Predicted path selection system and method for hazard coding in selectively constrained aircraft control systems

• US 7,912,594 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2010
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Gremmert, Scott R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hellner; Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Algahaim; Helal A
• Application Number:
  US12/795,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20100241292A1
• Time in Patent Office: 288 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/9, 701/14, 701/209, 701/301, 340/945, 340/961, 340/973
• US Class Current: 701/9
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0607 specially adapted for aircraft

Abstract

A surveillance system detects potential hazards and alerts the pilot to them. The alerts can be modified to indicate proximity to the predicted path of the aircraft. An autopilot receives instructions from a flight management system (FMS) regarding a planned path and is subject to constraints preempting the planned path. The surveillance system selects which of the planned and a constrained path will be followed for alerting and hazard coding purposes. Means are disclosed to determine when the constrained path will be followed by evaluating the current position of an aircraft, the planned path, and the constraint data.

Claims

1. A predicted path selection system for aircraft:

a controlling means for controlling control surfaces and propulsion systems of an aircraft to cause an aircraft to follow an actual path, the controlling means receiving a first input describing a planned path and a second input indicating a constraint on the actual path in at least one direction, the controlling means selectively causing the aircraft to conform the actual path to the planned path or a constrained path corresponding to the constraint;

a means for inputting the constraint to the controlling means;

a flight planning means for calculating a planned path comprising a plurality of waypoints sequenced by the aircraft and inputting the planned path to the controlling means;

a surveillance means for detecting locations of hazards and producing alerts corresponding to hazards near a predicted flight path, the surveillance means detecting activation of the constraint, detecting an aircraft location, comparing the aircraft location to the constrained path and planned path after detecting activation, and selecting the constrained path as the predicted flight path when the aircraft location is within a tolerance distance from the constrained path and the aircraft location and a next unsequenced waypoint forming the planned path either both satisfy the constraint or both violate the constraint.

2. The predicted path selection system of claim 1, wherein the surveillance system is operable to wait for a time-guard delay before changing the predicted flight path to the constrained path.

3. The predicted path selection system of claim 1, wherein the alerts comprise relevant symbols corresponding to hazard locations displayed to an operator, the surveillance means further configured to display non-relevant symbols corresponding to hazards distanced from the predicted flight path.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the surveillance means displays relevant symbols according to a first fill pattern and non-relevant symbols according to a second fill pattern.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the constraint is an altitude constraint.

6. A predicted path selection system for aircraft:

a controlling means for controlling control surfaces and propulsion systems of an aircraft to cause an aircraft to follow an actual path, the controlling means receiving a first input describing a planned path and a second input indicating a constraint on the actual path in at least one direction, the controlling means selectively causing the aircraft to conform the actual path to the planned path or a constrained path corresponding to the constraint;

a means for inputting the constraint to the controlling means;

a flight planning means for calculating a planned path and inputting the planned path to the controlling means;

a surveillance means for detecting locations of hazards and producing alerts corresponding to hazards near a predicted flight path, the surveillance means operable to detect activation of the constraint, detect an aircraft location, compare the aircraft location to the constrained path and planned path after detecting activation, select a constrained path corresponding to the constraint as the current predicted flight path if the aircraft current location is within a constraint tolerance distance from the constraint and outside a flight plan tolerance distance from the planned path, and select the planned path as the current predicted flight path if the aircraft current location is not within the constraint tolerance from the constrained path and is within the flight plan tolerance from the planned path.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the surveillance means is further operable to refrain from changing the current predicted flight plan if the aircraft is both within the constraint tolerance from the constrained path and within the flight plan tolerance from the planned path.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the surveillance means is further operable to visually displaying relevant symbols representing hazards.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the surveillance means is further operable to display relevant symbols by visually distinguishing the relevant symbols from one or more non-relevant symbols corresponding to hazards not lying on the predicted flight path.