Systems and methods for generating alert signals in an airspace awareness and warning system
First Claim
1. A system for generating an alert signal in an aircraft system, said system comprising:
- a data source for providing input factor data;
a data source for providing airspace data;
a data source for providing navigation data;
an alert processor, electronically coupled to receive data from a data source, wherein such processor receives input factor data, wherein input factor data comprises data representative of at least one input factor;
receives navigation data representative of aircraft position,receives airspace data corresponding to the aircraft position,defines an airspace clearance surface as a function of the airspace data and at least one airspace clearance distance criterion,defines at least one aircraft airspace alert surface, where each aircraft airspace alert surface is defined as a function of at least one criterion programmed to include first input factor data,wherein the airspace data is received from a database storing data as a function of at least one second input factor data,wherein the function defining each airspace alert surface includes at least one airspace clearance distance criterion is programmed to include a third input factor data,generates an airspace alert signal if the airspace clearance surface penetrates an aircraft airspace alert surface, andprovides the airspace alert signal to a crew alerting system; and
a crew alerting system, electronically coupled to receive an alert signal, for receiving the airspace alert signal.
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Abstract
An airspace awareness and warning system (“AAWS”) provides input to an airspace alert (“AA”) processor from at least one real-time aircraft system or sensor, a navigation system, and an airspace database containing three-dimensional delineations of defined airspace; the processor determines an airspace clearance surface and an aircraft airspace alert surface, and if one surface penetrates the other, the processor generates an alert signal and provides an alert signal to a crew alerting system. The two surfaces are determined by the processor by executing an algorithm(s) embedded in software containing the disclosed embodiments and methods. At least one criterion used to define an aircraft airspace alert surface is programmed to include real-time and/or static input factor data provided by at least one system or sensor input from an aircraft. Such input factor could be used to define an airspace clearance surface.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A system for generating an alert signal in an aircraft system, said system comprising:
- a data source for providing input factor data;
a data source for providing airspace data; a data source for providing navigation data; an alert processor, electronically coupled to receive data from a data source, wherein such processor receives input factor data, wherein input factor data comprises data representative of at least one input factor; receives navigation data representative of aircraft position, receives airspace data corresponding to the aircraft position, defines an airspace clearance surface as a function of the airspace data and at least one airspace clearance distance criterion, defines at least one aircraft airspace alert surface, where each aircraft airspace alert surface is defined as a function of at least one criterion programmed to include first input factor data, wherein the airspace data is received from a database storing data as a function of at least one second input factor data, wherein the function defining each airspace alert surface includes at least one airspace clearance distance criterion is programmed to include a third input factor data, generates an airspace alert signal if the airspace clearance surface penetrates an aircraft airspace alert surface, and provides the airspace alert signal to a crew alerting system; and a crew alerting system, electronically coupled to receive an alert signal, for receiving the airspace alert signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
- a data source for providing input factor data;
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5. A system for generating an alert signal in an aircraft system, said system comprising:
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a data source for providing input factor data; a data source for providing airspace data; a data source for providing navigation data; an alert processor, electronically coupled to receive data from a data source, wherein such processor receives input factor data, wherein input factor data comprises data representative of at least one input factor; receives navigation data representative of aircraft position, receives airspace data corresponding to the aircraft position, where such airspace data is representative of an airspace clearance surface, defines at least one aircraft airspace alert surface, where each aircraft airspace alert surface is defined as a function of at least one criterion programmed to include first input factor data, wherein the airspace data is received from a database storing data as a function of at least one second input factor data, wherein the function defining each airspace alert surface includes at least one airspace clearance distance criterion is programmed to include a third input factor data, generates an airspace alert signal if the airspace clearance surface penetrates an aircraft airspace alert surface;
provides the airspace alert signal to a crew alerting system; and
the crew alerting system for receiving the airspace alert signal. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for generating an alert signal in an aircraft system using a processor, said method comprising:
- receiving input factor data, wherein input factor data comprises data representative of at least one input factor;
receiving navigation data representative of aircraft position; receiving airspace data corresponding to the aircraft position; defining an airspace clearance surface as a function of the airspace data and at least one airspace clearance distance criterion; wherein at least one airspace clearance distance criterion is programmed to include second input factor data; defining at least one aircraft airspace alert surface, where each aircraft airspace alert surface is defined as a function of at least one criterion, wherein at least one criterion is programmed to include third input factor data; generating an airspace alert signal if the airspace clearance surface penetrates an aircraft airspace alert surface; and providing the airspace alert signal to a crew alerting system.
- receiving input factor data, wherein input factor data comprises data representative of at least one input factor;
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12. A method for generating an alert signal in an aircraft system using a processor, said method comprising:
- receiving input factor data, wherein input factor data comprises data representative of at least one input factor;
receiving navigation data representative of aircraft position; receiving airspace data corresponding to the aircraft position, where such airspace data is representative of an airspace clearance surface; defining at least one aircraft airspace alert surface, where each aircraft airspace alert surface is defined as a function of at least one criterion, wherein at least one criterion is programmed to include first input factor data; wherein the airspace data is received from a database storing data as a function of at least one second input factor data; wherein the function defining each airspace alert surface includes at least one airspace clearance distance criterion programmed to include third input factor data; generating an airspace alert signal if the airspace clearance surface penetrates an aircraft airspace alert surface; and providing the airspace alert signal to a crew alerting system. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
- receiving input factor data, wherein input factor data comprises data representative of at least one input factor;
Specification