Autonomous station keeping system for formation flight
First Claim
1. A system for autonomously keeping an aircraft'"'"'s station in a formation flight of a plurality of aircraft, the system comprising:
- a navigation system configured to determine a position of the aircraft;
a data link configured to allow the aircraft to communicate data with at least one other aircraft in a formation flight of a plurality of aircraft;
a sensor configured to sense position of the at least one other aircraft within a predetermined distance of the aircraft; and
a processor configured to provide control signals to keep the aircraft at a predetermined station relative to the at least one other of the plurality of aircraft in the formation flight based upon the sensed position of the at least one other aircraft, the processor including;
a first component configured to generate first control signals for performing a collision avoidance maneuver when the position of the aircraft is within a first predetermined threshold from the at least one other aircraft in the formation; and
a second component configured to generate second control signals for performing a collision deconfliction maneuver when the position of the aircraft is within a second predetermined threshold from the at least one other aircraft in the formation, the second predetermined threshold being greater than the first predetermined threshold.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for autonomously keeping an aircraft'"'"'s station in a formation flight of a plurality of aircraft includes a navigation system configured to determine a position of an aircraft. A data link is configured to allow the aircraft to communicate data with at least one other aircraft in the formation flight of the plurality of aircraft. A sensor is configured to detect a presence of another aircraft within a predetermined distance of the aircraft. A processor is configured to provide control signals to the aircraft'"'"'s autoflight system to keep the aircraft at a predetermined station relative to the other of the plurality of aircraft in the formation flight.
69 Citations
60 Claims
-
1. A system for autonomously keeping an aircraft'"'"'s station in a formation flight of a plurality of aircraft, the system comprising:
-
a navigation system configured to determine a position of the aircraft;
a data link configured to allow the aircraft to communicate data with at least one other aircraft in a formation flight of a plurality of aircraft;
a sensor configured to sense position of the at least one other aircraft within a predetermined distance of the aircraft; and
a processor configured to provide control signals to keep the aircraft at a predetermined station relative to the at least one other of the plurality of aircraft in the formation flight based upon the sensed position of the at least one other aircraft, the processor including;
a first component configured to generate first control signals for performing a collision avoidance maneuver when the position of the aircraft is within a first predetermined threshold from the at least one other aircraft in the formation; and
a second component configured to generate second control signals for performing a collision deconfliction maneuver when the position of the aircraft is within a second predetermined threshold from the at least one other aircraft in the formation, the second predetermined threshold being greater than the first predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A system for autonomously keeping aircraft'"'"'s station in a formation flight of a plurality of aircraft, the system comprising:
-
an embedded GPS inertial navigation system configured to determine a position of the aircraft;
a data link configured to allow the aircraft to communicate data with at least one other aircraft in a formation flight of a plurality of aircraft;
a millimeter wave radar system configured to sense position of the at least one other aircraft within a predetermined distance of the aircraft; and
a processor configured to provide control signals to keep the aircraft at a predetermined station relative to the at least one other of the plurality of aircraft in the formation flight based upon the sensed position of the at least one other aircraft, the processor including;
a first component configured to generate first control signals for performing a collision avoidance maneuver when the position of the aircraft is within a first predetermined threshold from the at least one other aircraft in the formation; and
a second component configured to generate second control signals for performing a collision deconfliction maneuver when the position of the aircraft is within a second predetermined threshold from the at least one other aircraft in the formation, the second predetermined threshold being greater than the first predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
-
33. A method of automatically keeping a predetermined station of an aircraft flying in a formation flight of a plurality of aircraft, the method comprising:
-
transmitting a flight plan of an aircraft flying in a formation flight of a plurality of aircraft, the aircraft having a predetermined station in the formation flight relative to other aircraft in the formation flight;
determining position of the aircraft;
sensing positions of the other aircraft in the formation;
comparing the position of the aircraft with the positions of the other aircraft in the formation;
automatically adjusting the position of the aircraft relative to positions of the other aircraft flying in the formation flight such that the predetermined station of the aircraft is maintained;
performing a collision avoidance maneuver when the position of the aircraft is within a first predetermined threshold from the other aircraft in the formation; and
performing a collision deconfliction maneuver when the position of the aircraft is within a second predetermined threshold from the other aircraft in the formation, the second predetermined threshold being greater than the first predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
-
-
44. An aircraft comprising:
-
a fuselage;
a pair of wings;
a plurality of flight control surfaces;
at least one engine;
an autoflight system; and
a system for autonomously keeping the aircraft'"'"'s station in a formation flight of a plurality of aircraft, the system including;
a navigation system configured to determine a position of the aircraft;
a data link configured to allow the aircraft to communicate data with at least one other aircraft in a formation flight of a plurality of aircraft;
a sensor configured to sense position of the at least one other aircraft within a predetermined distance of the aircraft; and
a processor configured to provide control signals to the autoflight system to keep the aircraft at a predetermined station relative to the other of the plurality of aircraft in the formation flight based upon the sensed position of the at least one other aircraft, the processor including;
a first component configured to generate first control signals for performing a collision avoidance maneuver when the position of the aircraft is within a first predetermined threshold from the at least one other aircraft in the formation; and
a second component configured to generate second control signals for performing a collision deconfliction maneuver when the position of the aircraft is within a second predetermined threshold from the at least one other aircraft in the formation, the second predetermined threshold being greater than the first predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
-
Specification