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Embedded terrain awareness warning system for aircraft

  • US 6,484,072 B1
  • Filed: 09/28/2001
  • Issued: 11/19/2002
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An embedded terrain awareness warning system for aircraft, the aircraft being flown by a pilot, the system comprising:

  • (a) a signal processing component, the signal processing component being in communication with three-dimensional digital terrain elevation data, the three-dimensional digital terrain elevation data containing digital terrain, the signal processing component being able to take input data from aircraft sensors and determine aircraft velocity and aircraft position on the three-dimensional digital terrain elevation data;

    (b) a protection component, the protection component being in communication with the signal processing component such that the protection component being able to predict a flight path of the aircraft and overlay the flight path on the digital terrain elevation data and being able to determine if a potential controlled flight into terrain situation exists, the protection component further being able to determine a recovery flight path to avoid terrain; and

    (c) a pilot vehicle interface, the pilot vehicle interface communicating with the protection component such that the pilot vehicle interface can issue to the pilot of the aircraft a warning if there exists a potential impending flight into terrain, and issue to the pilot directions for a recovery flight path solution to prevent flight into terrain, the directions for a recovery flight path solution being based on the recovery flight path to avoid terrain.

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