Terrain avoidance method and system for an aircraft
First Claim
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1. A terrain avoidance method for an aircraft, in which a collision warning device is used which monitors flight of the aircraft with respect to a surrounding terrain and which is configured to transmit a warning signal when there is a risk of a collision between the aircraft and a relief of the terrain by maintaining its current flight characteristics, a method according to which, when said collision warning device transmits a warning signal, automatically, comprising:
- A/ determining an optimal slope climb command for the aircraft;
B/ checking if a first altitude gain which is obtained at said relief by the aircraft, by applying said optimal slope climb command to said first altitude gain with a command to maintain a current heading, is sufficient to clear said relief; and
C/ according to the check, if said first altitude gain is not sufficient to clear said relief, performing a search to determine if there is at least one heading variation value for which a second altitude gain which is obtained at the relief by the aircraft on applying to it an optimal slope climb command, is sufficient to clear said relief,wherein in step C;
a) if said first altitude gain is sufficient to clear said relief, said optimal slope climb command is automatically applied to the aircraft with a command to maintain the current heading; and
b) if said first altitude gain is not sufficient to clear said relief, and if there is at least one heading variation value for which a second altitude gain which is obtained at the relief by the aircraft, on applying to it an optimal slope climb command, is sufficient to clear said relief;
α
) automatically selecting one of said heading variation values allowing the aircraft to clear the relief; and
β
)automatically applying a particular climb command which is sufficient to clear the relief to the aircraft with a heading command which corresponds to the heading variation value selected.
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Abstract
A terrain avoidance method and system for an aircraft includes a collision alarm device and an auto-pilot device including a first determination unit for determining a climbing order with optimal slope for the aircraft, a checking unit for checking whether a first altitude gain at the relief, by applying the optimal slope climbing order, is sufficient for clearing said relief, a finding unit for finding if at least one heading variation value exists, for which the corresponding altitude gain is sufficient to clear the relief, and a switching and calculating unit for applying to the aircraft, if the first altitude gain is sufficient, an optimal slope climbing order with an order to maintain the current heading and, if the first altitude gain is insufficient, a particular climbing order sufficient to clear the relief, with a heading order which corresponds to the selected heading variation value.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A terrain avoidance method for an aircraft, in which a collision warning device is used which monitors flight of the aircraft with respect to a surrounding terrain and which is configured to transmit a warning signal when there is a risk of a collision between the aircraft and a relief of the terrain by maintaining its current flight characteristics, a method according to which, when said collision warning device transmits a warning signal, automatically, comprising:
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A/ determining an optimal slope climb command for the aircraft; B/ checking if a first altitude gain which is obtained at said relief by the aircraft, by applying said optimal slope climb command to said first altitude gain with a command to maintain a current heading, is sufficient to clear said relief; and C/ according to the check, if said first altitude gain is not sufficient to clear said relief, performing a search to determine if there is at least one heading variation value for which a second altitude gain which is obtained at the relief by the aircraft on applying to it an optimal slope climb command, is sufficient to clear said relief, wherein in step C; a) if said first altitude gain is sufficient to clear said relief, said optimal slope climb command is automatically applied to the aircraft with a command to maintain the current heading; and b) if said first altitude gain is not sufficient to clear said relief, and if there is at least one heading variation value for which a second altitude gain which is obtained at the relief by the aircraft, on applying to it an optimal slope climb command, is sufficient to clear said relief; α
) automatically selecting one of said heading variation values allowing the aircraft to clear the relief; andβ
)automatically applying a particular climb command which is sufficient to clear the relief to the aircraft with a heading command which corresponds to the heading variation value selected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 17)
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11. A terrain avoidance system for an aircraft comprising:
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a collision warning device monitoring a flight of the aircraft with respect to surrounding terrain and configured to transmit a warning signal when there is a risk of collision between the aircraft and a relief of the terrain if said aircraft maintains its current flight characteristics; and an automatic piloting device of the aircraft, comprising; a first means determination unit determining an optimal slope climb command for the aircraft; a checking unit checking if a first altitude gain which is obtained by the aircraft at said relief, on applying to said first altitude gain said optimal slope climb command while maintaining the current heading, is sufficient to clear said relief; a finding unit finding out, when said first altitude gain is not sufficient to clear said relief, if there is at least one heading variation value for which a second altitude gain which is obtained at the relief by the aircraft, on applying to said second altitude gain an optimal slope climb command, is sufficient to clear said relief, wherein said automatic piloting device further comprises; a selection unit for automatically selecting one of said heading variation values allowing the aircraft to clear the relief; and a switching and calculating unit for automatically applying to the aircraft a climb command and a heading command wherein; if said first altitude gain is sufficient to clear said relief, said optimal slope climb command with a command to maintain the current heading; and if said altitude gain is not sufficient to clear said relief, a particular climb command which is sufficient to clear the relief, with a heading command which corresponds to the heading variation value selected by said selection unit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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18. A terrain avoidance method for an aircraft, in which a collision warning device is used which monitors flight of the aircraft with respect to a surrounding terrain and which is configured to transmit a warning signal when there is a risk of a collision between the aircraft and a relief of the terrain by maintaining its current flight characteristics, a method according to which, when said collision warning device transmits a warning signal, automatically, comprising:
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A/ determining an optimal slope climb command for the aircraft; B/ checking if a first altitude gain which is obtained at said relief by the aircraft, by applying said optimal slope climb command to said first altitude gain with a command to maintain a current heading, is sufficient to clear said relief; and C/ according to the check, if said first altitude gain is not sufficient to clear said relief, performing a search to determine if there is at least one heading variation value for which a second altitude gain which is obtained at the relief by the aircraft, on applying to it an optimal slope climb command, is sufficient to clear said relief, wherein in step C; a) if said first altitude gain is sufficient to clear said relief, said optimal slope climb command is automatically applied to the aircraft with a command to maintain the current heading; and b) if said first altitude gain is not sufficient to clear said relief, and if there is at least one heading variation value for which a second altitude gain which is obtained at the relief by the aircraft, on applying to it an optimal slope climb command, is sufficient to clear said relief; α
) automatically selecting one of said heading variation values allowing said aircraft to clear the relief; andβ
) automatically applying a particular climb command which is sufficient to clear the relief to the aircraft with a heading command which corresponds to the heading variation value selected,wherein, in step C.b.α
, selecting the heading variation value which is smallest in absolute value.
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Current AssigneeAirbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
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Original AssigneeAirbus France
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InventorsJourdan, Christophe, Walter, Stephane, Fabre, Pierre, Lacaze, Isabelle
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Primary Examiner(s)Hellner; Mark
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Assistant Examiner(s)Algahaim; Helal A
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Application NumberUS11/908,786Publication NumberTime in Patent Office1,826 DaysField of Search701/5, 701/301, 340/945, 340/963US Class Current701/301CPC Class CodesG01C 5/005 altimeters for aircraft G01...G05D 1/0646 to follow the profile of un...G08G 5/045 Navigation or guidance aids...
