Vehicular safety system and method

• US 6,943,701 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2002
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advanced American Enterprises, LLC
• Original Assignee: Advanced American Enterprises, LLC
• Inventors: Zeineh, Rashid A.
• Primary Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US10/165,782
• Publication Number:
  US 20030227395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 340/903, 340/929, 340/988, 340/989, 340/936, 340/905, 340/996, 340/539, 340/961, 701/3, 701/14, 701/11, 701/301, 701/119, 701/120, 701/121, 701/200, 701/210, 701/213
• US Class Current: 340/988
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/207 with respect to certain areas, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas with possible alerting when inside or outside boundaries
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0052 for cruising combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value G01C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/006 in accordance with predefined flight zones, e.g. to avoid prohibited zones
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0078 for monitoring traffic from the aircraft radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/045 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. determination of anti-collision manoeuvers radar or analogous systems specially adapted for anti-collision between aircraft G01S13/933

Abstract

A relatively low cost but effective vehicular safety system includes a navigational status determination system generating navigational status information, an alarm response system generating alarm responses in response to alarm response command information and a data processing system. The data processing system stores a list of safety zones having one or more safety conditions for each safety zone. The data processing system receives the navigational status information and compares the received navigational status information to the stored safety conditions. If a safety condition is found to be violated the data processing system communicates a response command to the alarm response system. Depending upon the severity of the violated safety condition, the alarm response system notifies the vehicle operator of the violation, notifies law enforcement authorities external to the vehicle of the violation or takes some other safety response. In an extreme condition, the alarm response system assumes control over some aspect of the operation of the vehicle such as steering or engine control.

Claims

1. A vehicular safety system comprising:

a navigational status determination system generating navigational status information representing a navigational status of a vehicle, the navigational status information including position of the vehicle;

a data processing system positioned on the vehicle, the data processing system storing information defining an inclusive safety zone having a boundary that surrounds the vehicle, the data processing system storing at least one navigational condition for operation of the vehicle that is responsive to the position of the vehicle relative to the boundary of the safety zone and generating alarm information in response to the navigational status information when the navigational status information indicates that the at least one navigational condition has been violated, the navigational condition including a condition that the vehicle not cross the boundary of the safety zone; and

an alarm response system generating a protective response in response to the alarm response information.

2. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle is an airplane.

3. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a truck.

4. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a trailer.

5. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the generated navigational status information includes information representing the velocity of the vehicle.

6. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the generated navigational status information includes information representing the acceleration and speed of the vehicle.

7. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the navigational status determination system includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and wherein the generated navigational status information includes information representing the position, speed and direction of the vehicle.

8. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the alarm response system generates a protective response upon the vehicle crossing the boundary of the safety zone of overriding an aspect of operator control of the vehicle to prevent the vehicle from leaving the inclusive safety zone.

9. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the alarm response system generates a protective response upon the vehicle leaving the inclusive safety zone of blocking fuel supply to the engine of the vehicle to prevent the vehicle from traveling farther away from the inclusive safety zone.

10. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the alarm response system generates a protective response upon the vehicle leaving the inclusive safety zone which alarm response includes providing an audible warning to the vehicle operator that the vehicle has left the inclusive safety zone.

11. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the navigational condition is that the vehicle should not leave the inclusive safety zone and wherein the alarm response system generates a protective response upon the vehicle leaving the inclusive safety zone which protective response includes providing an audible warning to the vehicle operator that the vehicle has left the inclusive safety zone and notifying law enforcement authorities that the vehicle has left the inclusive safety zone.

12. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the alarm response system generates a protective response upon the vehicle exceeding a speed limit of providing a warning to a communication center outside the vehicle that the vehicle has exceeded a speed limit.

13. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the navigational condition is that the vehicle should not leave a selected inclusive safety zone and wherein the alarm response system generates a protective response upon the vehicle leaving the inclusive safety zone of providing a warning to a communication center outside the vehicle that the vehicle has left an inclusive safety zone.

14. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle is an airplane and wherein the alarm response system generates a protective response upon the vehicle crossing the boundary of the safety zone of overriding operator steering control of the vehicle by forcing the vehicle to turn left.

15. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the alarm response system generates a protective response upon the vehicle leaving the inclusive safety zone of overriding an aspect of operator control over steering of the vehicle by forcing the vehicle to turn left.

16. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle is an airplane, and wherein the alarm response system generates a protective response upon the vehicle crossing the boundary of the inclusive safety zone of overriding operator steering control of the vehicle by forcing the vehicle to turn for a predetermined period of time.

17. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the navigational condition is that the vehicle should not leave the inclusive safety zone and wherein the alarm response system generates a protective response upon the vehicle leaving the inclusive safety zone of overriding an aspect of operator control over steering of the vehicle by forcing the vehicle to turn for a predetermined period of time.

18. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the data processing system stores information defining an exclusive safety zone having a boundary, wherein the at least one navigational condition includes a condition that the vehicle should not enter an exclusive safety zone, wherein the alarm response system generates a protective response upon the vehicle entering the exclusive safety zone of providing a warning to a communication center outside the vehicle that the vehicle has entered an exclusive safety zone and wherein the data processing system includes a display providing to the vehicle operator a display of a map of a local area in the vicinity of the vehicle, the map including an indication of the location a boundary of the exclusive safety zone.

19. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the navigational condition is that the vehicle should not leave a selected inclusive safety zone, wherein the alarm response system generates a protective response upon the vehicle leaving the inclusive safety zone of providing a warning to a communication center outside the vehicle that the vehicle has left an inclusive safety zone and wherein the data processing system includes a display providing to the vehicle operator a display of a map of a local area in the vicinity of the vehicle, the map including an indication of the location of a boundary of the inclusive safety zone.

20. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the safety zone is cylindrical in shape.

21. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the safety zone is rectangular in shape.

22. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a ship.

23. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein, in addition to the inclusive safety zone, the data processing system stores information defining a first plurality of safety zones, each surrounding a selected first location and a second plurality of safety zones, each surrounding a selected second location, the first and second pluralities of safety zones each including:

(a) an early warning safety zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the zone and an associated protective response of notifying the vehicle operator of a violation of the navigational condition,

(b) a general warning safety zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the zone and an associated protective response of providing notice to a location external to the vehicle of a violation of the navigational condition, and

(c) an operator override safety zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the safety zone and an associated protective response of overriding operator control of the vehicle to limit further penetration of the vehicle into the operator override safety zone.

24. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the safety zone is a stationary inclusive safety zone that surrounds the vehicle, prohibiting repositioning of the vehicle without violating the safety zone boundary.

25. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle is an airplane and wherein the data processing system stores information defining a plurality of inclusive safety zones, each surrounding the vehicle, the plurality of zones each including:

(a) an early warning zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not leave the zone and an associated protective response of notifying the vehicle operator of a violation of the navigational condition,

(b) a general warning zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not leave the zone and an associated protective response of providing notice to a location external to the vehicle of a violation of the navigational condition, and

(c) an operator override zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not leave the zone and an associated protective response of overriding operator control of the altitude of the airplane by forcing the airplane to turn for a selected period of time, the selected period of time being in the range of 2 to 10 seconds, inclusive.

26. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the data processor includes an operator input device that receives a password and receives a command for terminating the active status of a previously entered password and wherein a stored navigational condition requires a valid password be entered and have active status.

27. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the data processor includes an operator input device that receives a password and receives a command for terminating the active status of a previously entered password and wherein a stored navigational condition requires a valid password be entered and have active status and wherein the alarm response system prevents operator control of a parked vehicle unless a password has been entered by an operator and the password has active status.

28. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the data processor includes an operator input device that receives a password and receives a command for terminating the active status of a previously entered password and wherein the at least one navigational condition stored by the data processing system includes the condition that the vehicle may not leave a defined zone unless a valid password has been entered into the input device and has active status.

29. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle is an airplane and the boundary of the defined safety zone has a location that varies in response to the speed of the airplane.

30. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the data processing system further stores information defining an exclusive safety zone and stores at least one navigational condition that is associated with the exclusive safety zone, and wherein the stored at least one navigational condition associated with the exclusive safety zone includes a condition that the vehicle not come within a selected distance of a defined location of an object, the distance of the vehicle from the object being determined in three dimensions as follows:

Rv=Square Root ((Xv−

X1)²+(Yv−

Y1)²+(Zv−

Z1)²)

where Rv is the distance from the object location to the vehicle, Xv is the longitudinal coordinate of the vehicle, X1 is the longitudinal coordinate of the object location, Yv is the latitudinal coordinate of the vehicle, Y1 is the latitudinal coordinate of the object location, Zv is the altitude coordinate of the vehicle, and Z1 is the altitude coordinate of the object location.

31. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the data processing system further stores information defining an exclusive safety zone and stores at least one navigational condition that is associated with the exclusive safety zone, and wherein the stored at least one navigational condition associated with the exclusive safety zone includes a condition that the vehicle not come within a selected distance of a defined location of an object, the distance of the vehicle from the object being determined in two dimensions as follows:

Rv=Square Root ((Xv−

X1)²+(Yv−

Y1)²)

where Rv is the distance from the object location to the vehicle, Xv is the longitudinal coordinate of the vehicle, X1 is the longitudinal coordinate of the object location, Yv is the latitudinal coordinate of the vehicle and Y1 is the latitudinal coordinate of the object location.

32. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the navigational status determination system includes a GPS receiver, a compass, an altimeter and a radar system and includes a Kallman filter processing data generated by the GPS receiver, compass, altimeter and radar system to generate the navigational status information.

33. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the alarm response system includes a communication system receiving other vehicle navigation information representing position, speed and direction of motion of another vehicle and wherein the data processing system stores information defining an exclusive safety zone that surrounds the other vehicle and is defined in response to the received other vehicle navigation information, the exclusive safety zone having a condition that the vehicle should not enter the exclusive safety zone.

34. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the data processina system stores information defining a plurality of inclusive safety zones, each surrounding the vehicle, the plurality of inclusive safety zones each including:

(a) an early warning zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not leave the zone and an associated protective response of notifying the vehicle operator of a violation of the navigational condition,

(b) a general warning zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not leave the zone and an associated protective response of providing notice to a location external to the vehicle of a violation of the navigational condition, and

(c) an operator override zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not leave the zone and an associated protective response of overriding operator control of the altitude of the airplane by forcing the airplane to turn for a predetermined period of time.

35. A vehicular safety system according to claim 34 wherein the generated navigational status information includes information indicating the position of the vehicle in a coordinate system, wherein the data processing system includes a display displaying to the vehicle operator a map of a local area in the vicinity of the vehicle which map indicates the location any navigational conditions in the local area, the display further displaying an indication of a violation of a navigational condition upon the occurrence of such a violation.

36. A vehicular safety system according to claim 34 wherein the vehicle is an airplane and wherein the generated navigational status information includes information indicating the position of the vehicle in a coordinate system, wherein the data processing system includes a display displaying to the vehicle operator a map of a local area in the vicinity of the vehicle which map indicates the location any navigational conditions in the local area, the display further displaying an indication of a violation of a navigational condition upon the occurrence of such a violation.

48. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a truck and wherein the alarm response includes an operator override response in which the alarm response overrides an aspect of operator control of the truck to limit further motion of the truck out of the safety zone when generated alarm information indicates that the truck has left the safety zone the override of operator control of the truck including changing a direction of motion of the truck.

37. A vehicular safety system comprising:

a navigational status determination system generating navigational status information representing a navigational status of the vehicle;

a data processing system storing a list of one or more safety zones, each safety zone having a boundary, each safety zone having associated therewith at least one condition that restricts operation of the vehicle within the safety zone, the data processing system determining in response to the navigational status information whether or not a listed safety zone is occupied by the vehicle and, if it is determined that a listed safety zone is occupied by the vehicle, whether or not a condition of the occupied safety zone restricting operation of the vehicle has been violated by the vehicle, the data processing system generating alarm response information indicating an alarm response in response to a determination that a condition of an occupied safety zone has been violated;

an alarm response system producing a protective action in response to the alarm information generated by the data processing system.

38. A vehicular safety system according to claim 37 wherein the generated navigational status information includes information indicating the position of the vehicle in a coordinate system, wherein the data processing system includes a display displaying to the vehicle operator a map of a local area in the vicinity of the vehicle which map indicates the location any navigational conditions in the local area, the display further displaying an indication of a violation of a navigational condition upon the occurrence of such a violation.

39. A vehicular safety system according to claim 37 wherein the vehicle is an airplane and wherein the generated navigational status information includes information indicating the position of the vehicle in a coordinate system, wherein the data processing system includes a display displaying to the vehicle operator a map of a local area in the vicinity of the vehicle which map indicates the location any navigational conditions in the local area, the display further displaying an indication of a violation of a navigational condition upon the occurrence of such a violation.

40. A vehicular safety system according to claim 37 wherein the vehicle is an automobile and wherein the generated navigational status information includes information indicating the position of the vehicle in a coordinate system, wherein the data processing system includes a display displaying to the vehicle operator a map of a local area in the vicinity of the vehicle which map indicates the location any navigational conditions in the local area, the display further displaying an indication of a violation of a navigational condition upon the occurrence of such a violation.

41. A vehicular safety system according to claim 37 wherein the vehicle is a ship and wherein the generated navigational status information includes information indicating the position of the vehicle in a coordinate system, wherein the data processing system includes a display displaying to the vehicle operator a map of a local area in the vicinity of the vehicle which map indicates the location any navigational conditions in the local area, the display further displaying an indication of a violation of a navigational condition upon the occurrence of such a violation.

51. A vehicular safety system according to claim 37, wherein the vehicle is an airplane, wherein the defined safety zones include an operator override safety zone having an operator override alarm response and having a ceiling associated therewith such that the airplane does not enter the operator override response safety zone when flying above the ceiling and wherein the operator override alarm response includes causing the airplane to climb to a higher altitude above the ceiling.

42. A vehicular safety system comprising:

a navigational status determination system generating navigational status information representing a navigational status of the vehicle, the navigational status determination system including a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and generating navigational status information representing position, speed and direction of motion of the vehicle;

a data processing system, the data processing system including a data store storing a list of one or more safety zones and safety zone definition information for each safety zone on the list, each safety zone having associated therewith at least one condition restricting operation of the vehicle, the data processing system further including a data processor mounted on the vehicle and receiving navigational status information from the navigational status determination system and determining in response to the received navigational status information and in response to the stored safety zone definition information whether or not a listed safety zone is occupied by the vehicle and if it is determined that a listed safety zone is occupied by the vehicle, whether or not a condition of the occupied safety zone restricting operation of the vehicle has been violated by the vehicle, the data processor generating alarm response information indicating an alarm response associated with the violated condition in response to a determination that a condition of an occupied safety zone has been violated if a determination is made that a condition associated with a safety zone is violated, the list of one or more safety zones including;

(a) a first safety zone having a boundary extending around an object, the boundary being an asymmetrical boundary having an axis of elongation that extends parallel to the direction of motion of the vehicle, the first safety zone being an early warning exclusive safety zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the first safety zone which navigational condition includes an alarm response including a notification to the vehicle operator that the vehicle has entered an exclusive safety zone,

(b) a second safety zone having a boundary located within the boundary of the first safety zone and extending around the object, the second safety zone being a general warning exclusive safety zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the second safety zone which navigational condition includes an alarm response including a notification to personnel outside the vehicle that the vehicle has entered an exclusive general warning safety zone, and

(c) a third safety zone having a boundary located within the boundary of the second safety zone and extending around the object, the third safety zone being an operator override safety zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the third safety zone which navigational condition includes an alarm response including an operator override response in which the alarm response overrides an aspect of operator control of the vehicle to limit further motion into the third safety zone and toward the object by the vehicle; and

an alarm response system receiving alarm response information from the data processor and executing a protective action alarm response indicated by the received alarm response information in response to the alarm information generated by the data processing system, the alarm response system including;

(a) an audio alarm providing an audio alarm to the vehicle operator in response to audio alarm response information,

(b) a visual alarm providing a visual alarm to the vehicle operator in response to visual alarm response information,

(c) a vehicle operator override system overriding the vehicle operator with respect to a vehicle control function in response to operator override alarm response information,

(d) a secure communication system communicating information indicating a condition violation in response to communication alarm response information, and

(e) an extra-vehicular communication and command center located outside the vehicle and receiving information indicating a condition violation communicated by the secure communication system.

43. A vehicular safety system according to claim 42 further comprising a display providing the a vehicle operator an indication of a location of at least one of the safety zones relative to the vehicle.

44. A vehicular safety system according to claim 42 wherein the vehicle is a trailer.

45. A vehicular safety system according to claim 42 wherein the vehicle is a ship.

46. A vehicular safety system comprising:

a navigational status determination system located on an airplane and generating navigational status information representing a navigational status of the airplane, the generated navigational status information including information representing a position of the airplane within a coordinate system;

a data processing system mounted on the vehicle, the data processing system including a data store located on the vehicle and storing information defining a wide area safety zone having a boundary that encompasses at least two airport runways at two different airports, the data store storing a plurality of navigational conditions that are associated with the wide area safety zone, the navigational conditions including a requirement that the airplane maintain a selected altitude, including an exception to the altitude requirement in exception zones in the vicinity of the airports and including a speed limit in exceptions zones in the vicinity of the airports the data processing system receiving navigational status information from the navigational status determination system and determining in response to the received navigational status information and in response to the stored safety zone information whether or not the wide area safety zone is occupied by the vehicle and, if the data processing system determines that wide area safety zone is occupied by the vehicle, the data processing system determining whether or not a navigational condition associated with the occupied safety zone has been violated, the data processing system generating alarm response information indicating an alarm response associated with the violated condition if a determination is made that a condition associated with the occupied safety zone has been violated; and

an alarm response system producing a protective action in response to the alarm response information generated by the data processing system.

47. A vehicular safety system comprising:

a navigational status determination system, the navigational status determination system generating navigational status information including information representing a position of the vehicle within a coordinate system;

a data store located on the vehicle storing information defining a plurality of safety zones including a an operator override exclusive safety zone having a boundary extending around another vehicle and moving in resoonse to motion of the other vehicle to maintain the boundary extending around the other vehicle, each safety zone having at least one navigational condition associated therewith with at least one safety zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the safety zone, and each navigational condition having at least one alarm response associated therewith, the operator override exclusive safety zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the safety zone which navigational condition includes an alarm response including an operator override response in which the alarm response overrides an aspect of operator control of the vehicle to limit further motion of the vehicle into the safety zone and toward the object,

a data processor determining in response to the generated navigational status information and in response to the stored safety zone definition information whether or not a condition associated with a safety zone entered by the vehicle has been violated, the data processor generating alarm response information indicating an alarm response associated with the violated condition if a determination is made that a condition associated with a safety zone is violated; and

an alarm response system receiving alarm response information from the data processor and executing an alarm response indicated by the received alarm response information.

49. A vehicular safety system according to claim 47 wherein the vehicle is an airplane and the other vehicle is another airplane and wherein the alarm response includes an operator override response in which the alarm response overrides an aspect of operator control of the airplane to limit further motion of the airplane into the safety zone and toward the other airplane.

50. A vehicular safety system according to claim 49, wherein the operator override alarm response includes forcing the airplane to make a left turn.

52. A vehicular safety system according to claim 47, wherein the plurality of safety zones defined by information stored in the data store include:

(a) a first safety zone having a boundary extending around an object, the first safety zone being an early warning exclusive safety zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the first safety zone, the data processor generating audio and visual alarm resoonse information soon the vehicle entering the first safety zone, and

(b) a second safety zone having a boundary located within the boundary of the first safety zone and extending around the object, the second safety zone being a general warning exclusive safety zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the second safety zone, the data processor generating audio and visual alarm response information and communication alarm response information upon the vehicle entering the second safety zone;

and wherein the alarm response system includes;

(a) an audio alarm providing an audio alarm to the vehicle operator in response to audio alarm response information generated by the data processor,

(b) a visual alarm providing a visual alarm to the vehicle operator in response to visual alarm response information generated by the data processor,

(c) a secure communication system communicating information indicating a condition violation in response to communication alarm response information generated by the data processor, and

(d) an extra-vehicular communication and command center located outside the vehicle and receiving information indicating a condition violation communicated by the secure communication system.

53. A vehicular safety system according to claim 52 further comprising a display providing a vehicle operator an indication of a location of at least one of the safety zones relative to the vehicle.

54. A vehicular safety system according to claim 47, wherein the plurality of safety zones defined by information stored in the data store include:

(a) a first safety zone having a boundary encompassing an object, the first safety zone being an early warning exclusive safety zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the first safety zone, which navigational condition has an associated alarm response including a notification to the vehicle operator that the vehicle has entered an exclusive safety zone, and

(b) a second safety zone having a boundary located within the boundary of the first safety zone and encompassing the object, the second safety zone being a general warning exclusive safety zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the second safety zone which navigational condition which navigational condition is associated with an alarm response including an alarm response of notification to personnel outside the vehicle that the vehicle has entered a general warning exclusive safety zone.

56. A vehicular safety system according to claim 47 wherein the defined safety zones include:

(a) a first safety zone, the first safety zone being an early warning inclusive safety zone having a navigational condition requiring the vehicle to remain within the first safety zone with an alarm response that the vehicle operator be notified of a violation,

(b) a second safety zone, the second safety zone being a general warning inclusive safety zone having a navigational condition requiring the vehicle to remain within the second safety zone with an alarm response of notifying an extra-vehicular communication and command center of a violation, and

(c) a third safety zone, the third safety zone being an inclusive operator override safety zone having a navigational condition requiring the vehicle to remain within the third safety zone with an alarm response to a violation of the condition of overriding operator control of the vehicle to prevent the vehicle from traveling outside the third safety zone.

57. A vehicular safety system according to claim 56 wherein the vehicle is an automobile and further comprising a display providing a vehicle operator an indication of a location of at least one of the safety zones relative to the vehicle.

58. A vehicular safety system according to claim 47,

wherein the vehicle is an airplane;

wherein the defined safety zones include;

(a) a first safety zone, the first safety zone being an early warning inclusive safety zone having a navigational condition requiring the airplane to remain within the first safety zone with an alarm response that the vehicle operator be notified of a violation,

(b) a second safety zone, the second safety zone being a general warning inclusive safety zone having a navigational condition requiring the airplane to remain within the second safety zone with an alarm response of notifying an extra-vehicular communication and command center of a violation,

(c) a third safety zone, the third safety zone being an inclusive operator override safety zone having a navigational condition requiring the airplane to remain within the third safety zone with an alarm, response to a violation of the condition of overriding operator control of the airplane to prevent the vehicle from traveling outside the third safety zone; and

wherein the data processor is mounted on the airplane.

59. A vehicular safety system according to claim 47,

wherein the navigational status determination system is located on a truck;

and

wherein the defined plurality of safety zones include;

(a) a first safety zone, the first safety zone being an early warning inclusive safety zone having a navigational condition requiring the vehicle to remain within the first safety zone with an alarm response that the vehicle operator be notified of a violation,

(b) a second safety zone, the second safety zone being a general warning inclusive safety zone having a navigational condition requiring the vehicle to remain within the second safety zone with an alarm response of notifying an extra-vehicular communication and command center of a violation,

(c) a third safety zone, the third safety zone being an inclusive operator override safety zone having a navigational condition requiring the vehicle to remain within the third safety zone with an alarm response to a violation of the condition of overriding operator control of the vehicle to prevent the vehicle from traveling outside the third safety zone; and

wherein the data processor is mounted on the truck and determines in response to the received navigational status information and in response to the stored safety zone definition information whether or not a condition associated with a first, second or third safety zone has been violated, the data processor generating alarm response information indicating an alarm response if a determination is made that a condition associated with a first, second or third safety zone has been violated.

60. A vehicular safety system according to claim 47,

wherein the navigational status determination system is mounted on a trailer;

wherein the data store is located on the trailer and the defined safety zones include;

(a) a first safety zone, the first safety zone being an early warning inclusive safety zone having a navigational condition requiring the vehicle to remain within the first safety zone with an alarm response that the vehicle operator be notified of a violation,

(b) a second safety zone, the second safety zone being a general warning inclusive safety zone having a navigational condition requiring the vehicle to remain within the second safety zone with an alarm response of notifying an extra-vehicular communication and command center of a violation, and

(c) a third safety zone, the third safety zone being an inclusive operator override safety zone having a navigational condition requiring the vehicle to remain within the third safety zone with an alarm response to a violation of the condition of overriding operator control of the vehicle to prevent the vehicle from traveling outside the third safety zone; and

wherein the data processor is mounted on the trailer.

61. A vehicular safety system according to claim 47, wherein the navigational status determination system is located on the vehicle and wherein the data store is mounted on the vehicle and the stored information defining a plurality of safety zones includes information defining an inclusive operator override safety zone having a navigational condition requiring the vehicle to remain within the safety zone with an alarm response to a violation of the condition of overriding operator control of the vehicle to prevent the vehicle from traveling outside the safety zone.

62. A vehicular safety system according to claim 61 further comprising a display providing the a vehicle operator an indication of a location of at least one of the safety zones relative to the vehicle.

63. A vehicular safety system according to claim 47 wherein the data store is located on the vehicle and the plurality of defined safety zones includes:

(a) a first safety zone, the first safety zone being an early warning inclusive safety zone having a navigational condition requiring the vehicle to remain within the first safety zone with an alarm response that the vehicle operator be notified of a violation, and

(b) a second safety zone, the second safety zone being a general warning inclusive safety zone having a navigational condition requiring the vehicle to remain within the second safety zone with an alarm response of notifying an extra-vehicular communication center of a violation.

55. A vehicular safety system comprising:

a navigational status determination system, the navigational status determination system generating navigational status information including information representing a position of the vehicle within a coordinate system;

a data store located on the vehicle the data store storing information defining a plurality of safety zones, each safety zone having at least one navigational condition associated therewith and each navigational condition having at least one alarm response associated therewith, the defined safety zones including a safety zone having a boundary extending around an object, the safety zone being an operator override safety zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the safety zone which navigational condition includes an alarm response including an operator override response in which the alarm response overrides an aspect of operator control of the vehicle to limit further motion of the vehicle into the safety zone and toward the object, the plurality of safety zones defined by information stored in the data store including;

(a) a first safety zone having an elongated boundary of rectangular cross section, the first safety zone being an inclusive safety zone defining a travel path for the vehicle, the first safety zone being an early warning inclusive safety zone having a first navigational condition requiring the vehicle to remain within the first safety zone with an alarm response that the vehicle operator be notified of a violation and a second navigational condition requiring the vehicle to travel at a speed below a selected speed limit with an alarm response of notification of the vehicle operator of a violation,

(b) a second safety zone having an elongated boundary of rectangular cross section, the second safety zone being an inclusive safety zone defining a travel path for the vehicle, the second safety zone having a first navigational condition requiring the vehicle to remain within the second safety zone with an alarm response of notifying an extra-vehicular communication and command center of a violation and a second navigational condition requiring the vehicle to travel at a speed below a selected speed limit with an alarm response of notifying an extra-vehicular communication and command center of a violation,

(c) a third safety zone having an elongated boundary of rectangular cross section, the third safety zone being an inclusive safety zone defining a zone within which the vehicle must travel, the third safety zone having a navigational condition requiring the vehicle to remain within the third safety zone with an alarm response to a violation of the condition of overriding operator control of the vehicle to prevent the vehicle from traveling outside the third safety zone;

a data processor mounted on the vehicle and receiving navigational status information from the navigational status determination system, the data processor determining in response to the received navigational status information and in response to the stored safety zone definition information whether or not a condition associated with a safety zone entered by the vehicle has been violated, the data processor generating alarm response information indicating an alarm response associated with a violated condition if a determination is made that a condition associated with a safety zone has been violated; and

an alarm response system receiving alarm response information from the data processor and executing an alarm response indicated by the received alarm response information, the alarm response system including;

(a) an audio alarm providing an audio alarm to the vehicle operator in response to audio alarm response information,

(b) a visual alarm providing a visual alarm to the vehicle operator in response to visual alarm response information,

(c) a vehicle operator override system overriding the vehicle operator with respect to a vehicle control function in response to operator override alarm response information,

(d) a secure communication system communicating information indicating a condition violation in response to communication alarm response information, and

(e) an extra-vehicular communication and command center located outside the vehicle and receiving information indicating a condition violation communicated by the secure communication system.

64. A vehicular safety system comprising:

a navigational status determination system, the navigational status determination system generating navigational status information including information representing position, speed and direction of motion of the vehicle within a coordinate system;

a data store located on the vehicle storing information defining a plurality of safety zones, each safety zone having at least one navigational condition associated therewith and each navigational condition having at least one alarm response associated therewith, the defined safety zones including a safety zone having a boundary extending around an object, the safety zone being an operator override safety zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the safety zone which navigational condition includes an alarm response including an operator override response in which the alarm response overrides an aspect of operator control of the vehicle to limit further motion of the vehicle into the safety zone and toward the object, the defined plurality of safety zones including;

(a) a first safety zone having an elliptically shaped boundary, the ellipse being defined along a major axis that remains parallel to a direction of motion of the vehicle, the first safety zone having a condition that the vehicle not enter the first safety zone and an alarm response to a violation of the condition of notifying the vehicle operator of the violation, and

(b) a second safety zone having an elliptically shaped boundary, the ellipse being defined along a major axis that remains parallel to a direction of motion of the vehicle, the second safety zone having a condition that the vehicle not enter the second safety zone and an alarm response to a violation of the condition of overriding operator control of the vehicle to prevent further penetration of the vehicle into the second safety zone;

a data processor mounted on the vehicle, the data processor determining in response to the generated navigational status information and in response to the stored safety zone definition information whether or not a condition associated with a safety zone entered by the vehicle has been violated, the data processor generating alarm response information indicating an alarm response associated with the violated condition if a determination is made that a condition associated with a safety zone is violated and the data processor generating display information in response to the received navigational status information and in response to the stored safety zone definition information, the generated display information indicating a map covering an area in the vicinity of the vehicle and indicating a location of the vehicle and a location of the first and second safety zones;

an alarm response system receiving alarm response information from the data processor and executing an alarm response indicated by the received alarm response information; and

a monitor display positioned in the vehicle in view of the vehicle operator, the monitor display providing a display of the map in the vicinity of the vehicle including an indication of a location of the vehicle and a location of the first and second safety zones; and

wherein the alarm response system includes;

(a) an audio alarm providing an audio alarm to the vehicle operator in response to audio alarm response information,

(b) a visual alarm providing a visual alarm to the vehicle operator in response to visual alarm response information, and

(c) a vehicle operator override system overriding the vehicle operator with respect to a vehicle control function in response to operator override alarm response information.

65. A vehicular safety system comprising:

a navigational status determination system, the navigational status determination system generating navigational status information including information representing a position of the vehicle within a coordinate system and the navigational status information generated by the navigational status determination system further including information representing speed and direction of motion of the vehicle;

a data store located on the vehicle storing information defining a plurality of safety zones, each safety zone having at least one navigational condition associated therewith and each navigational condition having at least one alarm response associated therewith, the defined safety zones including a safety zone having a boundary extending around an object, the safety zone being an operator override safety zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the safety zone which navigational condition includes an alarm response including an operator override response in which the alarm response overrides an aspect of operator control of the vehicle to limit further motion of the vehicle into the safety zone and toward the object, the defined plurality of safety zones including;

(a) a first safety zone having a boundary that is relatively elongated along a major axis, the first safety zone having a condition that the vehicle not enter the first safety zone and an alarm response to a violation of the condition of notifying the vehicle operator of the violation, and

(b) a second safety zone having a boundary that is relatively elongated along a major axis, the second safety zone having a condition that the vehicle not enter the second safety zone and an alarm response to a violation of the condition of overriding operator control of the vehicle to prevent further penetration of the vehicle into the second safety zone;

a data processor on the vehicle the data processor determining in response to the generated navigational status information and in response to the stored safety zone definition information whether or not a condition associated with a safety zone entered by the vehicle has been violated, the data processor generating alarm response information indicating an alarm response associated with the violated condition if a determination is made that a condition associated with a safety zone is violated, the data processor receiving navigational status information from the navigational status determination system, the data processor rotating the direction of the major axes of the first and second safety zones to a direction parallel to a direction of motion of the vehicle and determining whether or not a condition associated with a safety zone is being violated in response to the received navigational status information and in response to the stored safety zone definition information, the data processor generating display information in response to the received navigational status information and in response to the stored safety zone definition information, the generated display information indicating a map covering an area in the vicinity of the vehicle and indicating a location of the vehicle and a location of the first and second safety zones;

an alarm response system receiving alarm response information from the data processor and executing an alarm response indicated by the received alarm response information; and

a monitor display positioned in the vehicle in view of the vehicle operator, the monitor display providing a display of the map in the vicinity of the vehicle including an indication of a location of the vehicle and a location of the first and second safety zones.

66. A vehicular safety system comprising:

a navigational status determination system located on the vehicle, the navigational status determination system generating navigational status information including information representing a position of the vehicle within a coordinate system and information representing speed and direction of motion of the vehicle;

a data store located on the vehicle storing information defining a plurality of safety zones, each safety zone having at least one navigational condition associated therewith and each navigational condition having at least one alarm response associated therewith, the defined safety zones including a safety zone having a boundary extending around an object, the safety zone being an operator override safety zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the safety zone which navigational condition includes an alarm response including an operator override response in which the alarm response overrides an aspect of operator control of the vehicle to limit further motion of the vehicle into the safety zone and toward the object, wherein the data store is located on the vehicle, the defined plurality of safety zones including a safety zone having a boundary that is relatively elongated along a major axis, the safety zone having a condition that the vehicle not enter the safety zone and an alarm response to a violation of the condition of notifying the vehicle operator of the violation;

a data processor determining in response to the generated navigational status information and in response to the stored safety zone definition information whether or not a condition associated with a safety zone entered by the vehicle has been violated, the data processor generating alarm response information indicating an alarm response associated with the violated condition if a determination is made that a condition associated with a safety zone is violated; and

an alarm response system receiving alarm response information from the data processor and executing an alarm response indicated by the received alarm response information, the alarm response system including an indicator indicating to the vehicle operator that the vehicle has entered the safety zone in response to the alarm response information generated by the data processor.

67. A vehicular safety system comprising:

a navigational status determination system located on the vehicle, the navigational status determination system generating navigational status information including information representing a position of the vehicle within a coordinate system and information representing speed and direction of motion of the vehicle;

a data store located on the vehicle storing information defining a plurality of safety zones, each safety zone having at least one navigational condition associated therewith and each navigational condition having at least one alarm response associated therewith, the defined safety zones including a safety zone having a boundary extending around an object, the safety zone being an operator override safety zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the safety zone which navigational condition includes an alarm response including an operator override response in which the alarm response overrides an aspect of operator control of the vehicle to limit further motion of the vehicle into the safety zone and toward the object, the data store storing information defining a safety zone having an asymmetrically shaped boundary that is relatively elongated along a major axis, the safety zone having a condition that the vehicle not enter the safety zone and an alarm response to a violation of the condition of overriding operator control of the vehicle to prevent further penetration of the safety zone by the vehicle;

a data processor mounted on the vehicle, the data processor determining in response to the generated navigational status information and in response to the stored safety zone definition information whether or not a condition associated with a safety zone entered by the vehicle has been violated, the data processor generating alarm response information indicating an alarm response associated with the violated condition if a determination is made that a condition associated with a safety zone is violated, the data processor rotating the direction of the major axis of the safety zone in response to a direction of motion of the vehicle and determining whether or not the vehicle has entered the safety zone in response to the received navigational status information and in response to the stored safety zone definition information, the data processor generating alarm response information indicating an alarm response if a determination is made that the vehicle has entered the safety zone; and

an alarm response system receiving alarm response information from the data processor and overriding operator control of the vehicle to prevent further penetration of the safety zone by the vehicle in response to the alarm response information generated by the data processor.

68. A vehicular safety system comprising:

a navigational status determination system located on a vehicle, the navigational status determination system including a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and generating navigational status information representing position, speed and direction of motion of the vehicle;

a data store located on the vehicle storing information defining a plurality of safety zones, each safety zone having at least one navigational condition associated therewith and each navigational condition having at least one alarm response associated therewith, the defined safety zones including;

(a) a first safety zone having a spherically shaped boundary having a selected radius and a center near a protected object, the first safety zone being an early warning exclusive safety zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the first safety zone which navigational condition includes an alarm response including a notification to the vehicle operator that the vehicle has entered an exclusive safety zone,

(b) a second safety zone having a spherically shaped boundary that is concentrically located within the boundary of the first safety zone and has a radius less than the radius of the first safety zone, the second safety zone being a general warning exclusive safety zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the second safety zone which navigational condition includes an alarm response including a notification to personnel outside the vehicle that the vehicle has entered an exclusive general warning safety zone,

(c) a third safety zone having a spherically shaped boundary that is concentrically located within the boundary of the second safety zone and has a radius less than the radius of the second safety zone, the third safety zone being an operator override safety zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the third safety zone which navigational condition includes an alarm response including an operator override response in which the alarm response overrides an aspect of operator control of the vehicle to limit further motion into the third safety zone by the vehicle,

(d) a fourth safety zone having an elongated boundary of rectangular cross section, the fourth safety zone being an inclusive safety zone defining a travel path for the vehicle, the defined travel path having boundaries sufficiently distant from a normal path of the vehicle that the defined travel path does not interfere with normal operation of the vehicle, the fourth safety zone being an early warning safety zone having a first navigational condition requiring the vehicle to remain within the fourth safety zone with an alarm response that the vehicle operator be notified of a violation and a second navigational condition requiring the vehicle to travel at a speed below a selected speed limit with an alarm response of notification of the vehicle operator of a violation,

(e) a fifth safety zone having an elongated boundary of rectangular cross section, the fifth safety zone being an inclusive safety zone defining a travel path for the vehicle, the defined travel path having boundaries sufficiently distant from a normal path of the vehicle that the defined travel path does not interfere with normal operation of the vehicle, the fifth safety zone having a first navigational condition requiring the vehicle to remain within the fifth safety zone with an alarm response of notifying an extra-vehicular communication and command center of a violation and a second navigational condition requiring the vehicle to travel at a speed below a selected speed limit with an alarm response of notifying an extra-vehicular communication and command center of a violation,

(f) a sixth safety zone having an elongated boundary of rectangular cross section, the sixth safety zone being an inclusive safety zone defining a travel path for the vehicle, the defined travel path having boundaries sufficiently distant from a normal path of the vehicle that the defined travel path does not interfere with normal operation of the vehicle, the sixth safety zone having a navigational condition requiring the vehicle to remain within the sixth safety zone with an alarm response to violation of the condition of overriding operator control of the vehicle to keep the vehicle within the sixth safety zone,

(g) a seventh safety zone having an elliptically shaped boundary, the ellipse being defined along a major axis that remains parallel to a direction of motion of the vehicle, the seventh safety zone having a condition that the vehicle not enter the seventh safety zone and an alarm response to a violation of the condition of notifying the vehicle operator of the violation,

(h) an eighth safety zone having an elliptically shaped boundary, the ellipse being defined along a major axis that remains parallel to a direction of motion of the vehicle, the eighth safety zone having a condition that the vehicle not enter the eighth safety zone and an alarm response to a violation of the condition of overriding operator control of the vehicle to prevent further penetration of the vehicle into the eighth safety zone;

a data processor mounted on the vehicle and receiving navigational status information from the navigational status determination system and determining in response to the received navigational status information and in response to the stored safety zone definition information whether or not a condition associated with a safety zone has been violated, the data processor generating alarm response information indicating an alarm response if a determination is made that a condition associated with a safety zone is violated; and

an alarm response system receiving alarm response information from the data processor and executing an alarm response indicated by the received alarm response information, the alarm response system including

(a) an audio alarm providing an audio alarm to the vehicle operator in response to audio alarm response information,

(b) a visual alarm providing a visual alarm to the vehicle operator in response to visual alarm response information,

(c) a vehicle operator override system overriding the vehicle operator with respect to a vehicle control function in response to operator override alarm response information,

(d) a secure communication system communicating information indicating a condition violation in response to communication alarm response information, and

(e) an extra-vehicular communication and command center located outside the vehicle and receiving information indicating a condition violation communicated by the secure communication system.

69. A vehicular safety method comprising the acts of:

generating navigational status information representing a navigational status of a vehicle, the navigational status information including information indicating the position of the vehicle;

storing information defining a an inclusive safety zone having a boundary that surrounds the vehicle;

storing at least one condition for operation of the vehicle, the at least one condition including the condition that the vehicle must not cross the boundary of the defined safety zone;

generating alarm information in response to the navigational status information when the navigational status information indicates that a stored condition for operation of the vehicle has been violated; and

generating a protective response in response to the alarm information, the protective response including overriding operator control of the vehicle to tend to eliminate the violation of the stored condition for operation of the vehicle.

70. A vehicular safety method according to claim 69 further comprising storing information defining a plurality of safety zones and displaying to a vehicle operator an indication of a location of at least one of the safety zones relative to the location of the vehicle.

71. A vehicular safety method according to claim 69 wherein the vehicle is an airplane.

72. A vehicular safety method according to claim 69 wherein the vehicle is an automobile.

73. A vehicular safety method according to claim 69 wherein the vehicle is a ship.

74. A vehicular safety method according to claim 69,

wherein generating navigational status information includes generating information indicating a direction of motion of the vehicle;

each defined protective zone has associated therewith a condition restricting operation of the vehicle;

wherein the act of generating alarm information includes the act of determining in response to the navigational status information whether or not a listed safety zone is occupied by the vehicle and if the safety zone is occupied by the vehicle, whether or not a condition of the occupied safety zone restricting operation of the vehicle has been violated by the vehicle;

wherein the act of generating alarm information includes the act of generating alarm information when it is determined that a safety zone has been violated by the vehicle, and

wherein the generated protective response includes overriding operator control of the vehicle by changing a direction of motion of the vehicle.

75. A vehicular safety method according to claim 69,

wherein the stored information includes information defining a plurality of safety zones, each safety zone having at least one navigational condition associated therewith and each navigational condition having at least one alarm response associated therewith, the defined safety zones including:

(a) a first safety zone defining boundaries of an available travel path for the vehicle, the first safety zone being an early warning safety zone having a navigational condition requiring the vehicle to remain within the boundaries of the first safety zone with an alarm response that the vehicle operator be notified of a violation,

(b) a second safety zone defining boundaries of an available travel path for the vehicle, the second safety zone having a navigational condition requiring the vehicle to remain within the boundaries of the second safety zone with an alarm response of notifying an extra-vehicular communication and command center of a violation, and

(c) a third safety zone defining boundaries of an available travel path for the vehicle, the third safety zone having a navigational condition requiring the vehicle to remain within the boundaries of the third safety zone with an alarm response to violation of the condition of overriding operator control of the vehicle to limit the distance that the vehicle can travel beyond a boundary of the third safety zone;

wherein the act of generating alarm response information includes the act of determining in response to the generated navigational status information and in response to the stored safety zone definition information whether or not a condition associated with a safety zone has been violated by the vehicle and includes the act of generating alarm response information indicating an alarm response if a determination is made that a condition associated with a safety zone is violated; and

wherein the act of generating a protective response includes the act of executing an alarm response indicated by the generated alarm response information.

76. A vehicular safety method according to claim 69,

wherein the act of storing information defining a plurality of safety zones includes the act of storing information defining a plurality of safety zones using a data store, each safety zone having at least one navigational condition associated therewith and each navigational condition having at least one alarm response associated therewith, the defined safety zones including:

(a) a first safety zone having a boundary surrounding an object, the first safety zone being an early warning exclusive safety zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the first safety zone which navigational condition includes an alarm response including a notification to the vehicle operator that the vehicle has entered an exclusive safety zone,

(b) a second safety zone having a boundary surrounding the object with the boundary of the second safety zone being inside of the boundary of the first safety zone, the second safety zone being a general warning exclusive safety zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the second safety zone which navigational condition includes an alarm response including a notification to personnel outside the vehicle that the vehicle has entered an exclusive general warning safety zone, and

(c) a third safety zone having a boundary surrounding the object with the boundary of the third safety zone being inside of the boundary of second safety zone, the third safety zone being an operator override safety zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the third safety zone which navigational condition includes an alarm response including an operator override response in which the alarm response overrides an aspect of operator control of the vehicle to limit further motion of the vehicle into the third safety zone;

wherein the act of generating alarm information includes the act of generating alarm response information indicating an alarm response if a determination is made that a condition associated with a first, second or third safety zone which the vehicle has entered is being violated; and

wherein the act of generating a protective response includes the act of executing an alarm response indicated by the generated alarm response information if a determination is made that a condition associated with a first, second or third safety zone which the vehicle has entered is being violated.

77. A vehicular safety method according to claim 69,

further comprising the act of storing information defining a plurality of safety zones, each safety zone having at least one navigational condition associated therewith and each navigational condition having at least one alarm response associated therewith, the defined safety zones including:

(a) a first safety zone having a boundary surrounding an object, the first safety zone being an early warning exclusive safety zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the first safety zone which navigational condition includes an alarm response of notification to the vehicle operator that the vehicle has entered an exclusive safety zone,

(b) a second safety zone having a boundary surrounding the object, the second safety zone being a general warning exclusive safety zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the second safety zone which navigational condition includes an alarm response including a notification to personnel outside the vehicle that the vehicle has entered an exclusive general warning safety zone, and

(c) a third safety zone having a boundary that is surrounding the object, the third safety zone being an operator override safety zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the third safety zone which navigational condition includes an alarm response including an operator override response in which the alarm response overrides an aspect of operator control of the vehicle to limit further motion of the vehicle into the third safety zone;

wherein the act of generating alarm response information includes the act of generating alarm response information indicating a particular alarm response if a determination is made that the vehicle has violated a condition associated with a first, second or third safety zone; and

wherein the act of generating a protective response includes the act of executing the alarm response indicated by the generated alarm response information generated in response to a determination that the vehicle has violated a condition associated with a first, second or third safety zone.

78. A vehicular safety method according to claim 69, further comprising storing information defining an exclusive general warning safety zone having at least one navigational condition associated therewith with each navigational condition having at least one alarm response associated therewith, the defined exclusive general warning safety zone having a boundary surrounding an object and having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the exclusive general warning safety zone, which navigational condition includes an alarm response including a notification to personnel outside the vehicle that the vehicle has entered an exclusive general warning safety zone.

79. A vehicular safety method comprising the acts of:

generating navigational status information representing position, speed and direction of motion of the vehicle using a navigational status determination system located on the vehicle, the navigational status determination system including a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver;

storing at least one condition for operation of the vehicle including storing information defining a plurality of safety zones using a data store located on the vehicle, each safety zone having at least one navigational condition associated therewith and each navigational condition having at least one alarm response associated therewith, the defined safety zones including;

(a) a first safety zone having an elliptically shaped boundary, the ellipse being defined along a major axis, the first safety zone having a condition that the vehicle not enter the first safety zone and an alarm response to a violation of the condition of notifying the vehicle operator of the violation, and

(b) a second safety zone having an elliptically shaped boundary, the ellipse being defined along a major axis, the second safety zone having a condition that the vehicle not enter the second safety zone and an alarm response to a violation of the condition of overriding operator control of the vehicle to prevent further penetration of the vehicle into the second safety zone;

rotating the major axes of the first and second safety zones in response to the navigational status information to maintain the major axes of the first and second safety zones parallel to the direction of motion of the vehicle;

determining in response to the generated navigational status information and in response to the stored safety zone definition information whether or not a condition associated with a safety zone which the vehicle has entered has been violated;

displaying to the vehicle operator a map of an area in the vicinity of the vehicle, the map including an indication of the location of each safety zone in the area that is displayed;

generating alarm information in response to the navigational status information when the navigational status information indicates that a stored condition for operation of the vehicle has been violated, the act of generating alarm information including the act of generating alarm response information indicating an alarm response associated with a violated condition if a determination is made that a condition associated with a safety zone has been violated; and

generating a protective response in response to the alarm information, the act of generating a protective response including the act of executing an alarm response indicated by the generated alarm response information, the alarm response including at least one of the following;

(a) providing an audio alarm to the vehicle operator in response to audio alarm response information,

(b) providing a visual alarm to the vehicle operator in response to visual alarm response information,

(c) overriding the vehicle operator with respect to a vehicle control function in response to operator override alarm response information,

(d) communicating information indicating a condition violation in response to communication alarm response information, and

(e) receiving information indicating a condition violation communicated by the secure communication system.

80. A vehicular safety method comprising the acts of:

generating navigational status information representing a navigational status of a vehicle, the generated navigational status information including information representing position, speed and direction of motion of the vehicle;

storing at least one condition for operation of the vehicle, the act of storing including the act of storing information defining a plurality of safety zones, each safety zone having at least one navigational condition associated therewith and each navigational condition having at least one alarm response associated therewith, the defined safety zones including;

(a) a first safety zone having an elongated boundary, the boundary being elongated along a major axis, the first safety zone having a condition that the vehicle not enter the first safety zone and an alarm response to a violation of the condition of notifying the vehicle operator of the violation, and

(b) a second safety zone having an elongated boundary, the boundary being elongated along a major axis, the second safety zone having a condition that the vehicle not enter the second safety zone and an alarm response to a violation of the condition of overriding operator control of the vehicle to prevent further penetration of the vehicle into the second safety zone in the event the vehicle enters the second safety zone;

rotating the major axes of the first and second safety zones in response to the navigational status information to maintain the major axes of the first and second safety zones parallel to the direction of motion of the vehicle;

determining in response to the generated navigational status information and in response to the stored safety zone definition information whether or not a condition associated with a safety zone which the vehicle has entered has been violated;

displaying to the vehicle operator a map of an area in the vicinity of the vehicle, the map including an indication of the location of each safety zone in the area that is displayed;

generating alarm information in response to the navigational status information when the navigational status information indicates that a stored condition for operation of the vehicle has been violated, the act of generating alarm information including the act of generating alarm response information indicating an alarm response associated with a violated condition if a determination is made that a condition associated with a safety zone has been violated; and

generating a protective response in response to the alarm information, the act of generating a protective response including the act of executing an alarm response indicated by the generated alarm response information.

81. A vehicular safety method comprising the acts of:

generating navigational status information representing a navigational status of a vehicle, the generated navigational status information including information representing position, speed and direction of motion of the vehicle;

storing at least one condition for operation of the vehicle, the act of storing at least one condition including the act of storing information defining a safety zone having at least one navigational condition associated therewith and each navigational condition having at least one alarm response associated therewith, the defined safety zone having an elongated boundary, the boundary being elongated along a major axis, the safety zone having an associated condition that the vehicle not enter the safety zone and an alarm response to a violation of the condition of notifying the vehicle operator of the violation;

rotating the major axis of the safety zone in response to the navigational status information to maintain the major axis of the safety zone parallel to the direction of motion of the vehicle;

determining in response to the generated navigational status information and in response to the stored safety zone definition information whether or not a condition associated with the safety zone has been violated;

generating alarm information in response to the navigational status information when the navigational status information indicates that a stored condition for operation of the vehicle has been violated, the act of generating alarm information including the act of generating alarm response information indicating an alarm response associated with a violated condition if a determination is made that a condition associated with a safety zone has been violated; and

generating a protective response in response to the alarm information, the protective response including executing an alarm response indicated by the generated alarm response information.

82. A vehicular safety method comprising the acts of:

generating navigational status information representing a navigational status of a vehicle, the generated navigational status information including information representing position, speed and direction of motion of the vehicle;

storing at least one condition for operation of the vehicle, the act of storing at least one condition including the act of storing information defining a safety zone having at least one navigational condition associated therewith with each navigational condition having at least one alarm response associated therewith, the defined safety zone having an elongated boundary, the boundary being elongated along a major axis, the safety zone having an associated condition that the vehicle not enter the safety zone and an alarm response to a violation of the condition of overriding operator control of the vehicle to prevent further penetration of the vehicle into the safety zone;

rotating the major axis of the safety zone in response to the navigational status information to maintain the major axis of the safety zone parallel to the direction of motion of the vehicle;

determining in response to the generated navigational status information and in response to the stored safety zone definition information whether or not a condition associated with a safety zone which the vehicle has entered has been violated;

generating alarm information in response to the navigational status information when the navigational status information indicates that a stored condition for operation of the vehicle has been violated, the act of generating alarm information including the act of generating alarm response information indicating an alarm response associated with a violated condition if a determination is made that a condition associated with a safety zone has been violated; and

generating a protective response in response to the alarm information, the protective response including executing an alarm response indicated by the generated alarm response information.

83. A vehicular safety method comprising the acts of:

generating navigational status information including information representing the position a vehicle;

storing information defining a plurality of safety zones using a data store located in the vehicle, each safety zone having at least one navigational condition associated therewith and each navigational condition having at least one alarm response associated therewith, the defined safety zones including;

(a) a first safety zone defining an available travel path for the vehicle, the first safety zone being an early warning safety zone having a first navigational condition requiring the vehicle to remain within the first safety zone with an alarm response that the vehicle operator be notified of a violation and a second navigational condition requiring the vehicle to travel at a speed below a selected speed limit with an alarm response of notification of the vehicle operator of a violation,

(b) a second safety zone defining an available travel path for the vehicle, the second safety zone having a first navigational condition requiring the vehicle to remain within the second safety zone with an alarm response of notifying an extra-vehicular communication and command center of a violation and a second navigational condition requiring the vehicle to travel at a speed below a selected speed limit with an alarm response of notifying an extra-vehicular communication and command center of a violation, and

(c) a third safety zone defining an available travel path for the vehicle, the third safety zone having a navigational condition requiring the vehicle to remain within the third safety zone with an alarm response to violation of the condition of overriding operator control of the vehicle to limit the distance that the vehicle can travel beyond a boundary of the third safety zone;

determining in response to the generated navigational status information and in response to the stored safety zone definition information whether or not a condition associated with a safety zone has been violated by the vehicle;

displaying to the vehicle operator a map of a local area in the vicinity of the vehicle, the map including an indication of the location of each safety zone in the local area;

generating alarm response information indicating an alarm response if a determination is made that a condition associated with a safety is violated; and

executing an alarm response indicated by the generated alarm response information.

84. A vehicular safety method comprising the acts of:

generating navigational status information representing position, speed and direction of motion of a vehicle using a navigational status determination system located on the vehicle, the navigational status determination system including a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver;

storing information defining a plurality of safety zones using a data store located on the vehicle, each safety zone having at least one navigational condition associated therewith and each navigational condition having at least one alarm response associated therewith, the defined safety zones including;

(a) a first safety zone having a spherically shaped boundary having a selected radius and a center near a protected object, the first safety zone being an early warning exclusive safety zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the first safety zone which navigational condition includes an alarm response including a notification to the vehicle operator that the vehicle has entered an exclusive safety zone,

(b) a second safety zone having a spherically shaped boundary that is concentrically located within the boundary of the first safety zone and has a radius less than the radius of the first safety zone, the second safety zone being a general warning exclusive safety zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the second safety zone which navigational condition includes an alarm response including a notification to personnel outside the vehicle that the vehicle has entered an exclusive general warning safety zone,

(c) a third safety zone having a spherically shaped boundary that is concentrically located within the boundary of the second safety zone and has a radius less than the radius of the second safety zone, the third safety zone being an operator override safety zone having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the third safety zone which navigational condition includes an alarm response including an operator override response in which the alarm response overrides an aspect of operator control of the vehicle to limit further motion into the third safety zone by the vehicle,

(d) a fourth safety zone having an elongated boundary of rectangular cross section, the fourth safety zone being an inclusive safety zone defining a travel path for the vehicle, the fourth safety zone being an early warning safety zone having a first navigational condition requiring the vehicle to remain within the fourth safety zone with an alarm response that the vehicle operator be notified of a violation and a second navigational condition requiring the vehicle to travel at a speed below a selected speed limit with an alarm response of notification of the vehicle operator of a violation,

(e) a fifth safety zone having an elongated boundary of rectangular cross section, the fifth safety zone being an inclusive safety zone defining a travel path for the vehicle, the fifth safety zone having a first navigational condition requiring the vehicle to remain within the fifth safety zone with an alarm response of notifying an extra-vehicular communication and command center of a violation and a second navigational condition requiring the vehicle to travel at a speed below a selected speed limit with an alarm response of notifying an extra-vehicular communication and command center of a violation,

(f) a sixth safety zone having an elongated boundary of rectangular cross section, the sixth safety zone being an inclusive safety zone defining a travel path for the vehicle, the sixth safety zone having a navigational condition requiring the vehicle to remain within the sixth safety zone with an alarm response to violation of the condition of overriding operator control of the vehicle to keep the vehicle within the fifth safety zone,

(g) a seventh safety zone having an elliptically shaped boundary, the ellipse being defined along a major axis that remains parallel to a direction of motion of the vehicle, the seventh safety zone having a condition that the vehicle not enter the seventh safety zone and an alarm response to a violation of the condition of notifying the vehicle operator of the violation,

(h) an eighth safety zone having an elliptically shaped boundary, the ellipse being defined along a major axis that remains parallel to a direction of motion of the vehicle, the eighth safety zone having a condition that the vehicle not enter the eighth safety zone and an alarm response to a violation of the condition of overriding operator control of the vehicle to prevent further penetration of the vehicle into to eighth safety zone;

determining in response to the generated navigational status information and in response to the stored safety zone definition information whether or not a condition associated with a safety zone has been violated by the vehicle;

displaying to the vehicle operator a map of a local area in the vicinity of the vehicle, the map including and indication of the location of each safety zone in the local area;

generating alarm response information indicating an alarm response if a determination is made that a condition associated with a safety zone has violated by the vehicle; and

executing an alarm response indicated by the generated alarm response information, the alarm response including at least one of the following;

(a) providing an audio alarm to the vehicle operator in response to audio alarm response information,

(b) providing a visual alarm to the vehicle operator in response to visual alarm response information,

(c) overriding the vehicle operator with respect to a vehicle control function in response to operator override alarm response information,

(d) communicating information indicating a condition violation in response to communication alarm response information, and

(e) receiving information indicating a condition violation communicated by the secure communication system.

85. A vehicular safety system comprising:

means for generating navigational status information representing a navigational status of a vehicle, including speed and direction of motion of the vehicle;

means for storing information, the means for storing information storing information defining an elongated safety exclusive safety zone extending about an object with the direction of elongation being maintained parallel to the direction of motion of the vehicle and storing at least one condition for operation of the vehicle, the at least one condition including a condition that the vehicle should not enter the exclusive safety zone;

means for generating exclusive safety zone alarm information in response to the navigational status information when the navigational status information indicates that a stored condition for operation of the vehicle has been violated; and

means for producing a safety response in response to the alarm information, the safety response including changing the direction of motion of the vehicle to prevent the vehicle from contacting the object.

86. A vehicular safety system according to claim 85,

wherein the means for storing includes means for storing information defining a plurality of inclusive safety zones, each inclusive safety zone having at least one navigational condition associated therewith and each navigational condition having at least one alarm response associated therewith, the defined safety zones including:

(a) a first inclusive safety zone defining boundaries of an available travel path for the vehicle, the first safety zone being an early warning safety zone having a navigational condition requiring the vehicle to remain within the boundaries of the first safety zone with an alarm response that the vehicle operator be notified of a violation,

(b) a second inclusive safety zone defining boundaries of an available travel path for the vehicle, the second safety zone having a navigational condition requiring the vehicle to remain within the boundaries of the second safety zone with an alarm response of notifying an extra-vehicular communication and command center of a violation, and

(c) a third inclusive safety zone defining boundaries of an available travel path for the vehicle, the third safety zone having a navigational condition requiring the vehicle to remain within the boundaries of the third safety zone with an alarm response to violation of the condition of overriding operator control of the vehicle to limit the distance that the vehicle can travel beyond a boundary of the third safety zone;

further comprising means for determining in response to the generated navigational status information and in response to the stored first, second and third inclusive safety zone definition information whether or not a condition associated with a first, second or third inclusive safety zone has been violated by the vehicle;

wherein the means for determining includes a data processing system generating inclusive safety zone alarm response information indicating an inclusive safety zone alarm response if a determination is made that a condition associated with a first, second or third inclusive safety zone is violated; and

wherein the means for producing a safety response includes means for executing an inclusive safety zone alarm response indicated by the generated inclusive safety zone alarm response information.

87. A vehicular safety system according to claim 85,

wherein the means for storing information includes means for storing a list of one or more safety zones, each safety zone having associated therewith a condition restricting operation of the vehicle;

and

wherein the means for generating exclusive safety zone alarm information includes a data processor determining in response to the navigational status information whether or not a listed safety zone is occupied by the vehicle and if the safety zone is occupied by the vehicle, whether or not a condition of the occupied safety zone restricting operation of the vehicle has been violated by the vehicle, the data processor generating alarm information only when it is determined that a condition of a safety zone has been violated by the vehicle.

88. A vehicular safety system according to claim 85,

wherein the means for storing information stores information further defining at least one exclusive general warning safety zone having at least one navigational condition associated therewith with each navigational condition having at least one alarm response associated therewith, the defined at least one exclusive general warning safety zone having a boundary surrounding an object and having a navigational condition that the vehicle should not enter the exclusive general warning safety zone, which navigational condition includes an alarm response including a notification to personnel outside the vehicle that the vehicle has entered an exclusive general warning safety zone;

and

wherein the means for producing a safety response includes an alarm response system executing the alarm response associated with the violated condition of the exclusive general warning safety zone by the vehicle, the data processor generating alarm information when it is determined that a condition of the exclusive general warning safety zone has been violated by the vehicle.

89. A vehicular safety system according to claim 85,

wherein the vehicle is an airplane;

and

wherein the means for storing information stores map information defining a topographical map of a region through which the vehicle might be expected to travel and wherein the defined safety zone extends ahead of the vehicle for a selected distance and moves with the vehicle, the safety zone having an associated condition that the vehicle not descend below an adaptively selected altitude floor which is set at a selected distance above a highest point on the ground within the area of the safety zone as indicated by the stored map information.

90. A vehicular safety system according to claim 89,

wherein the safety zone is an override response safety zone having as a response to a violation of the altitude floor condition, a response by the alarm response system of causing the vehicle to climb above the selected altitude floor.