Assisted flight computer program and method

• US 8,180,503 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2006
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin International, Inc. (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Garmin International, Inc. (Garmin Limited)
• Inventors: Estabrook, John T., Trope, Mitchell S., Carr, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATTON, SPENCER D
• Application Number:
  US11/463,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20080039988A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,107 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/4, 701/9, 701/11, 701/16, 244/75.1, 244/76.R, 244/183, 244/189, 244/190, 340/945, 340/963
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/18 using automatic pilot
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/00 Emergency apparatus or devices, not otherwise provided for parachutes B64D17/00, B64D19/00; jettisoning of fuel tanks or fuel per se B64D37/00; specially adapted for protection against criminal attack, e.g. anti-hijacking systems B64D45/0015 ; safety belts or body harnesses in general A62B35/00; safety belts or body harnesses for land vehicles B60R22/00; jettisonable parts of fuselage facilitating emergency escape B64C
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/04 Landing aids; Safety measures to prevent collision with earth's surface
• 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: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0056 in an emergency situation, e.g. hijacking
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913

Abstract

An assisted flight computer program and method which assist a non-pilot or partially incapacitated pilot to gain control of an aircraft, summon help, and then land the aircraft under the guidance of a tower controller. The assisted flight computer program is integrated into an avionics system and provides a guided, menu-driven user interface that is simple enough for non-pilots and partially incapacitated pilots to understand and follow in distress situations.

Claims

1. An avionics system for an aircraft, the avionics system comprising:

an input for receiving an initiation signal from a dedicated emergency input device;

an autopilot for automatically controlling certain aspects of the aircraft;

a transmitter for sending transmissions from the aircraft;

an assisted flight program, responsive to the initiation signal from the dedicated emergency input device, and configured to—

engage the autopilot to stabilize flight of the aircraft,

alert a ground controller, through the transmitter, that the aircraft is in an emergency situation, and

assist a passenger of the aircraft in controlling the aircraft, and

a display configured to present conventional flight information and replace the conventional flight information with simplified flight information upon reception of the initiation signal.

2. The avionics system of claim 1, wherein the assisted flight program is further operable to automatically control a function of the aircraft to prepare the aircraft for landing.

3. The avionics system of claim 2, wherein the automatically controlling a function step is selected from the group consisting of:

changing a frequency of a radio on the aircraft;

setting a heading of the aircraft;

setting an altitude of the aircraft;

setting a holding pattern of the aircraft;

configuring an auto pilot of the aircraft;

performing a pre-landing checklist;

setting an approach of the aircraft;

setting an air speed of the aircraft;

setting or changing a flight plan for the aircraft;

drawing a visual flight rules (VFR) approach of the aircraft;

setting a barometric pressure correction setting of the aircraft;

changing a navigation setting of the aircraft;

setting a transponder code; and

setting a descent or climb rate.

4. The avionics system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the avionics system alerts the ground controller by changing a transponder setting of the aircraft to an emergency code.

5. The avionics system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the avionics system alerts the ground controller by changing a radio on the aircraft to an emergency frequency and then prompting the passenger to transmit an emergency message to the ground controller.

6. The avionics system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the prompting step includes the step of displaying the emergency message on the display in the aircraft and prompting the passenger to read the emergency message over the radio.

7. The avionics system as set forth in claim 5, further including a speaker operable to generate sound, wherein the assisted flight program is further operable to execute a text-to-speech (TTS) program to audibly present the prompts to the passenger using the speaker.

8. The avionics system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the assisted flight program is further operable to determine a suitable airport at which to land the aircraft and then prompt the passenger to direct the aircraft to the airport.

9. The avionics system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the assisted flight program takes into account a factor selected from the group consisting of a distance between the aircraft and the airport;

approaches available at the airport;

fuel remaining in the aircraft;

altitude of the aircraft;

weather;

terrain near the aircraft;

terrain near the airport; and

performance characteristics of the aircraft when determining the suitable airport.

10. The avionics system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the display is operable to present a visual representation of a device to be controlled by the passenger along with control instructions to assist the passenger in controlling the aircraft.

11. The avionics system as set forth in claim 1, further including a microphone operable to receive an audible command from the passenger, wherein the assisted flight program is further operable to execute an automatic speech recognition (ASR) program to recognize the audible command from the passenger and automatically perform an associated task.