Systems and methods for real-time conflict-checked, operationally preferred flight trajectory revision recommendations

• US 7,877,197 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2007
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Holland, Reza T., Lewis, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US11/749,079
• Publication Number:
  US 20080288164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,351 Days
• Field of Search: 701/120, 701/121, 701/122, 701/35, 701/3, 701/4, 701/10, 705/35, 705/9, 705/7, 342/454, 342/450, 342/456
• US Class Current: 701/120
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0039 Modification of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/80 Energy efficient operational measures, e.g. ground operations or mission management

Abstract

Systems and methods for actively seeking and generating real-time, conflict-checked, operationally preferred flight trajectory revision recommendations are disclosed. The system analyzes air traffic based on a plurality of uniquely integrated inputs, to produce at least one conflict-checked, operationally preferred flight trajectory revision opportunity for an operating vehicle, and a communications component configured to communicate the at least one conflict-checked flight trajectory revision. In one embodiment, the system interfaces with the airspace user'"'"'s operations center (e.g. Airline Operations Center), to communicate the operationally preferred flight trajectory revision opportunity, and allow the operator to make the decision whether to implement, and request the same from the Air Navigation Service Provider. In another embodiment, the system interfaces with the Air Navigation Service Provider, and while considering operator business objectives, and other constraints, directly aides the air traffic controller in determining more optimal flight trajectory revision opportunities.

Claims

1. A system for actively analyzing air traffic conditions based on a plurality of inputs, the system comprising:

an analysis component configured to produce at least one conflict-checked flight trajectory revision that is operationally preferred for an end-to-end flight trajectory of an operating vehicle that includes an arrival phase; and

a communications component configured to communicate the at least one conflict-checked flight trajectory revision.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of inputs includes at least one of an airline operational preference specific to an individual aircraft or flows of aircraft, live air traffic surveillance data, live flight plan data, weather and wind data, high fidelity aircraft performance models, an airline-specific business objective, and an airspace constraint.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the analysis component and the communications component are further configured to provide the conflict-checked operationally preferred flight trajectory revision in real time during operation of the operating vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the analysis component includes an opportunity trajectory generator configured to analyze at least one possible flight re-plan scenario which may be operationally preferred to the currently filed trajectory, the opportunity trajectory generator being further configured to consider a ranked hierarchy of re-plan options.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the analysis component is further configured to:

generate at least one opportunity trajectory;

analyze the at least one opportunity trajectory in view of at least one operator-specified objective; and

determine whether a conflict exists between the at least one opportunity trajectory and another flight path of another operating air vehicle.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein analyzing the at least one opportunity trajectory includes converging on the at least one opportunity trajectory based on a hierarchy of ranked criteria.

7. A method of operating an air vehicle based on a plurality of inputs, comprising:

determining at least one conflict-checked flight trajectory revision for an operating air vehicle based on (1) a plurality of inputs that includes a hierarchy of criteria that are ranked based at least in part on operator preferences or a business model and (2) an operator-specified objective, the at least one conflict-checked flight trajectory revision at least partially improving the chances of meeting the operator-specified objective;

providing the at least one conflict-checked flight trajectory revision to an airspace user; and

upon approval of the at least one conflict-checked flight trajectory revision by the airspace user, transmitting the at least one conflict-checked flight trajectory revision to an air traffic authority.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein providing the at least one conflict-checked flight trajectory revision to an airspace user includes providing the at least one conflict-checked flight trajectory revision to an operator'"'"'s operations center, the method further including communicating the at least one conflict-checked flight trajectory revision from the operator'"'"'s operations center to at least one of the operating air vehicle and an air navigation service provider.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein providing the at least one conflict-checked flight trajectory revision to an airspace user includes providing the at feast one conflict-checked flight trajectory revision to an operator'"'"'s operations center, the method further including:

communicating an approval from the operator'"'"'s operations center back to the communication component;

transmitting an opportunity advisory message from the communication component to an air navigation service provider;

communicating the at least one conflict-checked flight trajectory revision to a pilot of the operating air vehicle; and

transmitting a request from the pilot to the air navigation service provider to perform the at least one conflict-checked flight trajectory revision.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein providing the at least one conflict-checked flight trajectory revision to an airspace user includes providing the at least one conflict-checked flight trajectory revision to an operator'"'"'s operations center, the method further including:

communicating an approval from the operator'"'"'s operations center to at least one of the communication component and, if a set of pre-established conditions is satisfied, to an air navigation service provider; and

if approved by the air navigation service provider, transmitting an instruction from the air navigation service provider to a pilot of the operating air vehicle to perform the at least one conflict-checked flight trajectory revision.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one conflict-checked flight trajectory revision includes laterally bypassing an intermediate waypoint along a pre-planned flight path.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one conflict-checked flight trajectory revision includes a vertical improvement opportunity that is a different altitude than the current altitude of flight.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one conflict-checked flight trajectory revision includes identifying a combination of at least one auxiliary waypoint and at least one vertical displacement from a current path of flight that at least one of enables improved efficiency and avoids an operating constraint.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one conflict-checked flight trajectory revision may involve adjustments to at least one of current and planned en route speeds of the operating air vehicle to better meter traffic through and align operations with constrained system resources.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one conflict-checked flight trajectory revision may be specifically crafted to position the operating air vehicle for improved management during an arrival phase of flight through at least one of a continuous descent approach and a tailored arrival.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one conflict-checked flight trajectory revision enables a four-dimensional trajectory operation, including an operation planned with a latitude, a longitude, an altitude, and a time, in a near-term operating environment, including an approximately one to approximately forty-five minute look-ahead.

17. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one conflict-checked flight trajectory revision includes a recommended near term trajectory replanning that considers an entire end-to-end aircraft trajectory up to and including arrival.

18. A method, comprising:

determining at least one conflict-checked flight trajectory revision for an operating air vehicle that at least partially satisfies an Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) objective, wherein determining includes;

collectively considering one or more airspace user objectives, and

selecting a candidate conflict-checked flight trajectory revision that is at least one of neutral to or beneficial to an objective of the airspace user, the conflict-checked flight trajectory revision including a new end-to-end aircraft trajectory up to and including an arrival phase;

proposing the candidate conflict-checked flight trajectory revision to the ANSP; and

altering an existing flight trajectory during a flight of the operating air vehicle upon approval of the candidate conflict-check flight trajectory revision by the ANSP.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein partially satisfying an ANSP objective includes at least one of mitigation of system congestion in a busy airspace, pre-aligning traffic for improved throughput at busy airports, and efficient arrival/departure operations.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein collectively considering one or more airspace user objectives includes considering one or more operator flight trajectory revisions that meet ANSP objectives that do not have a negative impact on the airspace user'"'"'s time, cost, emissions or network performance to operate.