Threat avoidance system and methods using adjustments to built-in values

• US 7,437,245 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2007
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aviation Communication and Surveillance Systems LLC (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Aviation Communication and Surveillance Systems LLC (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Reynolds, Zachary R., Ybarra, Kathryn W
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US11/706,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20070198143A1
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 701/300, 701/301, 701/213, 701/3, 701/4, 701 8- 10, 340/945, 340/988, 340/963, 342/109, 342/26, 342/29
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/106 Change initiated in response to external conditions, e.g. avoidance of elevated terrain or of no-fly zones
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0086 for monitoring terrain radar or analogous systems specially adapted for terrain avoidance G01S13/935
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0091 for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W
• 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 system for enhancing flight safety of a host aircraft receives an adjustment value from a portable memory device; determines a working value of a parameter in accordance with the adjustment value; and provides an advice for threat avoidance in accordance with the working value of the parameter, a terrain database, and an expected climb gradient capability of the host aircraft. The adjustment value may describe an adjustment to at least one of: an aircraft capability parameter, a flight crew capability parameter, a mission parameter, a threat detection technique parameter, a threat advice parameter, or a threat avoidance parameter. Threats include a risk of colliding with other aircraft, colliding with terrain, and encountering adverse weather conditions.

Claims

1. A system installed on a host aircraft for enhancing flight safety of the host aircraft, the system comprising:

a. means for receiving an adjustment value from a portable memory device;

b. means for determining a working value of a parameter in accordance with a combination of the adjustment value and an existing value of the parameter, the parameter describing other than terrain and expected climb gradient; and

c. means for threat avoidance that provides an advice in accordance with the working value of the parameter.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for receiving comprises a PCMCIA interface for operation with the portable memory device.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the combination comprises at least one of addition and subtraction.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the combination comprises at least one of multiplication and division.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the parameter describes a flight crew capability.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the parameter describes a mission of the host aircraft.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for threat avoidance comprises means for performing a threat detection technique in accordance with a threat detection technique parameter that comprises the working value of the parameter.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for threat avoidance provides the advice in accordance with a threat advice parameter comprising the working value of the parameter.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for threat avoidance comprises a threat avoidance parameter comprising the working value of the parameter.

10. A system installed on a host aircraft for enhancing flight safety of the host aircraft, the system comprising:

a. means for receiving an adjustment value from a portable memory device;

b. means for selecting a working value of a parameter from a set of existing values, selecting being in accordance with the adjustment value, the parameter describing other than terrain and expected climb gradient; and

c. means for threat avoidance that provides an advice in accordance with the working value of the parameter.

11. A method for enhancing flight safety of an aircraft, the method comprising:

a. a step for receiving an adjustment value from a portable memory device;

b. a step for determining a working value of a parameter in accordance with a combination of the adjustment value and an existing value of the parameter, the parameter describing other than terrain and expected climb gradient; and

c. a step providing an advice for threat avoidance in accordance with the working value of the parameter.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step for receiving comprises a receiving via a PCMCIA interface in operation with the portable memory device.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the combination comprises at least one of addition and subtraction.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the combination comprises at least one of multiplication and division.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the parameter describes a flight crew capability.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the parameter describes a mission of the host aircraft.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the step for threat avoidance comprises step for performing a threat detection technique in accordance with a threat detection technique parameter that comprises the working value of the parameter.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the step for threat avoidance provides the advice in accordance with a threat advice parameter comprising the working value of the parameter.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein providing an advice for threat avoidance is performed in accordance with a threat avoidance parameter comprising the working value of the parameter.

20. A system installed on a host aircraft for enhancing flight safety of the host aircraft, the system comprising:

a. means for receiving an adjustment value from a portable memory device;

b. means for determining a working value of a parameter in accordance with a combination of the adjustment value and an existing value of the parameter, the parameter describing other than expected climb gradient; and

c. means for traffic collision avoidance that provides an advice in accordance with the working value of the parameter.

21. A method for enhancing flight safety of an aircraft, the method comprising:

a. a step for receiving an adjustment value from a portable memory device;

b. a step for selecting a working value of a parameter from a set of existing values, selecting being in accordance with the adjustment value, the parameter describing other than terrain and expected climb gradient; and

c. a step for providing an advice for threat avoidance, the advice in accordance with the working value of the parameter.