System and method for aiding pilot preview, rehearsal, review, and real-time visual acquisition of flight mission progress

• US 8,164,485 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Inventors: Prinzel, Lawrence J. III, Pope, Alan T., Williams, Steven P., Bailey, Randall E., Arthur, Jarvis J., Kramer, Lynda J., Schutte, Paul C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/863,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20080195309A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,670 Days
• Field of Search: 340/945, 340/946, 340/947, 340/948, 340/949, 340/951, 340/959, 340961-964, 340/967, 340/971, 340972-983
• US Class Current: 340/945
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/00 Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0141 characterised by the informative content of the display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• 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: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention permit flight paths (current and planned) to be viewed from various orientations to provide improved path and terrain awareness via graphical two-dimensional or three-dimensional perspective display formats. By coupling the flight path information with a terrain database, uncompromising terrain awareness relative to the path and ownship is provided. In addition, missed approaches, path deviations, and any navigational path can be reviewed and rehearsed before performing the actual task. By rehearsing a particular mission, check list items can be reviewed, terrain awareness can be highlighted, and missed approach procedures can be discussed by the flight crew. Further, the use of Controller Pilot Datalink Communications enables data-linked path, flight plan changes, and Air Traffic Control requests to be integrated into the flight display of the present invention.

Claims

1. A system for displaying flight mission progress of an aircraft, the system comprising:

a processing element configured to render an exocentric flight display of the aircraft, the flight display comprising at least an external scene topography, a current flight path, a planned flight path, one or more obstacles within a predefined distance of either the current or planned flight path, and one or more navigational symbologies, wherein the processing element is further configured to render the current location, a past location, or a future location of the aircraft on the flight display;

a display element to assist in operation of the aircraft, wherein the display is configured to receive and display the flight display; and

a control to select one or more of the current location, a past location, or a future location and to configure the flight display.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing element is further configured to render a side-view terrain image showing either a current flight path or a planned flight path and terrain height at corresponding points along the respective current or planned flight path.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing element is further configured to receive current location and attitude information of the aircraft and to render the current location and attitude on the flight display.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the external scene topography corresponds to the current aircraft location.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the processing element is further configured to determine whether the current aircraft location is greater than a predefined distance from the current flight path.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the processing element further configured to render an ownship indicator showing the current location of the aircraft relative to the current flight path on the flight display.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the processing element is further configured to render a virtual shadow on the external scene topography below the ownship indicator on the flight display.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing element is further configured to receive current location information of other aircraft within a predefined distance the aircraft and to render the other aircraft within the flight display.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing element is further configured to receive air traffic control (ATC) clearance information and wherein the planned flight path corresponds to the ATC clearance information.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing element is further configured to determine if the planned flight path is predicted to cause the aircraft to approach within (a) a first predefined distance from terrain or (2) a second predefined distance from an obstacle.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the processing element is further configured to render an alternate flight path selected to avoid causing the aircraft to approach within (a) the first predefined distance from terrain or (2) the second predefined distance from an obstacle.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the external scene topography corresponds to a future location along either the current or planned flight path.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processing element is further configured to advance in time the rendered external scene topography along the selected current or planned flight path or both.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processing clement is further configured to advance in time the rendered external scene topography at a selected speed.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing element is further configured to render airspace restrictions on the flight display.

16. A method for displaying flight mission progress, the method comprising the steps of:

rendering, by a processing element, an exocentric flight display of the aircraft, the flight display comprising at least an external scene topography, a current flight path, a planned flight path, one or more obstacles within a predefined distance of either the current or planned flight path, and one or more navigational symbologies;

receiving, in a display element to assist in operation of the aircraft, the flight display;

displaying, in the display element, the flight display; and

receiving a configuration of the flight display,

rendering, by the processing element, the current location, a past location, or a future location of the aircraft on the flight display;

wherein the step of receiving a configuration comprises receiving a selection of one or more of the current aircraft location, a past location, or a future location.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of:

rendering, by the processing element, a side-view terrain image showing either a current flight path or a planned flight path and terrain height at corresponding points along the respective current or planned flight path.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

receiving, in the processing element, current location information of the aircraft; and

rendering, by the processing element, the current location on the flight display.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the external scene topography corresponds to the current aircraft location.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the flight display further comprises an ownship indicator showing the current location of the aircraft relative to the current flight path.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the flight display further comprises a virtual shadow on the external scene topography below the ownship indicator.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

receiving, in the processing element, current location information of other aircraft within a predefined distance the aircraft; and

rendering, by the processing element, the other aircraft within the flight display.

23. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of:

receiving, in the processing element, air traffic control (ATC) clearance information;

wherein the planned flight path corresponds to the ATC clearance information.

24. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of:

determining, by the processing element, the planned flight path is predicted to cause the aircraft to approach within (a) a first predefined distance from terrain or (2) a second predefined distance from an obstacle.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of:

rendering, by the processing element, an alternate flight path selected to avoid causing cause the aircraft to approach within (a) the first predefined distance from terrain or (2) the second predefined distance from an obstacle.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein the external scene topography corresponds to a future location along either the current or planned flight path, and wherein the step of receiving a configuration comprises receiving a selection of a future location along either the current flight path or planned flight path or both.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of:

advancing in time, by the processing element, the rendered external scene topography along either the current or planned flight path.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the rendered external scene topography is advanced in time at a selected speed, and wherein the step of receiving a configuration comprises receiving a selection of a speed.

29. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of receiving a configuration comprises receiving a selection of either the current flight path or planned flight path or both.

30. The method of claim 16, wherein the flight display further comprises airspace restrictions.