Apparatus, methods, computer program products for generating a runway field clearance floor envelope about a selected runway

• US 6,445,310 B1
• Filed: 02/01/2000
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Johnson, Steven C., Ishihara, Yasuo, Bateman, C. Don, Gremmert, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/496,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20020089433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 340/970, 340/945, 340/947, 340/951, 340/963, 701/9, 701/16, 701/301, 701/4, 701/5, 701/8, 342/65
• US Class Current: 340/970
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 5/005 altimeters for aircraft G01C5/02, G01C5/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0078 for monitoring traffic from the aircraft radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913

Abstract

The present invention provides apparatus, methods, and computer program products that monitor the altitude of an aircraft with respect to a selected runway. If the attitude of the aircraft is below a minimum glideslope with respect to the selected runway, the apparatus, methods, and computer program products of the present invention alert the flight crew, such that the altitude of the aircraft can be increased. This, in turn, increases time for reaction to abrupt changes in elevation near the selected runway. Specifically, the apparatus, methods, and computer program products of the present invention define a runway field clearance floor envelope about the selected runway that represents different preselected altitudes above the selected runway at respective distances from the selected runway. The apparatus, method, and computer program products of the present invention compare the altitude of the aircraft with respect to the selected runway to the runway field clearance floor envelope. If the altitude of the aircraft is less than the minimum altitude indicated for the aircraft at the given distance , the apparatus, method, and computer program products of the present invention provide an indication to the flight crew. Since the runway field clearance floor envelope is constructed relative to the runway by defining minimum altitude values that should be maintained relative to the elevation of the runway, the indications generated to the flight crew should provide a desired reaction time for the flight crew to adjust the aircraft to abrupt changes in elevation at or near a selected runway.

Claims

1. A computer program product for use in a ground proximity warning system to determine whether an aircraft is located at a desired position with respect to a selected runway, wherein the computer program product comprises:

a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code means comprising;

first computer instruction means for defining a runway field clearance floor envelope about the selected runway representing different preselected altitudes above the selected runway at respective distances from the selected runway;

second computer instruction means for comparing the position of the aircraft to the runway field clearance floor envelope; and

third computer instruction means, responsive to said second computer instruction means, for providing an indication if the aircraft is positioned below the runway field clearance floor envelope.

2. A computer program product according to claim 1, wherein said second computer instruction means compares a distance between the aircraft and selected runway to the runway field clearance floor envelope and determines a preselected altitude of the aircraft above the selected runway based on the runway field clearance floor envelope, and wherein said second computer instruction means compares the preselected altitude to the altitude of the aircraft above the selected runway, and provides an indication if the altitude of the aircraft above the selected runway is no more than the preselected altitude.

3. A computer program product according to claim 2 further comprising fourth computer instruction means for storing a data base containing position and elevation data for at least one selected runway, and wherein said second computer instruction means accesses the elevation data related to the selected runway stored in said storing step, and subtracts the elevation of the selected runway from the altitude of the aircraft.

4. A computer program product according to claim 3, wherein the altitude of the aircraft is a calculated geometric altitude representing the altitude of the aircraft above sea level, and wherein second computer instruction means subtracts the stored elevation data related to the selected runway from the geometric altitude of the selected aircraft.

5. A computer program product according to claim 3, wherein a barometric pressure sensor represents the altitude of the aircraft above sea level, and wherein second computer instruction means subtracts the stored elevation data related to the selected runway from the altitude of the selected aircraft.

6. A computer program product according to claim 1, wherein said first computer instruction means defines the runway field clearance floor envelope dependent upon at least two boundaries, and said first computer instruction means defines at least one of the boundaries based on at least one of a runway position quality factor, an altitude data quality factor, and an aircraft position quality factor.

7. A computer program product according to claim 6, wherein said first computer instruction means sums the runway position quality factor, altitude data quality factor, and aircraft position quality factor to define an inner boundary of the runway field clearance floor envelope at an inner position proximate to the selected runway, and wherein said first computer instruction means sums the runway position quality factor, the altitude data quality factor, the aircraft position quality factor, and a predetermined outer distance representing a predetermined distance from the selected runway to define an outer boundary of the runway field clearance floor envelope at a second position.

8. A computer program product according to claim 7, wherein said first computer instruction means further defines the runway field clearance floor envelope to have a preselected inner boundary altitude at the inner boundary and a preselected outer boundary altitude at the outer boundary to thereby define a runway field clearance floor envelope having a slope defined by the inner and outer boundary altitudes and positions.

9. A computer program product according to claim 1 further comprises fifth computer instruction means for defining a terrain clearance floor envelope about the selected runway representing different preselected minimum altitudes of the aircraft above terrain located below a current position of the aircraft for different distances between the aircraft and the selected runway, wherein said second computer instruction means compares the altitude of the aircraft above the terrain below the current position of the aircraft to the minimum altitude indicated by the terrain clearance floor envelope for the distance between the aircraft and selected runway, and wherein said third computer instruction means provides an indication that the aircraft is below the terrain clearance floor envelope if the altitude of the aircraft above the terrain is no more than the minimum altitude.

10. A computer program product according to claim 9 further comprising sixth computer instruction means for generating a ground proximity warning alert if the aircraft is below at least one of the runway field clearance floor envelope and the terrain clearance floor envelope for more than the predetermined time.

11. A computer program product according to claim 9, wherein if the aircraft is below the runway field clearance floor envelope for more than a predetermined time, said computer program product further comprises seventh computer instruction means for increasing an altitude value indicating the altitude of the aircraft above the selected runway by a selected amount, such that the aircraft must decrease in altitude by the selected amount before said fifth computer instruction means generates a next ground proximity alert.

12. A computer program product according to claim 11, wherein if the aircraft is below the terrain clearance floor envelope floor for more than a predetermined time, said computer program product further comprises eighth computer instruction means for increasing an altitude value indicating the altitude of the aircraft by a selected amount, such that the aircraft must decrease in altitude by the selected amount before said fifth computer instruction means generates a next ground proximity alert.

13. A computer program product according to claim 1 further comprises ninth computer instruction means for storing a data base containing preselected subtracting the stored elevation data related to the selected runway from the altitude of the selected aircraft.

14. An apparatus for use in a ground proximity warning system for determining whether an aircraft is located at a desired position with respect to a selected runway, wherein said apparatus comprises a processor that:

defines a runway field clearance floor envelope about the selected runway representing different preselected altitudes above the selected runway at respective distances from the selected runway;

determines an inner boundary of the runway field clearance floor envelope at an inner position proximate to the selected runway by summing the runway position quality factor, altitude data quality factor, and aircraft position quality factor;

determines an outer boundary of the runway field clearance floor envelope at an outer position by summing the runway position quality factor, the altitude data quality factor, the aircraft position quality factor, and a predetermined outer distance representing a predetermined distance from the selected runway; and

compares the position of the aircraft to the runway field clearance floor envelope, wherein if the aircraft is positioned below the runway field clearance floor envelope, said processor provides an indication thereof.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said processor further defines the runway field clearance floor envelope to have a preselected inner boundary altitude at the inner boundary, and a preselected outer boundary altitude at the outer boundary to thereby define a runway field clearance floor envelope having a slope defined by the inner and outer boundary altitudes and the inner and outer positions.

16. An apparatus for use in a ground proximity warning system for determining whether an aircraft is located at a desired position with respect to a selected runway, wherein said apparatus comprises:

a memory device comprising a data base containing position and elevation data for the selected runway,

a processor in electrical communication with said memory device, wherein said processor;

defines a runway field clearance floor envelope about the selected runway representing different preselected altitudes above the selected runway at respective distances from the selected runway;

determines the altitude of the aircraft above the selected runway by accessing elevation data related to the selected runway from said memory device and subtracting the levitation of the selected runway from the altitude of the aircraft;

compares a distance between the aircraft and selected runway to the runway field clearance floor envelope and determines a preselected altitude of the aircraft above the selected runway based on the runway field clearance floor envelope,

wherein said processor compares the preselected altitude to the altitude of the aircraft above the selected runway, and wherein if the altitude of the aircraft above the selected runway is no more than the preselected altitude, said processor provides an indication thereof.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the altitude of the aircraft is a calculated geometric altitude representing the altitude of the aircraft above sea level, and wherein said processor subtracts the elevation data related to the selected runway from the geometric altitude of the selected aircraft.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a barometric pressure sensor represents the altitude of the aircraft above sea level, and wherein said processor subtracts the elevation data related to the selected runway from the altitude of the selected aircraft.

19. An apparatus for use in a ground proximity warning system for determining whether an aircraft is located at a desired position with respect to a selected runway, wherein said apparatus comprises a processor that:

defines a runway field clearance floor envelope about the selected runway representing different preselected altitudes above the selected runway at respective distances from the selected runway, wherein said processor compares the position of the aircraft to the runway field clearance floor envelope, and wherein if the aircraft is positioned below the runway field clearance floor envelope, said processor provides an indication thereof; and

defines a terrain clearance floor envelope about the selected runway representing different preselected minimum altitudes of the aircraft above terrain located below the position of the aircraft for different distances between the aircraft and the selected runway, wherein said processor compares the altitude of the aircraft above the terrain below the position of the aircraft to the minimum altitude indicated by the terrain clearance floor envelope for the distance between the aircraft and selected runway, and wherein if the altitude of the aircraft above the terrain is no more than the minimum altitude indicating that the aircraft is below the terrain clearance floor envelope, said processor provides an indication thereof.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein if said processor determines that the aircraft is below at least one of the runway field clearance floor envelope and the terrain clearance floor envelope for more than a predetermined time, said processor generates a ground proximity alert.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein if said processor determines that the aircraft is below the runway field clearance floor envelope for more than a predetermined time, said processor increases an altitude value indicating the altitude of the aircraft above the selected runway by a selected amount, such that the aircraft must decrease in altitude by the selected amount before said processor will generate a next ground proximity alert.

22. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein if said processor determines that the aircraft is below the terrain clearance floor envelope floor for more than a predetermined time, said processor increases an altitude value indicating the altitude of the aircraft by a selected amount, such that the aircraft must decrease in altitude by the selected amount before said processor will generate a next ground proximity alert.

23. A method for use in a ground proximity warning system for determining whether an aircraft is located at a desired position with respect to a selected runway, wherein said method comprises the steps of:

defining a runway field clearance floor envelope about the selected runway representing different preselected altitudes above the selected runway at respective distances from the selected runway;

determining an inner boundary of the runway field clearance floor envelope at an inner position proximate to the selected runway by summing the runway position quality factor, altitude data quality factor;

determining an outer boundary of the runway field clearance floor envelope at a second position by summing the runway position quality factor, the altitude data quality factor, the aircraft position quality factor, and a predetermined outer distance representing a predetermined distance from the selected runway;

comparing the position of the aircraft to the runway field clearance floor envelope; and

providing an indication if the aircraft is positioned below the runway field clearance floor envelope.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein said defining step further comprises after said summing steps the step of defining the runway field clearance floor envelope to have a preselected inner boundary altitude at the inner boundary and a preselected outer boundary altitude at the outer boundary to thereby define a runway field clearance floor envelope having a slope defined by the inner and outer boundary altitudes and positions.

25. A method for use in a ground proximity warning system for determining whether an aircraft is located at a desired position with respect to a selected runway, wherein said method comprises the steps of.

storing a database containing position and elevation data for the selected runway;

defining a runway field clearance floor envelope about the selected runway representing different preselected altitudes above the selected runway at respective distances from the selected runway;

determining the altitude of the aircraft above the selected runway by subtracting the elevation of the selected runway from the altitude of the aircraft;

comparing a distance between the aircraft and selected runway to the runway field clearance floor envelope;

determining a preselected altitude o f the aircraft above the selected runway based on the runway field clearance floor envelope;

comparing the preselected altitude to the altitude of the aircraft above the selected runway;

and providing an indication if the altitude of the aircraft above the selected runway is no more than the preselected altitude.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the altitude of the aircraft is a calculated geometric altitude representing the altitude of the aircraft above sea level, and wherein said subtracting step comprises subtracting the stored elevation data related to the selected runway from the geometric altitude of the selected aircraft.

27. The method according to claim 25 further comprising the step of storing a data base containing preselected altitudes that an aircraft should maintain above a selected runway at respective distances from the selected runway, and wherein said defining step comprises defining the runway field clearance floor envelope based on the preselected altitudes at respective distances stored in said storing step.

28. The method according to claim 25, wherein a barometric pressure sensor represents the altitude of the aircraft above sea level, and wherein said subtracting step comprises subtracting the stored elevation data related to the selected runway from the altitude of the selected aircraft.

29. A method for use in a ground proximity warning system for determining whether an aircraft is located at a desired position with respect to a selected runway, wherein said method comprises the steps of.

defining a runway field clearance floor envelope about the selected runway representing different preselected altitude above the selected runway at respective distances from the selected runway;

comparing the position of the aircraft to the runway field clearance floor envelope;

providing an indication if the aircraft is positioned below the runway field clearance floor envelope;

defining a terrain clearance floor envelope about the selected runway representing different preselected minimum altitudes of the aircraft above terrain located below the aircraft for different distances between the aircraft and the selected runway;

comparing the altitude of the aircraft above the terrain to the minimum altitude indicated by the terrain clearance floor envelope for the distance between the aircraft and selected runway; and

providing an indication that the aircraft is below the terrain clearance floor envelope if the altitude of the aircraft above the terrain is no more than the minimum altitude.

30. The method according to claim 29 further comprising the step of generating a ground proximity warning alert if the aircraft is below at least one of the runway field clearance floor envelope and the terrain clearance floor envelope for more than the predetermined time.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein if the aircraft is below the runway field clearance floor envelope for more than a predetermined time, said method further comprises the step of increasing an altitude value indicating the altitude of the aircraft above the selected runway by a selected amount, such that the aircraft must decrease in altitude by the selected amount before said generating step will generate a next ground proximity alert.

32. A method according to claim 30, wherein if the aircraft is below the terrain clearance floor envelope floor for more than a predetermined time, method further comprises the step of increasing an altitude value indicating the altitude of the aircraft by a selected amount, such that the aircraft must decrease in altitude by the selected amount before said generating step will generate a next ground proximity alert.

33. An apparatus for generating a runway field clearance floor envelope for use in a ground proximity warning system, wherein said apparatus comprises a processor that generates a runway field clearance floor envelope about a selected runway representing a selected minimum landing pattern for landing an aircraft on the selected runway, wherein said processor defines the runway field clearance floor envelope having:

different preselected altitudes above the selected runway at different respective distances from the selected runway, wherein each of the different preselected altitudes represent a selected minimum altitude above the selected runway that the aircraft should maintain at the respective distance from the selected runway for landing the aircraft on the selected runway;

an inner boundary of the runway field clearance floor envelope located proximate to the selected runway, wherein the inner boundary location is determined by the sum of the runway position quality factor, altitude data quality factor, and aircraft position quality factor; and

an outer boundary of the runway field clearance floor envelope located at an outer position from the selected runway, wherein the outer boundary location is determined by the sum of the runway position quality factor, the altitude data quality factor, the aircraft position quality factor, and a predetermined outer distance representing a predetermined distance from the selected runway.

34. The apparatus according to claim 33 further comprising a memory device in electrical communication with said processor, wherein said memory device includes a data base containing preselected altitudes that an aircraft should maintain above a selected runway at respective distances from the selected runway, and wherein said processor accesses the memory device and defines the runway field clearance floor envelope based on the preselected altitude at respective distances stored in the memory device.

35. The apparatus according to claim 33 further comprising a memory device in electrical communication with said processor, wherein said memory device includes a data base containing preselected altitudes that an aircraft should maintain above a selected runway at respective distances from the selected runway, and wherein said processor accesses the memory device and defines the runway field clearance floor envelope based on the preselected altitude at respective distances stored in the memory device.