Required navigation performance (RNP) scales for indicating permissible flight technical error (FTE)

• US 7,782,229 B1
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Barber, Sarah
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Toan N
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCNALLY, KERRI L
• Application Number:
  US11/824,140
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 340/979, 340/945, 340/963, 340/973, 731/78, 244/175, 701/1
• US Class Current: 340/979
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/005 Flight directors indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32

Abstract

The present invention is a flight deck system for promoting accurate navigation of an aircraft. The system includes a memory configured for storing position information for the aircraft. The system further includes a processor which is configured for being communicatively coupled with the memory, the processor also being configured for receiving the aircraft position information stored in the memory. The system also includes a display which is configured for being communicatively coupled with the processor. The display is further configured for displaying a scaled indicator, the scaled indicator having been output to the display by the processor, the scaled indicator being based upon the received aircraft position information. The scaled indicator includes: a current position indicator for indicating an estimated current position of the aircraft, a desired position indicator for indicating a desired navigational position for the aircraft, and an allowable Flight Technical Error (FTE) indicator for indicating allowable Flight Technical Error (FTE) for the aircraft. Further, the current position indicator, the desired position indicator, and the FTE indicator are suitable for use by a pilot of the aircraft in maintaining the aircraft within established navigational boundaries.

Claims

1. A system for promoting accurate navigation of an aircraft within established navigational boundaries, the established navigational boundaries including Required Navigation Performance (RNP) boundaries, said system comprising:

a memory configured for storing position information for the aircraft;

a processor configured for being communicatively coupled with the memory and further configured for receiving the aircraft position information stored in the memory; and

a display configured for being communicatively coupled with the processor, the display being further configured for displaying a scaled indicator, the scaled indicator being output to the display by the processor, the scaled indicator being based upon the received aircraft position information, the scaled indicator being a Course Deviation Indicator (CDI) scale dimensioned to at least 1* RNP at full scale, the scaled indicator including a current position indicator, a desired position indicator and an allowable Flight Technical Error (FTE) indicator, the current position indicator being configured for indicating an estimated current position of the aircraft, the desired position indicator being configured for indicating a desired navigational position for the aircraft, the FTE indicator configured for indicating allowable Flight Technical Error (FTE) for the aircraft, the scaled indicator further including a caution indicator when an actual position of the aircraft is determined as being located at least one of;

at a 1* Required Navigation Performance (RNP) boundary and beyond a 1* Required Navigation Performance (RNP) boundary, the actual position being determined based on the estimated current position and a calculated Estimated Position Uncertainty (EPU) for the aircraft, the scaled indicator further including a warning indicator when the actual position of the aircraft is determined as being located at least one of;

at a 1.5* Required Navigation Performance (RNP) boundary and beyond a 1.5* Required Navigation Performance (RNP) boundary, the actual position being determined based on the estimated current position and the calculated Estimated Position Uncertainty (EPU) for the aircraft,

wherein the scaled indicator, the current position indicator, the desired position indicator the FTE indicator, the caution indicator, and the warning indicator are suitable for use by a pilot of the aircraft in maintaining the aircraft within the established navigational boundaries, the FTE indicator being a bar indicator overlaid onto the CU scale for providing an explicit, visual indication of allowable FTE in multiple directions.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the current position indicator, desired position indicator, allowable FTE indicator, caution indicator and warning indicator are provided as visible indicators.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the desired navigational position is located along a desired ground track.

4. A method for promoting accurate navigation of an aircraft within established navigational boundaries, the established navigational boundaries including Required Navigation Performance (RNP) boundaries, the method comprising:

using a computer or processor of a navigation system to perform the steps of;

providing a current position indicator configured for indicating an estimated current position of the aircraft;

providing a desired position indicator configured for indicating a desired navigational position for the aircraft;

providing an allowable Flight Technical Error (FTE) indicator configured for indicating allowable Flight Technical Error (FTE) for the aircraft;

providing a caution indicator when an actual position of the aircraft is determined as being located at least one of;

at a 1* Required Navigation Performance (RNP) boundary and beyond a 1* Required Navigation Performance (RNP) boundary, the actual position of the aircraft being determined based on the estimated current position and a calculated Estimated Position Uncertainty (EPU) for the aircraft; and

providing a warning indicator when the actual position of the aircraft is determined as being located at least one of;

at a 1.5* Required Navigation Performance (RNP) boundary and beyond a 1.5* Required Navigation Performance (RNP) boundary, the actual position of the aircraft being determined based on the estimated current position and the calculated Estimated Position Uncertainty (EPU) for the aircraft,

wherein the current position indicator, the desired position indicator, the FTE indicator, the caution indicator and the warning indicator are provided as part of a Course Deviation Indicator (CDI) scale, are displayed via a display of the navigation system and are suitable for use by a pilot of the aircraft in maintaining the aircraft within the established navigational boundaries, the FTE indicator being a bar indicator overlaid onto the CU scale for providing an explicit, visual indication of allowable FTE in multiple directions.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the current position indicator, desired position indicator, allowable FTE indicator, caution indicator and warning indicator are provided as visible indicators.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the desired navigational position is located along a desired ground track.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method for promoting accurate navigation of an aircraft within established navigational boundaries, the established navigational boundaries including Required Navigation Performance (RNP) boundaries, said method comprising:

providing a current position indicator configured for indicating an estimated current position of the aircraft;

providing a desired position indicator configured for indicating a desired navigational course for the aircraft;

providing an allowable Flight Technical Error (FTE) indicator configured for indicating allowable Flight Technical Error (FTE) for the aircraft;

providing a caution indicator when an actual position of the aircraft is determined as being located at least one of;

at a 1* Required Navigation Performance (RNP) boundary and beyond a 1* Required Navigation Performance (RNP) boundary, the actual position of the aircraft being determined based on the estimated current position and a calculated Estimated Position Uncertainty (EPU) for the aircraft; and

providing a warning indicator when the actual position of the aircraft is determined as being located at least one of;

at a 1.5* Required Navigation Performance (RNP) boundary and beyond a 1.5* Required Navigation Performance (RNP) boundary, the actual position of the aircraft being determined based on the estimated current position and the calculated Estimated Position Uncertainty (EPU) for the aircraft,

wherein the current position indicator, the desired position indicator and the FTE indicator are provided as part of a Course Deviation Indicator (CDI) scale and are suitable for use by a pilot of the aircraft in maintaining the aircraft within the established navigational boundaries, the FTE indicator being a bar indicator overlaid onto the CDI scale for providing an explicit, visual indication of allowable FTE in multiple directions.

8. The computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the current position indicator, desired position indicator, allowable FTE indicator, caution indicator and warning indicator are provided as visible indicators.

9. The computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the desired navigational course is located along a desired ground track.