Systems and methods employing a collision avoidance system to enhance pilot awareness

• US 7,474,251 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2007
• Issued: 01/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: L3 Technologies, Inc. (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Aviation Communication and Surveillance Systems LLC (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rowlan, Stacey R.
• Primary Examiner(s): PIHULIC, DANIEL T
• Application Number:
  US11/713,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20070268175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 342/29, 342/176, 342/191
• US Class Current: 342/29
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/933 of aircraft or spacecraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0052 for cruising combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value G01C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0078 for monitoring traffic from the aircraft radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91

Abstract

Systems and methods relate to an aircraft with a CAS that may be employed to enhance pilot awareness. The CAS may be employed on a formation member aircraft to provide a TA that is distinctive for an intruding formation member aircraft, as opposed to a TA provided as a result of an intruding nonmember aircraft. The CAS may also provide a plurality of status indications for aircraft engaged in airborne refueling, as well as aural indications of the present mode of operation for the CAS.

Claims

1. A method of employing a collision avoidance system for an aircraft that is a member of a formation to distinguish between members and nonmembers of the formation, the method comprising providing a signal used to indicate only that one or more other formation member aircraft has attained at least one of a predefined spatial condition and a predefined temporal condition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is provided by the collision avoidance system.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating an announcement in response to the signal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the announcement is not a traffic advisory.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the announcement does not comprise “

traffic traffic.”

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the aircraft and the other formation member aircraft are military aircraft.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one of the predefined spatial condition and the predefined temporal condition is different from another predefined condition that results in issuance of the traffic advisory.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one of the predefined spatial condition and the predefined temporal condition is the same as another predefined condition that results in issuance of the traffic advisory.

9. A method of employing a collision avoidance system for an aircraft that is a member of a formation to distinguish between members and nonmembers of the formation, the method comprising:

determining that at least one of a predefined spatial condition and a predefined temporal condition is attained by one or more other formation member aircraft; and

providing a signal that is unique as a result of the determination.

10. A method of employing a collision avoidance system to distinguish between members and nonmembers of a formation, the method comprising:

differentiating between a first aircraft that is a member of the formation and a second aircraft that is not a member of the formation; and

providing an aural indication that distinguishes between the first aircraft and the second aircraft.

11. A method of employing a collision avoidance system for an aircraft that is engaged in a refueling operation, the method comprising providing a signal used to indicate attainment of a predefined condition for the refueling operation.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the signal is provided by the collision avoidance system.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising generating an announcement in response to the signal.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the predefined condition is at least one of a predefined spatial condition and a predefined temporal condition.

15. A collision avoidance system for an aircraft that is a member of a formation, comprising:

a device storing a program to control at least certain operations of the collision avoidance system; and

a processor operating in accordance with the program to provide a signal used to indicate only that one or more other formation member aircraft has attained at least one of a predefined spatial condition and a predefined temporal condition.

16. A system, comprising:

an aircraft that is a member of a formation and includes a collision avoidance system;

a device storing a program to control at least certain operations of the collision avoidance system; and

a processor operating in accordance with the program to provide a signal used to indicate only that one or more other formation member aircraft has attained at least one of a predefined spatial condition and a predefined temporal condition.

17. A collision avoidance system for an aircraft that is a member of a formation, comprising:

a device storing a program to control at least certain operations of the collision avoidance system; and

a processor operating in accordance with the program to;

determine that at least one of a predefined spatial condition and a predefined temporal condition is attained by one or more other formation member aircraft; and

provide a signal that is unique as a result of the determination.

18. A system, comprising:

an aircraft that is a member of a formation and includes a collision avoidance system;

a device storing a program to control at least certain operations of the collision avoidance system; and

a processor operating in accordance with the program to;

determine that at least one of a predefined spatial condition and a predefined temporal condition is attained by one or more other formation member aircraft; and

provide a signal that is unique as a result of the determination.

19. A collision avoidance system, comprising:

a device storing a program to control at least certain operations of the collision avoidance system; and

a processor operating in accordance with the program to;

differentiate between a first aircraft that is a member of a formation and a second aircraft that is not a member of the formation; and

provide an aural indication that distinguishes between the first aircraft and the second aircraft.

20. A system, comprising:

an aircraft that is a member of a formation and includes a collision avoidance system;

a device storing a program to control at least certain operations of the collision avoidance system; and

a processor operating in accordance with the program to;

differentiate between a first aircraft that is a member of a formation and a second aircraft that is not a member of the formation; and

provide an aural indication that distinguishes between the first aircraft and the second aircraft.

21. A collision avoidance system for an aircraft that is engaged in a refueling operation, comprising:

a device storing a program to control at least certain operations of the collision avoidance system; and

a processor operating in accordance with the program to provide a signal used to indicate attainment of a predefined condition for the refueling operation.

22. A system, comprising:

an aircraft that is engaged in a refueling operation and includes a collision avoidance system;

a device storing a program to control at least certain operations of the collision avoidance system; and

a processor operating in accordance with the program to provide a signal used to indicate attaimnent of a predefined condition for the refueling operation.

23. A collision avoidance system, comprising:

a device storing a program to control at least certain operations of the collision avoidance system; and

a processor operating in accordance with the program to provide a signal used to aurally indicate a change in a mode of operation of the collision avoidance system.

24. A system, comprising:

an aircraft that includes a collision avoidance system;

a device storing a program to control at least certain operations of the collision avoidance system; and

a processor operating in accordance with the program to provide a signal used to aurally indicate a change in a mode of operation of the collision avoidance system.

25. A collision avoidance system, comprising:

a device storing a program to control at least certain operations of the collision avoidance system; and

a processor operating in accordance with the program to;

provide a signal used to indicate a change in a mode of operation of the collision avoidance system; and

modify a displayed view of an own aircraft symbol in response to the signal.

26. A system, comprising:

an aircraft that includes a collision avoidance system;

a device storing a program to control at least certain operations of the collision avoidance system; and

a processor operating in accordance with the program to;

provide a signal used to indicate a change in a mode of operation of the collision avoidance system; and

modify a displayed view of an own aircraft symbol in response to the signal.