Automated separation manager
First Claim
1. A method for maintaining a safe separation distance between vehicles, comprising:
- receiving time-referenced position and state data for vehicles including a control vehicle and a relevant vehicle, the vehicles having initial locations within a time-space zone of interest;
determining maneuver characteristics for the vehicles within the time-space zone of interest;
calculating a probabilistic position zone for each vehicle within the time-space zone of interest for a plurality of time intervals, the probabilistic position zone based on a received time-referenced position, speed and direction data, the vehicle maneuver characteristics, and attitude data;
rerouting the control vehicle when the distance between the probabilistic position zone of the control vehicle is less that a specified distance from the probabilistic position zone of the relevant vehicle;
selecting a reference point for the control vehicle when the control vehicle is rerouted; and
calculating a plurality of homotopically distinct paths between the time-referenced position of the control vehicle and the reference point based on the maneuvering characteristics of the control vehicle and the probabilistic position zone of interest for the vehicles.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A separation management system includes a data input module for receiving and filtering aircraft information and airspace information related to a control aircraft and a relevant aircraft, the aircraft information enabling the calculation of a trajectory window for each aircraft. A conflict monitoring module may be included in the system for monitoring the trajectory window for each aircraft with respect to time and probabilistic location, the conflict monitoring module determining when a trajectory overlap occurs resulting from the intersection of the trajectory window for the control aircraft and the relevant aircraft. In addition, the system may include a separation routing module for rerouting the control aircraft when a trajectory overlap for the control aircraft is detected by the conflict monitoring module.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for maintaining a safe separation distance between vehicles, comprising:
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receiving time-referenced position and state data for vehicles including a control vehicle and a relevant vehicle, the vehicles having initial locations within a time-space zone of interest; determining maneuver characteristics for the vehicles within the time-space zone of interest; calculating a probabilistic position zone for each vehicle within the time-space zone of interest for a plurality of time intervals, the probabilistic position zone based on a received time-referenced position, speed and direction data, the vehicle maneuver characteristics, and attitude data; rerouting the control vehicle when the distance between the probabilistic position zone of the control vehicle is less that a specified distance from the probabilistic position zone of the relevant vehicle; selecting a reference point for the control vehicle when the control vehicle is rerouted; and calculating a plurality of homotopically distinct paths between the time-referenced position of the control vehicle and the reference point based on the maneuvering characteristics of the control vehicle and the probabilistic position zone of interest for the vehicles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A separation management system, comprising:
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a data input module for receiving and filtering aircraft information and airspace information related to a control aircraft and a relevant aircraft, the aircraft information enabling the calculation of a trajectory window for each aircraft; a conflict monitoring module for monitoring the trajectory window for each aircraft with respect to time and probabilistic location, the conflict monitoring module determining when a trajectory overlap occurs resulting from the intersection of the trajectory window for the control aircraft and the relevant aircraft; and a separation routing module for; calculating a plurality homotopically distinct paths between the control vehicle and a reference point based on the maneuvering characteristics of the control vehicle and a probabilistic position zone of interest for the control aircraft and the relevant aircraft; and rerouting the control aircraft along one of the plurality of homotically distinct paths when a trajectory overlap for the control aircraft is detected by the conflict monitoring module. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method, comprising:
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generating a virtual predictive radar (VPR) screen including a plurality of trajectory paths for a control vehicle, the plurality of trajectory paths originating at an initial point and ending at a destination point, the VPR including time rings predicting the location of the control vehicle in 3-D space on the VPR; creating a plurality of constraints on the VPR for the control vehicle based on the maneuverability characteristics and velocity of the control vehicle; locating at least one relevant vehicle proximate one of the time rings of the VPR, the relevant vehicle creating a conflict along at least one of the plurality of trajectory paths; and generating a homotopy route along a subset of the plurality of trajectory paths to enable the control aircraft to maintain a safe separation between the control vehicle and the relevant vehicle when the control vehicle traverses from the initial point to the destination point. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification