Automatic contingency generator

• US 7,512,462 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2004
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Inventors: Nichols, William Mark, Houchard, Jack
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Dalena
• Application Number:
  US10/989,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20060106506A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,596 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/14, 701/29, 701/31, 701/35, 340/945, 340/963, 244/194, 244/164, 244/183, 244/184
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• 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 5/0039 Modification of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0056 in an emergency situation, e.g. hijacking
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft

Abstract

An autonomous air vehicle comprises a flight control system and an automatic contingency generator for automatically determining a contingent air vehicle route for use by the flight control system in response to contingencies experienced by the air vehicle. A method of automatically determining the contingent air vehicle route is also provided.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an air vehicle including a flight control system, a first automatic contingency generator for automatically determining a contingent air vehicle route for use by the flight control system in response to contingencies experienced by the air vehicle, and a communications device for communicating with a control station; and

wherein the control station includes a second automatic contingency generator for automatically predicting a contingent air vehicle route for the air vehicle in response to a loss of communication with the air vehicle, using vehicle state information accrued prior to the loss of communication.

2. The air vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first automatic contingency generator includes an elevation path generator to generate an altitude profile.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a performance modeler for providing the first automatic contingency generator with information relating to air vehicle performance.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of sensors;

an air vehicle manager for assessing criticality of system faults and declaring contingency levels in response to inputs from the sensors;

a communications system manager for controlling and monitoring communications assets of the air vehicle and declaring a lost communication contingency if all communication links are inoperative; and

a mission plan manager for providing access to mission data including one or more of restricted areas, special use airspaces, runways, approach patterns, aggregated terrain data, forecast winds, and alternate ground control stations for re-establishing communications.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the sensors detect one or more of:

redundant equipment failure, engine failure, and communications link failure.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the contingent route includes an angle of landing depending on whether an extirpation point is in friendly or hostile territory.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first automatic contingency generator includes an elevation path generator to generate an altitude profile.

8. An air vehicle comprising:

a flight control system; and

an automatic contingency generator for automatically determining a contingent air vehicle route for use by the flight control system in response to contingencies experienced by the air vehicle, wherein the contingent air vehicle route includes an angle of landing depending on whether an extirpation point is in friendly or hostile territory.

9. The air vehicle of claim 8, further comprising:

a performance modeler for providing the automatic contingency generator with information relating to air vehicle performance.

10. The air vehicle of claim 8, further comprising:

a plurality of sensors;

an air vehicle manager for assessing criticality of system faults and declaring contingency levels in response to inputs from the sensors;

a communications system manager for controlling and monitoring communications assets of the air vehicle and declaring a lost communication contingency if all communication links are inoperative; and

a mission plan manager for providing access to mission data including one or more of restricted areas, special use airspaces, runways, approach patterns, aggregated terrain data, forecast winds, and alternate ground control stations for re-establishing communications.

11. The air vehicle of claim 10, wherein the sensors detect one or more of:

redundant equipment failure, engine failure, and communications link failure.

12. The air vehicle of claim 8, wherein the automatic contingency generator includes an elevation path generator to generate an altitude profile.