×

Method for working out an avoidance path in the horizontal plane for an aircraft to resolve a traffic conflict

  • US 6,546,338 B2
  • Filed: 02/11/2002
  • Issued: 04/08/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

1. Method for preparation of an avoidance path in a horizontal plane, for a first aircraft following an initial route, to resolve a conflict of traffic with a second aircraft following a second route that may be identical to the first route, based on knowledge (a) of a minimum safety distance S to be maintained between the first and second aircraft, (b) of current positions X1 and X2 of the first and second aircraft, and (c) of horizontal speed vectors {right arrow over (V 

  • )}1 and {right arrow over (V 

    )}2 of the first and second aircraft, said method comprising;

    determining a horizontal speed vector {right arrow over (V 

    )}rel of the second aircraft relative to the first aircraft;

    determining, in the horizontal plane, a circle of protection around the first aircraft with the minimum safety distance as its radius;

    testing an intersection of a straight line bearing the horizontal speed vector {right arrow over (V 

    )}hd rel of the second aircraft with respect to the first aircraft, with the circle of protection of the first aircraft;

    further comprising, in an event the intersection of the circle of protection of the first aircraft by the horizontal speed vector {right arrow over (V 

    )}rel of the second aircraft relative to the first aircraft, implying a risk of collision, tests affirmative;

    determining an angle {right arrow over (α



    )}b-{right arrow over (α



    )}c at which the second aircraft perceives the circle of protection of the first aircraft;

    determining a start-of-avoidance-maneuver point located on the initial route of the first aircraft and shifted downline from the current position X1 of the first aircraft;

    determining at least one value of heading angle {right arrow over (Θ



    )}1b and/or {right arrow over (Θ



    )}1c to be followed by the first aircraft, without changing a horizontal speed modulus, to bring the horizontal speed vector {right arrow over (V 

    )}rel of the second aircraft relative to the first aircraft at most on one of sides {right arrow over (X 

    )}2b, {right arrow over (X 

    )}2c of the angle at which the second aircraft perceives the circle of protection of the first aircraft; and

    determining at least one collision-risk avoidance path for the first aircraft comprising a first evasive path constituted by a rectilinear segment having the start-of-avoidance-maneuver point as its point of origin, one of new values of the obtained heading angle {right arrow over (Θ



    )}1b or {right arrow over (Θ



    )}1c as its heading and having, as its end, a rotating point chosen beyond a point where the separation distance between the first and second aircraft passes through a minimum value equal to a minimum safety distance, and, beyond the rotating point, a second homing path to the initial route.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×