Method and apparatus for dynamic taxi path selection

• US 7,343,229 B1
• Filed: 07/28/2004
• Issued: 03/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Wilson, John G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu; Yonel
• Application Number:
  US10/901,467
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/3, 701 14- 16, 701117-120, 244/183, 340/972, 340/979, 340/958, 340/951, 362/559
• US Class Current: 701/15
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/065 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. for taxiing or rolling

Abstract

A method and apparatus for selecting a taxi path by one or more acceptable taxi paths according to a taxi destination. A primary taxi path is selected according to an operation parameter and is made available as an aeronautical pilot aide.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a taxiway comprising:

providing an electronic system;

using the electronic system for;

determining a taxi destination;

determining one or more acceptable taxi-paths;

selecting as a primary taxi path one of the one or more acceptable taxi paths according to an operational parameter; and

making available the selected primary taxi path;

wherein said step of determining one or more acceptable taxi paths comprises;

identifying an acceptable runway egress according to a taxi destination; and

establishing an operational parameter acceptance threshold for a runway egress.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting a secondary taxi path when changes in operational parameters render the primary taxi path unacceptable; and

making available the selected secondary taxi path.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an indication with respect to the availability of a secondary taxi path.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting a primary path comprises selecting as a primary taxi path one of the one or more acceptable taxi paths according to at least one of aircraft position, aircraft speed, aircraft center of gravity, aircraft braking performance, aircraft weight, aircraft turning radius, aircraft touch-down position, turn angle of runway egress, surface condition of runway, surface condition of taxi way, airline directives, passenger comfort, visibility, weather and position of surface traffic.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein making available the selected primary taxi path comprises presenting information as an image coincident with a forward field of view.

6. A dynamic taxi path selection unit comprising:

a taxi destination receiver capable of receiving a taxi destination;

an acceptable path unit capable of receiving one or more available taxi paths and determining one or more acceptable taxi paths according to the taxi destination;

a taxi selection unit capable of selecting a primary taxi path from the one or more acceptable taxi paths; and

an output interface capable of conveying a selected primary taxi path;

wherein the acceptable path unit is capable of receiving one or more runway egress specifications and is further capable of establishing an operational parameter acceptance threshold for said runway egress.

7. The taxi path selection unit of claim 6 wherein the taxi selection unit is further capable of selecting a secondary taxi path and the output interface is capable of conveying the selected secondary taxi path.

8. The taxi path selection unit of claim 6 wherein the taxi selection unit is capable of providing an indication with respect to the availability of a secondary taxi path selection and wherein the output interface is further capable of conveying said indicator.

9. The taxi path selection unit of claim 6 wherein the taxi selection unit is capable of selecting a taxi path according to at least one of aircraft position, aircraft speed, aircraft center of gravity, aircraft braking performance, aircraft weight, aircraft turning radius, aircraft touch-down position, turn angle of runway egress, surface condition of runway, surface condition of taxi way, airline directives, passenger comfort, visibility, weather and position of surface traffic.

10. The taxi path selection unit of claim 6 wherein the output interface comprises a heads up display.

11. A dynamic taxi path unit comprising:

a processor for executing instructions;

an on-board interface for communicating with an on-board device;

a memory for storing one or more instruction sequences;

an output interface for conveying a taxiway selection; and

instruction sequences stored in the memory including;

a taxi destination module that, when executed by the processor, minimally causes the processor to receive a taxi destination using the on-board interface;

an acceptable path module that, when executed by the processor, minimally causes the processor to determine one or more acceptable taxi paths for the received taxi destination;

a selection module that, when executed by the processor, minimally causes the processor to select as a primary taxi path one of the one or more acceptable taxi paths according to an operational parameter; and

a presentation module that, when executed by the processor, minimally causes the processor to direct a primary path selection to the output interface;

wherein the acceptable path module includes;

an egress identification module that, when executed by the processor, minimally causes the processor to identify an acceptable runway egress according to a taxi destination; and

a threshold establishment module that, when executed by the processor, minimally causes the processor to establish an operational parameter acceptance threshold for an identified runway egress.

12. The dynamic taxi path unit of claim 11 wherein the selection module further minimally causes the processor to select a secondary taxi path when changes in an operational parameter render the primary taxi path unacceptable and wherein the presentation module further minimally causes the processor to direct the secondary selection path to the output interface.

13. The dynamic taxi path unit of claim 11 wherein the presentation module further minimally causes the processor to:

generate an indication with respect to the availability of a secondary taxi path selection; and

direct the indication to the output interface.

14. The dynamic taxi path unit of claim 11 wherein the selection module causes the processor to minimally select a primary taxi path by minimally causing the processor to select as a primary taxi path one of the one or more acceptable taxi paths according to at lest one of aircraft position, aircraft speed, aircraft center of gravity, aircraft braking performance, aircraft weight, aircraft turning radius, aircraft touchdown position, turn angle of runway egress, surface condition of runway, surface condition of taxi way, airline directives, passenger comfort, visibility, weather and position of surface traffic.

15. The dynamic taxi path unit of claim 11 wherein the output interface comprises a graphics engine.

16. A computer readable medium having imparted thereon instruction sequences including:

a taxi destination module that, when executed by a processor, minimally causes the processor to receive a taxi destination;

an acceptable path module that, when executed by a processor, minimally causes the processor to determine one or more acceptable taxi paths for a received taxi destination;

a selection module that when executed by a processor, minimally causes the processor to select as a primary taxi path one of the one or more acceptable taxi paths according to an operational parameter; and

a presentation module that, when executed by a processor, minimally causes the processor to direct a primary path selection to an output interface;

wherein the acceptable path module comprises;

an egress identification module that, when executed by the processor, minimally causes the processor to identify an acceptable runway egress according to a taxi destination; and

a threshold establishment module that, when executed by the processor, minimally causes the processor to establish an operational parameter acceptance threshold for the identified runway egress.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the selection module further minimally causes a processor to select a secondary taxi path when changes in an operational parameter render the primary taxi path unacceptable and wherein the presentation module further minimally causes a processor to direct the secondary selection path to the output interface.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the presentation module further minimally causes the processor to:

generate an indication with respect to the availability of a secondary taxi path selection; and

direct the indication to the output interface.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the selection module causes the processor to minimally select a primary taxi path by minimally causing the processor to select as a primary taxi path one of the one or more acceptable taxi paths according to at least one of aircraft position, aircraft speed, aircraft center of gravity, aircraft braking performance, aircraft weight, aircraft turning radius, aircraft touch-down position, turn angle of runway egress, surface condition of runway, surface condition of taxi way, airline directives, passenger comfort, visibility, weather and position of surface traffic.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the presentation module causes a processor to direct a primary path selection to a heads-up display.