Imaging and display system to aid helicopter landings in brownout conditions
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system to enhance situational awareness in a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, comprising:
- an element for receiving data representing an unobscured two-dimensional image of a takeoff or landing zone before the formation of a brownout or whiteout condition, wherein said element for receiving data is selected from among a group of elements consisting of;
a digital camera;
an infrared visual imager;
an element for retrieving a stored digital camera image of said takeoff or landing zone; and
an element for retrieving digital camera imagery of said takeoff or landing zone transmitted from a source external to said aircraft;
an element for receiving navigational information;
a processing element programmed to generate one or more enhanced images representing said takeoff or landing zone as seen from an arbitrary position by overlaying said unobscured two-dimensional image onto a virtual geo-referenced 3D graphics space and by transforming said data representing said two-dimensional unobscured image based on said navigational information; and
an element for outputting said one or more enhanced images to a display device, wherein said display device displays one or more images depicting position of said aircraft relative to said landing zone.
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Abstract
An imaging and display system provides helicopter pilots with an unobstructed display of a landing area in a brownout or whiteout condition by capturing a high resolution image of the landing area prior to obscuration. Using inertial navigation information from the aircraft or an independent system, the system transforms the image to a desired viewpoint and overlays a representation of the helicopter'"'"'s current position relative to the landing area. The system thus greatly improves orientation and situational awareness, permitting safe and effective operation under zero visibility brownout conditions.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system to enhance situational awareness in a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, comprising:
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an element for receiving data representing an unobscured two-dimensional image of a takeoff or landing zone before the formation of a brownout or whiteout condition, wherein said element for receiving data is selected from among a group of elements consisting of;
a digital camera;
an infrared visual imager;
an element for retrieving a stored digital camera image of said takeoff or landing zone; and
an element for retrieving digital camera imagery of said takeoff or landing zone transmitted from a source external to said aircraft;an element for receiving navigational information; a processing element programmed to generate one or more enhanced images representing said takeoff or landing zone as seen from an arbitrary position by overlaying said unobscured two-dimensional image onto a virtual geo-referenced 3D graphics space and by transforming said data representing said two-dimensional unobscured image based on said navigational information; and an element for outputting said one or more enhanced images to a display device, wherein said display device displays one or more images depicting position of said aircraft relative to said landing zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system to enhance situational awareness in a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft in a brownout or whiteout environment, comprising:
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an imager for acquiring a two-dimensional digital image of a landing area before the formation of a brownout or whiteout condition, wherein said imager is selected from among a group of imagers consisting of;
a digital camera;
an infrared visual imager;
an element for retrieving a stored digital camera image of said takeoff or landing zone; and
an element for retrieving digital camera imagery of said takeoff or landing zone transmitted from a source external to said aircraft;a system for acquiring, storing and transmitting navigational information; a display device in view of one or more of the flight crew; and a computer that inputs said navigational information, inputs and processes said two-dimensional digital image based on said navigational information by overlaying said two-dimensional image onto a virtual geo-referenced 3D graphics space and by transforming said data representing said two-dimensional image based on said navigational information, and outputs said processed image to said display device; wherein said display device displays an image depicting said aircraft position relative to said landing area.
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19. A method for enhancing situational awareness in a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, comprising the steps of:
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acquiring data representing an unobscured two-dimensional image of a takeoff or landing zone before the formation of a brownout or whiteout condition, wherein the step of acquiring is performed by a steps chosen from among a group of steps consisting of acquiring data representing an unobscured two-dimensional image from a digital camera;
acquiring data representing an unobscured two-dimensional image from an infrared visual imager;
acquiring data representing an unobscured two-dimensional image from an element for retrieving a stored digital camera image of said takeoff or landing zone; and
acquiring data representing an unobscured two-dimensional image from an element for retrieving digital camera imagery of said takeoff or landing zone transmitted from a source external to said aircraft;acquiring navigational information; generating one or more enhanced images representing said takeoff or landing zone as seen from an arbitrary position by overlaying said unobscured two-dimensional image onto a virtual geo-referenced 3D graphics space and by transforming said data representing said unobscured image based on said navigational information; and displaying to a crew of said aircraft at least one of said one or more enhanced images representing said aircraft'"'"'s flight path.
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Specification