at least some dynamic vehicle information received from the at least one second vehicle to the at least some static vehicle information and the at least some dynamic vehicle information from the particular vehicle; and

transmitting the environmental conditions data to at least one vehicle.