Uninterruptable ADS-B system for aircraft tracking

• US 6,681,158 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2002
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin AT, Inc. (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Garmin AT, Inc. (Garmin Limited)
• Inventors: Hudson, Craig, Mosher, Thomas Lee, Griffith, Emmett
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US10/251,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20030060941A1
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/4, 701/9, 701/10, 701/14, 701/120, 342/30, 342/36, 342/357.09, 348/116, 348/117, 348/143, 348/148, 348/149, 370/961, 370/5.2, 370/5.31, 370/5.73, 370/5.61, 370/5.64, 370/945, 370/963, 244/118.5, 244/129.5
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0059 by communicating emergency situations to ground control or between crew members
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/003 for aircraft positioning relative to the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0008 with other aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0056 in an emergency situation, e.g. hijacking

Abstract

An aircraft surveillance system that includes an uninterruptible aircraft information broadcasting system (such as an ADS-B system) for transmitting flight information from an aircraft, and one or more ground stations for receiving the broadcast flight information. The flight information preferably includes the aircraft'"'"'s aircraft ID, current three-dimensional position, and intended path. Optional components according to the invention include a system and method for validating messages received from the aircraft, and an alternative system and method for determining the aircraft'"'"'s position if a primary navigation aid, such as GPS, is not available. In one embodiment of the invention, the system includes a transmitter and an uninterruptible power supply that are disposed within a secure housing within the aircraft. This serves to prevent passengers and crew members from disabling the system.

Claims

1. An aircraft surveillance system for broadcasting information related to an aircraft, said aircraft surveillance system comprising:

an aircraft information broadcasting system that is positioned to prevent passengers of said aircraft from disabling said aircraft information broadcasting system,

said aircraft information broadcasting system being configured for broadcasting flight-related information from said aircraft while said aircraft is in flight, and

said flight-related information being related to a current flight of said aircraft.

2. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 1, wherein said aircraft information broadcasting system is configured for broadcasting said flight-related information in a substantially continuous manner while said aircraft is in flight.

3. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 2, wherein said aircraft information broadcasting system is configured for broadcasting said flight-related information in real time.

4. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 2, wherein said flight-related information comprises a current flight ID of said aircraft.

5. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 2, wherein said flight-related information comprises a current three-dimensional position of said aircraft.

6. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 2, wherein said flight-related information comprises a current velocity of said aircraft.

7. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 2, wherein said flight-related information comprises waypoint information for said aircraft.

8. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 2, wherein said flight-related information comprises current intent information for said aircraft.

9. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 1, wherein said aircraft information broadcasting system is disposed within a housing, said housing comprising a robust material that substantially surrounds said aircraft information broadcasting system and thereby restricts access to said aircraft information broadcasting system.

10. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 9, wherein said housing is configured to be locked while said aircraft is in flight.

11. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 9, wherein said aircraft surveillance system further comprises a power supply for providing an independent supply of power to said aircraft information broadcasting system, said power supply is being disposed within said housing.

12. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 9, further comprising a GPS receiver, wherein:

said GPS receiver is disposed within said housing; and

said housing is configured for restricting access to said GPS receiver while said aircraft is in flight.

13. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 1, wherein said aircraft information broadcasting system configured for being disposed within a portion of said aircraft that is outside of a cockpit of said aircraft while said aircraft is in flight.

14. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 13, wherein said aircraft information broadcasting system is adapted to be mounted for use within an equipment bay of said aircraft.

15. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 1, wherein said aircraft surveillance system further comprises a power supply for providing an independent supply of power to said aircraft information broadcasting system.

16. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 15, wherein said power supply is a rechargeable battery.

17. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 15, wherein said power supply is configured to provide a supply of power to said aircraft information broadcasting system, said power supply being configured to not be interrupted while said aircraft is airborne.

18. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 1, further comprising a GPS receiver that is positioned to be inaccessible by the passengers and crew of said aircraft while said aircraft is in flight.

19. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 1, wherein said aircraft information broadcasting system comprises an ADS-B transmitter.

20. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 1, wherein said aircraft information broadcasting system includes an external interface for receiving flight plan information from a flight management computer of said aircraft.

21. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 1, wherein said aircraft information broadcasting system further comprises a magnetic flux gate, an accelerometer, and a barometer.

22. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 1, further comprising a ground station that is configured for receiving said flight-related information.

23. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 22, wherein:

said flight-related information includes intent information for said aircraft; and

said aircraft surveillance system comprises an information reception and analysis station that is configured for comparing said intent information with approved flight path information for said aircraft to determine whether said aircraft is being directed toward an improper destination.

24. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 23, wherein said information reception and analysis station is configured for receiving said approved flight path information from one or more air traffic control computers.

25. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 23, wherein said aircraft surveillance system is configured for generating an alarm if said intent information differs from said approved flight path information by more than a predetermined amount.

26. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 22, wherein:

said flight-related information includes a current three-dimensional position of said aircraft and

said aircraft surveillance system comprises an information reception and analysis station that is configured for comparing said current three-dimensional position with approved flight path information to determine whether said aircraft is being directed toward an improper destination.

27. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 26, wherein said aircraft surveillance system is configured for generating an alarm if said three-dimensional position information differs by more than a predetermined amount from a predicted three-dimensional position that is based upon said approved flight path information.

28. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 1, further comprising a panic button disposed within said aircraft, and wherein said aircraft surveillance system is configured, in response to said panic button being selected by a user, to broadcast a signal indicating that said aircraft is in danger.

29. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 28, wherein said aircraft information broadcasting system is configured, in response to said panic button being selected by a user, to broadcast a signal indicating that said aircraft is in danger.

30. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 1, wherein said aircraft surveillance system is configured for validating messages received from said aircraft.

31. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 1, wherein:

said aircraft surveillance system comprises an information reception and analysis station, said information reception and analysis station being configured to validate aircraft information received from said aircraft information broadcasting system by determining an estimated range based on a signal propagation time and comparing said estimated range with a calculated range that is derived from aircraft information received from said aircraft information broadcasting system.

32. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 31, wherein said aircraft surveillance system is configured for generating an alarm if said estimated range differs from said calculated range by more than a predetermined amount.

33. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 1, further comprising an information reception and analysis station, said information reception and analysis station being configured to use triangulation techniques to validate information received from said aircraft information broadcasting system.

34. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 1, wherein said aircraft surveillance system comprises an information reception and analysis station, said information reception and analysis station being configured for using a dead-reckoning algorithm to validate a signal which is represented as corresponding to a particular three-dimensional position of said aircraft, said signal being received from said aircraft information broadcasting system.

35. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 34, wherein said information and analysis station is configured for using a dead-reckoning algorithm to determine whether said signal is valid by performing the steps of:

using a dead-reckoning algorithm to estimate a first three-dimensional position of said aircraft, said first three-dimensional position of said aircraft corresponding to a first point in time;

using a dead-reckoning algorithm to estimate a second three-dimensional position of said aircraft, said second three-dimensional position of said aircraft corresponding to a second point in time;

using said first three-dimensional position and said second three-dimensional position to determine an estimated model value for said particular three-dimensional position of said aircraft; and

comparing said estimated model value for said particular three-dimensional position of said aircraft with said particular three-dimensional position of said aircraft.

36. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 35, wherein said information and analysis station is configured for generating an alarm in response to said model value for said particular three-dimensional position of said aircraft differing from said particular three-dimensional position of said aircraft by more than a predetermined amount.

37. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 1, wherein said aircraft surveillance system comprises an information reception and analysis station, said information reception and analysis station being configured for using a dead-reckoning algorithm to validate a current velocity of said aircraft, said current velocity being received from said aircraft information broadcasting system.

38. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 37, wherein said information and analysis station is configured for using said dead-reckoning algorithm to validate a current velocity of said aircraft by performing the steps of:

using a dead-reckoning algorithm to estimate a first three-dimensional position of said aircraft, said first three-dimensional position of said aircraft corresponding to a first point in time;

using a dead-reckoning algorithm to estimate a second three-dimensional position of said aircraft, said second three-dimensional position of said aircraft corresponding to a second point in time;

using said first three-dimensional position and said second three-dimensional position to estimate a projected velocity of said aircraft; and

comparing said projected velocity of said aircraft with a current velocity of said aircraft received from said aircraft information broadcasting system.

39. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 38, wherein said step of using a dead-reckoning algorithm to validate a current velocity of said aircraft comprises the step of generating an alarm if said projected velocity of said aircraft differs from a current velocity of said aircraft received from said aircraft information broadcasting system by more than a predetermined amount.

40. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 1, wherein said aircraft information broadcasting system is configured so that potential hijackers cannot shut down or otherwise hinder the operation of said aircraft information broadcasting system.

41. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 1, wherein said aircraft information broadcasting system is configured to be tamperproof.

42. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 1, wherein said aircraft information broadcasting system is positioned to prevent the crew of said aircraft from disabling said aircraft information broadcasting system.

43. An aircraft surveillance system for tracking an aircraft, said aircraft surveillance system comprising:

an aircraft information broadcasting system disposed within said aircraft, said aircraft information broadcasting system being configured for broadcasting flight-related information in a substantially uninterruptible manner while said aircraft is in flight, said flight-related information being related to a current flight of said aircraft.

44. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 43, wherein said flight-related information comprises a flight ID of said aircraft.

45. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 43, wherein said flight-related information comprises current intent information for said aircraft.

46. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 43, wherein said flight-related information comprises a current three-dimensional position of said aircraft.

47. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 43, wherein said flight-related information comprises a current velocity of said aircraft.

48. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 43, wherein said flight-related information comprises waypoint information for said aircraft.

49. The aircraft surveillance system of claim 48, wherein:

said flight-related information comprises a flight ID of said aircraft;

said flight-related information comprises current intent information for said aircraft;

said flight-related information comprises a current three-dimensional position of said aircraft; and

said flight-related information comprises a current velocity of said aircraft.

50. A method of broadcasting information related to an aircraft, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an aircraft information broadcasting system, said aircraft information broadcasting system being configured for broadcasting flight-related information from said aircraft while said aircraft is in flight;

positioning said aircraft information broadcasting system within said aircraft to prevent passengers of said aircraft from disabling said aircraft information broadcasting system; and

using said aircraft information broadcasting system to broadcast said flight-related information from said aircraft.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein said step of using said aircraft information broadcasting system to broadcast said flight-related information is performed in a substantially continuous manner while said aircraft is in flight.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein said flight-related information comprises a current three-dimensional position of the aircraft.

53. The method of claim 50, wherein said flight-related information comprises a current velocity of said aircraft.

54. The method of claim 50, wherein said flight-related information comprises waypoint information for said aircraft.

55. The method of claim 50, wherein said flight-related information comprises said aircraft'"'"'s current intent information.

56. The method of claim 50, further comprising the step of providing a ground station that is configured for receiving said flight-related information.

57. The method of claim 50, wherein said flight-related information includes intent information for said aircraft, and further comprising the step of:

comparing said intent information with approved flight path information to determine whether said aircraft is being directed toward an improper destination.

58. The method of claim 50, wherein said flight-related information includes a current three-dimensional position of said aircraft, and further comprising the step of:

comparing said current three-dimensional position with approved flight path information to determine whether said aircraft is being directed toward an improper destination.

59. The method of claim 58, further comprising the step of generating an alarm in response to said current three-dimensional position differing from a predicted three-dimensional position by more than a predetermined amount.

60. The method of claim 50, further comprising the steps of:

using a dead-reckoning algorithm to estimate a first three-dimensional position of said aircraft for a first point in time;

using a dead-reckoning algorithm to estimate a second three-dimensional position of said aircraft for a second point in time;

using said first three-dimensional position and said second three-dimensional position to estimate a projected velocity of said aircraft; and

comparing said projected velocity of said aircraft with a reported current velocity of said aircraft that is received from said aircraft information broadcasting system.

61. The method of claim 50, wherein said step of positioning said aircraft information broadcasting system comprises positioning said aircraft information broadcasting system to prevent the crew of said aircraft from disabling said aircraft information broadcasting system.

62. A method of tracking an aircraft comprising the steps of:

providing an aircraft with an information broadcasting system, said aircraft information broadcasting system being configured for broadcasting information related to a current flight of said aircraft in a substantially uninterruptible manner while said aircraft is in flight.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein said flight-related information comprises current intent information for said aircraft.

64. The method of claim 62, wherein said flight-related information comprises a current three-dimensional position of said aircraft.