Formation surveillance and collision avoidance
First Claim
1. An airborne surveillance and collision avoidance system comprising:
- a transponder;
a surveillance and collision avoidance module communicatively coupled to the transponder, the module comprising a processor for generating traffic display information and performing collision avoidance calculations to evaluate possible collisions, and a first transceiver coupled to the processor; and
a second transceiver communicatively coupled to the module and operative to transmit and receive networked surveillance information to and from aircraft in a formation;
wherein said module includes at least two modes of operation, an active mode that enables the first transceiver to transmit interrogation signals and receive replies in response to interrogation signals, and a passive mode that disables the first transceiver from transmitting interrogation signals and enables continued surveillance using the networked surveillance information received by the second transceiver.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A formation collision avoidance system includes a Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) having a passive mode and an active mode. The passive mode enables several members of an aircraft formation to fly without actively interrogating using TCAS while only one or few formation members are actively interrogating. Formation members in passive mode maintain awareness of current air and ground traffic conditions using networked surveillance information provided over a communications link between formation members in active mode and formation members in passive mode. The networked surveillance information includes positional and intent information of current air/ground traffic obtained from ADS-B broadcasts and replies to the actively interrogating members of the formation. The communications link utilizes Station Keeping Equipment (SKE) already existing on certain aircraft.
63 Citations
46 Claims
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1. An airborne surveillance and collision avoidance system comprising:
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a transponder;
a surveillance and collision avoidance module communicatively coupled to the transponder, the module comprising a processor for generating traffic display information and performing collision avoidance calculations to evaluate possible collisions, and a first transceiver coupled to the processor; and
a second transceiver communicatively coupled to the module and operative to transmit and receive networked surveillance information to and from aircraft in a formation;
wherein said module includes at least two modes of operation, an active mode that enables the first transceiver to transmit interrogation signals and receive replies in response to interrogation signals, and a passive mode that disables the first transceiver from transmitting interrogation signals and enables continued surveillance using the networked surveillance information received by the second transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for tracking aircraft and avoiding collisions in a multiple aircraft formation, wherein at least one aircraft of the formation is interrogating and at least one aircraft in the formation is not interrogating, the method comprising:
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performing traffic surveillance by the interrogating aircraft to obtain surveillance information regarding nearby aircraft;
transmitting the surveillance information from the interrogating aircraft to the non-interrogating aircraft; and
determining a potential collision threat, by the non-interrogating aircraft, based on the transmitted surveillance information. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for surveying air traffic and avoiding collisions between aircraft comprising:
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a first transceiver including a processor operative to perform airspace surveillance and intruder tracking, the first transceiver having an active surveillance mode and passive surveillance mode;
a second transceiver in communication with the processor and operative to transmit surveillance information to formation aircraft when the first transceiver is in the active surveillance mode and receive surveillance information from formation aircraft when the first transceiver is in the passive mode. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of performing passive surveillance and collision avoidance by an aircraft in a formation wherein the formation includes at least one interrogating aircraft that provides networked surveillance information over a communications link between aircraft of the formation, the method comprising:
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monitoring identification and position of non-formation aircraft and formation aircraft using the networked surveillance information;
updating a traffic display to reflect the monitored non-formation and formation aircraft identifications and positions;
generating an advisory if any non-formation aircraft penetrate a threshold value of distance or time to distance; and
generating a blunder alert if any formation aircraft penetrate a threshold formation distance or a relative acceleration threshold. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A system for tracking aircraft and avoiding collisions in a multiple aircraft formation, wherein at least one aircraft of the formation is interrogating and at least one aircraft in the formation is not interrogating, the system comprising:
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means for performing traffic surveillance by the interrogating aircraft to obtain surveillance information;
means for transmitting the surveillance information from the interrogating aircraft to the non-interrogating aircraft; and
means for determining a potential collision threat, by the non-interrogating aircraft, based on the transmitted surveillance information.
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28. A method for tracking aircraft and avoiding collisions in a multiple aircraft formation, wherein at least one aircraft of the formation is interrogating and at least one aircraft in the formation is not interrogating, the method performed by the interrogating aircraft comprising:
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performing traffic surveillance to obtain surveillance information regarding nearby aircraft;
determining a resolution advisory; and
transmitting indicia of the resolution advisory to the non-interrogating aircraft.
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29. A method for tracking aircraft and avoiding collisions in a multiple aircraft formation, wherein at least one aircraft of the formation is interrogating and at least one aircraft in the formation is not interrogating, the method performed by the non-interrogating aircraft comprising:
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receiving surveillance information from the interrogating aircraft regarding nearby aircraft;
determining a resolution advisory; and
transmitting indicia of the resolution advisory to the interrogating aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. A method for tracking aircraft and avoiding collisions in a multiple aircraft formation, the formation comprising a first aircraft that is interrogating, a second aircraft that is not interrogating, and a third aircraft that is not interrogating, the method performed by the second aircraft comprising:
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receiving surveillance information form the first aircraft regarding nearby aircraft;
determining a resolution advisory; and
transmitting indicia of the resolution advisory to the third aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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35. A method for tracking aircraft and avoiding collisions in a multiple aircraft formation, the formation comprising a first that is interrogating, a second aircraft that is not interrogating, and a third aircraft that is not interrogating, the method performed by the second aircraft comprising:
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receiving first surveillance information from the first aircraft regarding nearby aircraft;
receiving second surveillance information from nearby aircraft;
transmitting to the third aircraft third surveillance information in accordance with the first and second surveillance information. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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37. A system for tracking aircraft and avoiding collisions in a multiple aircraft formation, wherein at least one aircraft of the formation is interrogating and at least one aircraft in the formation is not interrogating, the system installed in the interrogating aircraft comprising:
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means for performing traffic surveillance to obtain surveillance information regarding nearby aircraft;
means for determining a resolution advisory; and
means for transmitting indicia of the resolution advisory to the non-interrogating aircraft.
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38. A system for tracking aircraft and avoiding collisions in a multiple aircraft formation, wherein at least one aircraft of the formation is interrogating and at least one aircraft in the formation is not interrogating, the system installed in the non-interrogating aircraft comprising:
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means for receiving surveillance information from the interrogating aircraft regarding nearby aircraft;
means for determining a resolution advisory; and
means for transmitting indicia of the resolution advisory to the interrogating aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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41. A system for tracking aircraft and avoiding collisions in a multiple aircraft formation, the formation comprising a first aircraft that is interrogating, a second aircraft that is not interrogating, and a third aircraft that is not interrogating, the system installed in the second aircraft comprising:
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means for receiving surveillance information from the first aircraft regarding nearby aircraft;
means for determining a resolution advisory; and
means for transmitting indicia of the resolution advisory to the third aircraft; - View Dependent Claims (42, 43)
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44. A system for tracking aircraft and avoiding collisions in a multiple aircraft formation, the formation comprising a first aircraft that is interrogating, a second aircraft that is not interrogating, and a third aircraft that is not interrogating, the method performed by the second aircraft comprising:
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means for receiving first surveillance information from the first aircraft regarding nearby aircraft;
means for receiving second surveillance information from nearby aircraft;
means for transmitting to the third aircraft third surveillance information in accordance with the first and second surveillance information. - View Dependent Claims (45)
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46. A system for passive surveillance and collision avoidance by an aircraft in a formation wherein the formation includes a first aircraft, that provides networked surveillance information over a communication link between aircraft of the formation, and a second aircraft, the system installed on the second aircraft comprising:
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means for monitoring identification and position of non-formation aircraft and formation aircraft in accordance with the networked surveillance information;
means for updating a traffic display to reflect the monitored non-formation and formation aircraft identifications and positions;
means for generating an advisory in accordance with the networked surveillance information if any non-formation aircraft penetrates a threshold value of distance or time to distance; and
means for generating a blunder alert in accordance with the networked surveillance information if any formation aircraft penetrates a threshold formation distance of a relative acceleration threshold.
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Specification