Methods and systems for alerting an aircraft crew member of a potential conflict between aircraft on a taxiway

• US 7,962,279 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2007
• Issued: 06/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Tomaszewski, Edward, Pepitone, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith; Jack
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dager; Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US11/754,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20100017105A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/120
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0008 with other aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0078 for monitoring traffic from the aircraft radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/045 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. determination of anti-collision manoeuvers radar or analogous systems specially adapted for anti-collision between aircraft G01S13/933
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/065 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. for taxiing or rolling

Abstract

Methods and system are provided for alerting an aircraft crew member of a potential conflict between a first aircraft and a second aircraft on a first taxiway. Real-time positioning data related to the first aircraft on the first taxiway is monitored. Data related to real-time positioning of the second aircraft is monitored. A prediction is made as to whether the second aircraft will enter the first taxiway, based on the monitored data related to real-time positioning of the second aircraft. The potential conflict is indicated on the first taxiway, if a prediction is made that the second aircraft will enter the first taxiway.

Claims

1. A method for alerting an aircraft crew member of a potential conflict between a first aircraft and a second aircraft on a first taxiway, the method comprising the steps of:

supplying, to a processor disposed in the first aircraft, data related to real-time positioning the first aircraft on the first taxiway;

transmitting, from the second aircraft to the first aircraft, data related to real-time positioning of the second aircraft;

supplying, to the processor, the data related to real-time positioning of the second aircraft;

processing, in the processor, the data related to real-time positioning of the second aircraft, to predict whether the second aircraft will enter the first taxiway, and

supplying display commands to a display disposed in the first aircraft that cause the display to render the first taxiway as a plurality of segments and, if the processor predicts that the second aircraft will enter the first taxiway, that cause the display to change an appearance of the segment of the first taxiway on which the first aircraft is located.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting comprises transmitting from an automatic dependent surveillance broadcast transmitter disposed in the second aircraft.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

processing the data related to real-time positioning the first aircraft to identify the segment on which the first aircraft is located;

processing data related to real-time positioning the second aircraft to identify the segment on which the second aircraft is positioned;

comparing, in the processor, the segment on which the first aircraft is located and the segment on which the second aircraft is positioned; and

predicting that the potential conflict exists, when the segment on which the first aircraft is located and the segment on which the second aircraft is positioned are located relative to each other such that the first aircraft is not provided with an egress from the first taxiway.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of processing comprises:

calculating a turning radius of the second aircraft from the real-time positioning data of the second aircraft;

projecting a predicted path of the second aircraft from the calculated turning radius; and

predicting that the potential conflict exists, based on the predicted path.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the method further comprises:

processing the data related to real-time positioning the first aircraft to identify the segment on which the first aircraft is located;

processing the data related to real-time positioning the second aircraft to determine whether the predicted path indicates the second aircraft will travel on the first taxiway;

if the predicted path indicates the second aircraft will travel on the first taxiway, assigning the second aircraft with a segment of the first taxiway closest to the second aircraft;

comparing the segment on which the first aircraft is located and the segment on which the second aircraft is positioned; and

predicting that the potential conflict exists, when the segment on which the first aircraft is located and the segment on which the second aircraft is positioned are located relative to each other such that the first aircraft is not provided with an egress from the first taxiway.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the segment of the first taxiway has a first color and changing the appearance of the segment comprises changing the segment of the first taxiway to a second color.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein changing the appearance comprises flashing the segment of the first taxiway.