Precision approach radar system having computer generated pilot instructions

• US 6,600,442 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2001
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Goncalo, Steven R., Lok, Yuchoi Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALSOMIRI, ISAM A
• Application Number:
  US09/899,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20030016160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 342/33, 342/34, 342/35, 342/36, 342/37, 701/3, 701/14, 701/16, 701/17
• US Class Current: 342/33
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/913 for landing purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913

Abstract

A computer generated pilot instruction system for providing spatial information to a pilot corresponding to the difference between the actual landing fight path and optimal landing flight path.

Claims

1. A method for automatically providing flight instructions to a pilot for landing an aircraft, comprising:

determining spatial information at a radar station that corresponds to a spatial difference between the position of the aircraft and an optimal landing flight path;

converting the spatial information to synthesized voice flight instructions wherein the converting includes;

generating a plurality of classification types associated with the spatial difference between the position of the aircraft and an optimal landing flight path; and

generating the synthesized voice flight instructions from predetermined messages corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of classification types; and

conveying the flight instructions to the pilot for instructing the pilot to correct the actual landing flight path to the optimal landing flight path.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the synthesized voice flight instructions communicate the position of the aircraft relative to the optimal landing flight path.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a language of the synthesized voice flight instructions is selectable.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the synthesized voice flight instructions further communicate turn and elevation changes that can be made by the pilot to bring the position of the aircraft into conformance with the optimal landing flight path.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein conveying the flight instructions comprises:

encoding the flight instructions to produce encoded flight instructions; and

decoding the encoded flight instructions to produce decoded flight instructions.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a plurality of classification types comprises:

generating an azimuth classification type with a plurality of azimuth classification sub-types each of which corresponds to a magnitude of horizontal error from the optimal flight path.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein generating a plurality of classification types further comprises:

generating an azimuth rate classification type with a plurality of azimuth rate classification sub-types that correspond to magnitude of rate of horizontal error change from the optimal flight path.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein generating a plurality of classification types further comprises:

generating an elevation classification type with a plurality of elevation classifications sub-types that correspond to magnitude of elevation error from the optimal flight path.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein generating a plurality of classification types further comprises:

generating an elevation rate classification type with a plurality of elevation rate classification sub-types that correspond to magnitude of elevation rate error from the optimal flight path.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

conveying a radar system operator'"'"'s voice, in place of conveying the flight instructions, upon manual override by a radar system operator.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

converting the spatial information to visual indicators that are placed upon a radar display.

12. An apparatus for automatically generating landing instructions to an aircraft pilot for landing an aircraft, comprising:

means for computing a spatial difference between the position of the aircraft and an optimal landing flight path;

means for converting the spatial information to synthesized voice flight instructions, wherein the means for converting includes;

means for generating a plurality of classification types associated with the spatial difference between the position of the aircraft and an optimal landing flight path; and

means for providing synthesized voice flight instructions from predetermined messages corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of classification types; and

means for conveying the flight instructions to the pilot for instructing the pilot to correct the actual landing flight path to the optimal landing flight path.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the synthesized voice flight instructions communicate the position of the aircraft relative to the optimal landing flight path.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a language of the synthesized voice flight instructions is selectable.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the synthesized voice flight instructions further communicate turn and elevation changes that can be made by the pilot to bring the position of the aircraft into conformance with the optimal landing flight path.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the means for conveying comprises:

an encoder to encode the flight instructions to produce encoded flight instructions; and

a decoder for receiving the encoded flight instructions and producing decoded flight instructions.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the means for generating a plurality of classification types comprises:

means for generating an azimuth classification type with a plurality of azimuth classification sub-types that correspond to magnitude of horizontal angular error from the optimal flight path.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 the means for generating a plurality of classification types further comprises:

means for generating an azimuth rate classification type with a plurality of azimuth rate classification sub-types that correspond to magnitude of rate of horizontal angular error change from the optimal flight path.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the means for generating a plurality of classification types further comprises:

means for generating an elevation classification type with a plurality of elevation classifications sub-types that correspond to magnitude of elevation error from the optimal flight path.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the means for generating a plurality of classification types further comprises:

means for generating an elevation rate classification type with a plurality of elevation rate classification sub-types that correspond to magnitude of elevation rate error from the optimal flight path.

21. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

means for conveying a radar system operator'"'"'s voice to the pilot, in place of the flight instructions, upon manual override by a radar system operator.

22. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

a radar display processor for converting the spatial information to visual indicators that are placed upon a radar display.