Consistent localizer captures

• US 7,941,251 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2007
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Hooker, Andrew R., Krogh, Steven B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu; Yonel
• Application Number:
  US11/752,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20100017053A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701 16- 18, 340/945, 342 33- 35
• US Class Current: 701/17
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913

Abstract

Systems and methods for performing localizer capture maneuvers are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes determining at least one instrument landing system (ILS) threshold of an aircraft, and establishing at least one final approach course (FAC) deviation threshold for the aircraft. The method further includes receiving at least one ILS localizer error, then calculating at least one FAC deviation. The at least one ILS localizer error is compared to the ILS threshold, and the at least one FAC deviation is compared to the FAC threshold. A standard capture maneuver is performed if the at least one ILS localizer error reaches its corresponding ILS threshold prior to the at least one FAC deviation reaching its FAC threshold. However, if the at least one FAC deviation reaches its corresponding FAC threshold prior to the at least one ILS localizer error reaching its corresponding ILS threshold, a modified capture maneuver is performed.

Claims

1. A method for guiding an aircraft, comprising:

determining at least one instrument landing system (ILS) threshold;

establishing at least one final approach course (FAC) deviation threshold for the aircraft;

receiving at least one ILS localizer error;

calculating at least one FAC deviation;

comparing the at least one ILS localizer error and the at least one FAC deviation with corresponding ILS and FAC thresholds, respectively; and

performing a standard localizer capture maneuver if the at least one ILS localizer error reaches a corresponding ILS threshold prior to the at least one FAC deviation reaching a corresponding FAC threshold, and performing a modified capture maneuver if the at least one FAC deviation reaches the corresponding FAC threshold prior to the at least one ILS localizer error reaching the corresponding ILS threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the aircraft is configured to intercept an ILS localizer null, and wherein performing a modified capture maneuver includes performing a modified maneuver that is configured to turn the aircraft to an initial intercept angle between 30 degrees to 40 degrees, inclusive, with the ILS localizer null.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the standard localizer capture maneuver includes performing the standard localizer capture maneuver upon nearing an ILS course guidance sector, and wherein performing the modified capture maneuver includes performing the modified capture maneuver prior to reaching the course guidance sector.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the modified capture maneuver includes a turn maneuver to a shallow intercept angle and at least a portion of the standard localizer capture maneuver.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

if the performed capture maneuver is a modified capture maneuver, comparing the at least one ILS localizer error with at least one corresponding ILS threshold during the modified capture maneuver, and

switching from the shallow intercept angle turn to the at least a portion of the standard localizer ILS capture maneuver if the at least one ILS localizer error reaches the corresponding threshold.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising providing at least one of an audio alert and a visual alert to indicate the performance of the turn maneuver to the shallow intercept angle.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the modified capture maneuver includes performing the modified capture maneuver via an autopilot or a flight director.

7. A computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions that, when executed, perform a method comprising:

determining at least one instrument landing system (ILS) threshold of an aircraft;

establishing at least one final approach course (FAC) deviation threshold for the aircraft;

receiving at least one instrument landing system (ILS) input for the aircraft;

receiving at least one FAC deviation input for the aircraft;

comparing the at least one ILS localizer error and the at least one FAC deviation with corresponding ILS and FAC thresholds; and

performing a standard localizer ILS capture maneuver if the at least one ILS localizer error reaches a corresponding ILS threshold; and

performing a turn maneuver to a shallow intercept angle prior to performing the standard localizer capture maneuver at least if the at least one FAC deviation reaches a corresponding FAC threshold.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein performing the standard localizer capture maneuver includes performing the standard localizer capture maneuver upon nearing a course guidance sector.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the aircraft is configured to intercept an ILS localizer null, and wherein performing the turn maneuver to the shallow intercept angle turn includes performing a shallow angle turn configured to turn the aircraft to an initial intercept angle between 30 degrees to 40 degrees, inclusive, with the ILS localizer null.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises, prior to performing the standard localizer ILS capture maneuver, determining the accuracy of the FAC deviation input based on an estimate of actual navigation performance (ANP), and wherein performing the turn maneuver to the shallow intercept angle includes performing the turn maneuver if the at least one FAC deviation reaches the corresponding FAC threshold and the FAC deviation input is accurate.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises determining an intercept angle of the aircraft to a ILS localizer null, and wherein performing the turn maneuver to the shallow intercept angle includes performing the turn maneuver if the at least one FAC deviation reaches the corresponding FAC threshold and the intercept angle is between 40 degrees to 120 degrees, inclusive, prior to performing the standard localizer capture maneuver.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises providing an audio alert to indicate the performance of the turn maneuver to the shallow intercept angle.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein performing the turn maneuver to the shallow intercept angle turn includes performing the turn maneuver prior to reaching the course guidance sector.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein performing the turn maneuver to the shallow intercept angle includes performing the turn maneuver via one of an autopilot and a flight director.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein performing the turn maneuver to the shallow intercept angle includes performing the turn maneuver prior to performing the standard localizer capture maneuver if the at least one FAC deviation reaches the corresponding FAC threshold prior the at least one ILS localizer error reaching the corresponding ILS threshold.

15. An aircraft comprising:

a structural assembly; and

at least one system for guiding aircraft at least partially disposed within the structural assembly, the system comprising;

an instrument landing system (ILS) component configured to receive at least one ILS localizer error and at least one calculated ILS threshold;

a flight management function (FMF) component configured to receive at least one calculated final approach course (FAC) deviation and at least one established FAC deviation threshold;

a comparator component configured to compare the at least one ILS localizer error and the at least one FAC deviation with corresponding ILS and FAC thresholds;

an execution component configured to perform a standard localizer capture maneuver if the at least one ILS localizer error reaches a corresponding ILS threshold prior to the at least one FAC deviation reaching a corresponding FAC threshold, and perform a modified capture maneuver if the at least one FAC deviation reaches the corresponding FAC threshold prior to the at least one ILS localizer error reaching the corresponding ILS threshold.

16. The aircraft of claim 15, wherein the modified capture maneuver includes a shallow intercept angle turn maneuver and at least a portion of the standard localizer capture maneuver.

17. The aircraft of claim 16, wherein during the performance of the modified capture maneuver, the execution component is further configured to compare the at least one ILS localizer error with at least one corresponding ILS threshold, and switch from the shallow intercept angle turn to the at least a portion of the standard localizer capture maneuver if the at least one ILS localizer error reaches the corresponding ILS threshold.

18. The aircraft of claim 15, wherein the aircraft is configured to intercept an ILS localizer null, and wherein the execution component is further configured to perform the modified capture maneuver that includes a shallow intercept angle turn that maneuvers the aircraft to an initial intercept angle between 30 degrees to 40 degrees, inclusive, with the ILS localizer null.