Systems and methods for generating alert signals in a terrain awareness and warning system

• US 8,234,020 B1
• Filed: 02/08/2008
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Wichgers, Joel M., Jinkins, Richard D., McCusker, Patrick D., Rademaker, Richard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US12/069,234
• Time in Patent Office: 1,635 Days
• Field of Search: 701/9
• US Class Current: 701/9
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 5/005 altimeters for aircraft G01C5/02, G01C5/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0052 for cruising combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value G01C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0086 for monitoring terrain radar or analogous systems specially adapted for terrain avoidance G01S13/935
• 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

Abstract

A terrain awareness and warning system (“TAWS”) provides input to a terrain alert (“TA”) processor from at least one real-time aircraft system or sensor and a source of terrain data; the processor determines a terrain clearance surface and a terrain airspace alert surface, and if one surface penetrates the other, the processor generates an alert signal and provides an alert signal to a crew alerting system. The two surfaces are determined by the processor by executing an algorithm(s) embedded in software containing the disclosed embodiments and methods. At least one criterion used to define an aircraft terrain alert surface is programmed to include real-time and/or static input factor data provided by at least one system or sensor input from an aircraft. Such input factor could be used to define a terrain clearance surface.

Claims

1. A system for generating an alert signal in an aircraft system, said system comprising:

at least one source of input factor data;

a source of terrain data comprised of a forward-looking radar system configured to acquire terrain data representative of a terrain surface;

an alert processor configured to

receive input factor data representative of at least

first input factors representative of information corresponding to the current geographic position and attitude of an aircraft in flight,

a second input factor representative of information corresponding to the nearest airport from the current geographic position of the aircraft, and

a third input factor representative of information corresponding to the current altitude of the aircraft;

determine a phase of flight and flight attitude parameter based upon the first input factors, the second input factor, and the third input factor;

receive terrain data from the forward-looking radar system, where

the terrain data is representative of a terrain surface;

define a terrain clearance surface and at least one aircraft terrain alert surface, where

the terrain clearance surface is defined as a first function of the terrain surface, and

each aircraft terrain alert surface is defined as a second function of at least one criterion programmed to include at least one fourth input factor, where

either the first function or the second function includes the phase of flight and flight attitude parameter;

generate a terrain alert signal if the terrain clearance surface penetrates an aircraft terrain alert surface; and

provide the terrain alert signal to a crew alerting system; and

the crew alerting system configured to receive the terrain alert signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first function includes the third input factor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second function includes at least one first input factor, the second input factor, the third input factor, or any combination of these.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the terrain data includes data representative of terrain, obstacles, or both.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first input factors are also representative of information corresponding to the speed of the aircraft, vertical speed of the aircraft, or both.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the crew alerting system is comprised of at least one of the following:

a display unit, an aural alert unit, and a tactile unit.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a source of airspace data, where

the alert processor is further configured to

retrieve airspace data corresponding to the current geographic position, where

the airspace data is representative of an airspace surface;

define an airspace clearance surface and at least one aircraft airspace alert surface, where

the airspace clearance surface is defined as a third function of the airspace surface and at least one airspace clearance distance criterion, and

each aircraft airspace alert surface is defined as a fourth function of at least one criterion programmed to include at least one fifth input factor;

generate an airspace alert signal if the airspace clearance surface penetrates an aircraft airspace alert surface; and

provide the airspace alert signal to the crew alerting system; and

the crew alerting system is further configured to receive the airspace alert signal.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the fourth function includes at least one first input factor, the second input factor, the third input factor, at least one fourth input factor, or any combination of these.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a source of airspace data, where

the alert processor is further configured to

retrieve airspace data corresponding to the current geographic position, where

the airspace data is representative of an airspace clearance surface;

define at least one aircraft airspace alert surface, where

each aircraft airspace alert surface is defined as a third function of at least one criterion programmed to include at least one fifth input factor;

generate an airspace alert signal if the airspace clearance surface penetrates an aircraft airspace alert surface;

provide the airspace alert signal to the crew alerting system; and

the crew alerting system is further configured to receive the airspace alert signal.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein

the source of airspace data stores airspace data as a function of at least one airspace clearance distance criterion, and

the retrieval of the airspace data is based upon the at least one airspace clearance distance criterion.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein one airspace clearance distance criterion is comprised of the phase of flight and flight attitude parameter.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the third function includes at least one first input factor, the second input factor, the third input factor, at least one fourth input factor, or any combination of these.

13. A system for generating an alert signal in an aircraft system, said system comprising:

a source of input factor data;

a source of terrain data comprised of at least one terrain database, where

each terrain database is

comprised of a plurality of terrain cells, and

configured to store terrain data representative of a terrain clearance surface defined as a function of a terrain surface and a non-zero terrain clearance distance, where

each terrain database corresponds to one phase of flight and flight attitude parameter, or

each terrain cell is comprised of a plurality of values, where

 

each value corresponds to one phase of flight and flight attitude parameter;

an alert processor configured to

receive input factor data representative of at least

first input factors representative of information corresponding to the current geographic position and attitude of an aircraft in flight,

a second input factor representative of information corresponding to the nearest airport from the current geographic position of the aircraft, and

a third input factor representative of information corresponding to the current altitude of the aircraft;

determine a phase of flight and flight attitude parameter based upon the first input factors, the second input factor, and the third input factor;

retrieve terrain data representative of a terrain clearance surface other than a terrain surface, where

the retrieval of the terrain data is based upon the phase of flight and flight attitude parameter;

define at least one aircraft terrain alert surface, where

each aircraft terrain alert surface is defined as a first function of at least one criterion programmed to include at least one fourth input factor;

generate a terrain alert signal associated if the terrain clearance surface penetrates an aircraft terrain alert surface; and

provide the terrain alert signal to a crew alerting system; and

the crew alerting system configured to receive the terrain alert signal.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first function includes at least one first input factor, the second input factor, the third input factor, or any combination of these.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the terrain data includes data representative of terrain, obstacles, or both.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the first input factors are also representative of information corresponding to the speed of the aircraft, vertical speed of the aircraft, or both.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the crew alerting system is comprised of one or more of the following:

a display unit, an aural alert unit, and a tactile unit.

18. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a source of airspace data, where

the alert processor is further configured to

retrieve airspace data corresponding to the current geographic position, where

the airspace data is representative of an airspace surface;

define an airspace clearance surface and at least one aircraft airspace alert surface, where

the airspace clearance surface is defined as a second function of the airspace surface and at least one airspace clearance distance criterion, and

each aircraft airspace alert surface is defined as a third function of at least one criterion programmed to include at least one fifth input factor;

generate an airspace alert signal if the airspace clearance surface penetrates an aircraft airspace alert surface; and

provide the airspace alert signal to the crew alerting system; and

the crew alerting system for receiving is further configured to receive the airspace alert signal.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the third function includes at least one first input factor, the second input factor, the third input factor, at least one fourth input factor, or any combination of these.

20. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a source of airspace data, where

the alert processor is further configured to receives navigation data representative of aircraft,

retrieve airspace data corresponding to the current geographic position, where

the airspace data is representative of an airspace clearance surface;

define at least one aircraft airspace alert surface, where

each aircraft airspace alert surface is defined as a second function of at least one criterion programmed to include at least one fifth input factor;

generate an airspace alert signal if the airspace clearance surface penetrates an aircraft airspace alert surface; and

provide the airspace alert signal to the crew alerting system; and

the crew alerting system is further configured to receive the airspace alert signal.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein

the source of airspace data stores the airspace data as a function of at least one airspace clearance distance criterion, and

the retrieval of the airspace data is based upon the at least one airspace clearance distance criterion.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein one airspace clearance distance criterion is comprised of the phase of flight and flight attitude parameter.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the second function includes at least one first input factor, the second input factor, the third input factor, at least one fourth input factor, or any combination of these.

24. A method for generating an alert signal in an aircraft system, said method comprising:

receiving input factor data representative of at least

first input factors representative of information corresponding to the current position and attitude of an aircraft in flight,

a second input factor representative of information corresponding to the nearest airport from the current geographic position of the aircraft, and

a third input factor representative of information corresponding to the current altitude of the aircraft;

determining a phase of flight and flight attitude parameter based upon the first input factors, the second input factor, and the third input factor;

receiving terrain data from a forward-looking radar system configured to acquire terrain data representative of a terrain surface;

defining a terrain clearance surface and at least one aircraft terrain alert surface, where

the terrain clearance surface is defined as a first function of the terrain surface, and

each aircraft terrain alert surface is defined as a second function of at least one criterion programmed to include at least one fourth input factor, where

either the first function or the second function includes the phase of flight and flight attitude parameter;

generating a terrain alert signal if the terrain clearance surface penetrates an aircraft terrain alert surface; and

providing the terrain alert signal to a crew alerting system.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein

the first function includes the third input factor,

the second function includes at least one first input factor, the second input factor, the third input factor, or any combination of these, or

the first function includes the third input data and the second function includes at least one first input factor, the second input factor, the third input factor, or any combination of these.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the first input factors are also representative of information corresponding to the speed of the aircraft, vertical speed of the aircraft, or both.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

retrieving airspace data corresponding to the current geographic position, where

the airspace data is representative of an airspace surface;

defining an airspace clearance surface and at least one aircraft airspace alert surface, where

the airspace clearance surface is defined as a third function of the airspace surface and at least one airspace clearance distance criterion, and

each aircraft airspace alert surface is defined as a fourth function of at least one criterion programmed to include at least one fifth input factor;

generating an airspace alert signal if the airspace clearance surface penetrates an aircraft airspace alert surface; and

providing the airspace alert signal to the crew alerting system.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the fourth function includes at least one first input factor, the second input factor, the third input factor, at least one fourth input factor, or any combination of these.

29. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

retrieving airspace data corresponding to the current geographic position, where

the airspace data is representative of an airspace clearance surface;

defining at least one aircraft airspace alert surface, where

each aircraft airspace alert surface is defined as a third function of at least one criterion programmed to include fifth input factor data;

generating an airspace alert signal if the airspace clearance surface penetrates an aircraft airspace alert surface; and

providing the airspace alert signal to the crew alerting system.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein

the airspace data is retrieved from a database storing airspace data as a function of at least one airspace clearance distance criterion, and

the retrieving of the airspace data is based upon the at least one airspace clearance distance criterion.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein one airspace clearance distance criterion is comprised of the phase of flight and flight attitude parameter.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the third function includes at least one first input factor, the second input factor, the third input factor, at least one fourth input factor, or any combination of these.

33. A method for generating an alert signal in an aircraft system, said method comprising:

receiving the input factor data representative of at least

first input factors representative of information corresponding to the current geographic position and attitude of an aircraft in flight,

a second input factor representative of information corresponding to the nearest airport from the current geographic position of the aircraft, and

a third input factor representative of information corresponding to the current altitude of the aircraft;

determining a phase of flight and flight attitude parameter based upon the first input factors, the second input factor, and the third input factor;

retrieving terrain data representative of a terrain clearance surface from a other than a terrain surface from at least one terrain database, where

the retrieval of the terrain data is dependent upon the phase of flight and flight attitude parameter, and

each terrain database is

comprised of a plurality of terrain cells, and

configured to store terrain data representative of a terrain clearance surface defined as a function of a terrain surface and a non-zero terrain clearance distance, where

each terrain database corresponds to one phase of flight and flight attitude parameter, or

each terrain cell is comprised of a plurality of values, where

 

each value corresponds to one phase of flight and flight attitude parameter;

defining at least one aircraft terrain alert surface, where

each aircraft terrain alert surface is defined as a first function of at least one criterion programmed to include at least one fourth input factor;

generating a terrain alert signal associated if the terrain clearance surface penetrates an aircraft terrain alert surface; and

providing the terrain alert signal to a crew alerting system.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the first function includes at least one first input factor, the second input factor, the third input factor, or any combination of these.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the terrain data includes data representative of terrain, obstacles, or both.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the first input factors are also representative of information corresponding to the speed of the aircraft, vertical speed of the aircraft, or both.

37. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

retrieving airspace data corresponding to the current geographic position, where

the airspace data is representative of an airspace surface;

defining an airspace clearance surface and at least one aircraft airspace alert surface, where

the airspace clearance surface is defined as a second function of the airspace surface and at least one airspace clearance distance criterion, and

each aircraft airspace alert surface is defined as a third function of at least one criterion programmed to include at least one fifth input factor;

generating an airspace alert signal if the airspace clearance surface penetrates an aircraft airspace alert surface; and

providing the airspace alert signal to the crew alerting system.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the third function includes at least one first input factor, the second input factor, the third input factor, at least one fourth input factor, or any combination of these.

39. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

retrieving airspace data corresponding to the current geographic position, where

the airspace data is representative of an airspace clearance surface;

defining at least one aircraft airspace alert surface, where

each aircraft airspace alert surface is defined as a second function of at least one criterion programmed to include at least one fifth input factor;

generating an airspace alert signal if the airspace clearance surface penetrates an aircraft airspace alert surface; and

providing the airspace alert signal to the crew alerting system.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein

the airspace data is retrieved from a database storing airspace data as a function of at least one airspace clearance distance criterion, and

the retrieving of the airspace data is based upon the at least one airspace clearance distance criterion.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein one airspace clearance distance criterion is comprised of the phase of flight and flight attitude parameter.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the second function includes at least one first input factor, the second input factor, the third input factor, at least one fourth input factor, or any combination of these.