Method and system for tracking and prediction of aircraft trajectories

• US 6,873,903 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2002
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Baiada R. Michael, Lonnie H. Bowlin
• Original Assignee: Baiada R. Michael, Lonnie H. Bowlin
• Inventors: Baiada, R. Michael, Bowlin, Lonnie H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Donnelly, Arthur D.
• Application Number:
  US10/238,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20030050746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 701/120, 701/3, 701/5, 701/16, 701/301, 340/970, 340/961, 340/963, 342/455
• US Class Current: 701/120
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0043 Traffic management of multiple aircrafts from the ground G08G5/003 takes precedence; data processing specially designed for resource management, e.g. scheduling or allocating time, human or machine resources G06Q10/06

Abstract

A method for predicting the trajectory of an aircraft is disclosed. It yields the arrival/departure times for a plurality of aircraft with respect to a specified system resource and is based upon specified data and other operational factors pertaining to the aircraft and system resource. This process comprises the steps of: (a) collecting and storing the specified data and operational factors, (b) processing, at an initial instant, the specified data that is applicable at that instant to the aircraft so as to predict an initial trajectory encompassing arrival/departure times for each aircraft, (c) upgrading these initial trajectory predictions for effects of: (1) environmental factors (weather, turbulence), (2) actions of the Air traffic Control system (e.g., stacking incoming aircraft when runway demand is greater than availability), and (3) secondary assets (e.g., crew availability/legality, gate availability, maintenance requirements), (d) communicating these trajectory predictions to interested parties and (e) continuously monitoring all trajectories, and, as necessary, updating the predictions.

Claims

1. A method for predicting the trajectory of an aircraft based upon specified input data regarding said aircraft and the resources with which said aircraft interacts, said method comprising the steps of:

collecting and storing said specified data,

processing, at any given initial instant, said data pertaining to said aircraft'"'"'s current position and planned flight path so as to predict an initial aircraft trajectory,

calculating a first revised aircraft trajectory that includes revisions to said initial aircraft trajectory due to the effects of said specified data that pertain to environmental factors,

calculating a second revised aircraft trajectory that includes revisions to said first, revised aircraft trajectory due to the effects of said specified data that pertain to Air Traffic Control factors, and

calculating a third revised aircraft trajectory that includes revisions to said second revised aircraft trajectory due to the effects of said specified data that pertains to said resources with which said aircraft interacts.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said aircraft is one of a group of aircraft that share common resources, and wherein said method further comprises the step of:

collecting and storing specified data that pertains to each of said other aircraft in said group of aircraft,

processing said data pertaining to each of said aircraft in said group so as to predict an initial trajectory for each of said aircraft in said group,

calculating the loads that said predicted trajectories of said group of aircraft will impose on said shared resources, and

calculating a fourth revised aircraft trajectory that includes revisions to said third revised aircraft trajectory which are made to allow said shared resources to accommodate said loads predicted to be imposed by said predicted trajectories of said group of aircraft.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

communicating said predicted trajectories to an operator selected from the group consisting of those operators which operate said aircraft and resources.

4. A method as recited in claim 2, further comprising the step of:

communicating said predicted trajectories to an operator selected from the group consisting of those operators which operate said aircraft and resources.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said specified data that pertains to said environmental factors is selected from the group consisting of weather and turbulence data.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said specified data that pertains to said Air Traffic Control factors is selected from the group consisting of data pertaining to demand versus capacity considerations for airport resources.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said specified data that pertains to the resources with which said aircraft interacts is selected from the group consisting of crew availability data, fuel availability data, gate availability data, time requirements for baggage loading and unloading, time requirements for aircraft servicing, time requirements for aircraft maintenance, and time period required to allow a specified number of connecting passengers to make necessary connections.

8. A computer program product in a computer readable memory for predicting the trajectory of an aircraft based upon specified input data regarding said aircraft and the resources with which said aircraft interacts, said computer program comprising:

a means for collecting and storing said specified data,

a means for processing, at any given initial instant, said data pertaining to said aircraft'"'"'s current position and planned flight path so as to predict an initial aircraft trajectory,

a means for calculating a first revised aircraft trajectory that includes revisions to said initial aircraft trajectory due to the effects of said specified data that pertain to environmental factors,

a means for calculating a second revised aircraft trajectory that includes revisions to said first, revised aircraft trajectory due to the effects of said specified data that pertain to Air Traffic Control factors, and

a means for calculating a third revised aircraft trajectory that includes revisions to said second revised aircraft trajectory due to the effects of said specified data that pertains to said resources with which said aircraft interacts.

9. A computer program product as recited in claim 8, wherein said aircraft is one of a group of aircraft that share common resources, and wherein said product further comprising:

a means for collecting and storing specified data that pertains to each of said other aircraft in said group of aircraft,

a means for processing said data pertaining to each of said aircraft in said group so as to predict an initial trajectory for each of said aircraft in said group,

a means for calculating the loads that said predicted trajectories of said group of aircraft will impose on said shared resources, and

a means for calculating a fourth revised aircraft trajectory that includes revisions to said third revised aircraft trajectory which are made to allow said shared resources to accommodate said loads predicted to be imposed by said predicted trajectories of said group of aircraft.

10. A computer program product as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

a means for communicating said predicted trajectories to an operator selected from the group consisting of those operators which operate said aircraft and resources.

11. A computer program product as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

a means for communicating said predicted trajectories to an operator selected from the group consisting of those operators which operate said aircraft and resources.

12. A computed program product as recited in claim 8, wherein said specified data that pertains to said environmental factors is selected from the group consisting of weather and turbulence data.

13. A computed program product as recited in claim 8, wherein said specified data that pertains to said Air Traffic Control factors is selected from the group consisting of data pertaining to demand versus capacity considerations for airport resources.

14. A computed program product as recited in claim 8, wherein said specified data that pertains to the resources with which said aircraft interacts is selected from the group consisting of crew availability data, fuel availability data, gate availability data, time requirements for baggage loading and unloading, time requirements for aircraft servicing, time requirements for aircraft maintenance, and time period required to allow a specified number of connecting passengers to make necessary connections.

15. A system, including a processor, memory, display and input device, for predicting the trajectory of an aircraft based upon specified input data regarding said aircraft and the resources with which said aircraft interacts, said system comprising:

a means for collecting and storing said specified data,

a means for processing, at any given initial instant, said data pertaining to said aircraft'"'"'s current position and planned flight path so as to predict an initial aircraft trajectory,

a means for calculating a first revised aircraft trajectory that includes revisions to said initial aircraft trajectory due to the effects of said specified data that pertain to environmental factors,

a means for calculating a second revised aircraft trajectory that includes revisions to said first, revised aircraft trajectory due to the effects of said specified data that pertain to Air Traffic Control factors, and

a means for calculating a third revised aircraft trajectory that includes revisions to said second revised aircraft trajectory due to the effects of said specified data that pertains to said resources with which said aircraft interacts.

16. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein said aircraft is one of a group of aircraft that share common resources, and wherein said system further comprising:

a means for collecting and storing specified data that pertains to each of said other aircraft in said group of aircraft,

a means for processing said data pertaining to each of said aircraft in said group so as to predict an initial trajectory for each of said aircraft in said group,

a means for calculating the loads that said predicted trajectories of said group of aircraft will impose on said shared resources, and

a means for calculating a fourth revised aircraft trajectory that includes revisions to said third revised aircraft trajectory which are made to allow said shared resources to accommodate said loads predicted to be imposed by said predicted trajectories of said group of aircraft.

17. A system as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

a means for communicating said predicted trajectories to an operator selected from the group consisting of those operators which operate said aircraft and resources.

18. A system as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

a means for communicating said predicted trajectories to an operator selected from the group consisting of those operators which operate said aircraft and resources.

19. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein said specified data that pertains to said environmental factors is selected from the group consisting of weather and turbulence data.

20. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein said specified data that pertains to said Air Traffic Control factors is selected from the group consisting of data pertaining to demand versus capacity considerations for airport resources.

21. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein said specified data that pertains to the resources with which said aircraft interacts is selected from the group consisting of crew availability data, fuel availability data, gate availability data, time requirements for baggage loading and unloading, time requirements for aircraft servicing, time requirements for aircraft maintenance, and time period required to allow a specified number of connecting passengers to make necessary connections.