Device and method for monitoring the obstructions in the close environment of an aircraft

• US 8,249,762 B1
• Filed: 06/04/2009
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thales SA
• Original Assignee: Thales SA
• Inventors: Flotte, Laurent, Gayraud, Pascal, Marty, Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARC-COLEMAN, MARTHE Y
• Application Number:
  US12/478,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20120215436A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,174 Days
• Field of Search: 701/9, 701/1, 701/3, 701/4, 701/7, 701/14, 701/17, 701/301, 701/207, 701/208, 701/210, 701/214, 701/300, 701/302, 340/436, 340/945, 340/946, 340/961, 340/963, 342/29, 342/36
• US Class Current: 701/9
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/87 Combinations of radar systems, e.g. primary radar and secondary radar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/935 for terrain-avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/22 Producing cursor lines and indicia by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/24 the display being orientated or displaced in accordance with movement of object carrying the transmitting and receiving apparatus, e.g. true-motion radar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/41 using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for monitoring obstructions for an aircraft including data storage, an anticollision device and viewing devices, wherein the monitoring device comprises a detector to detect in real-time obstructions, of terrain type and of human constructions type, in a close environment of the aircraft in a flight situation, a sensor to identify the obstructions at risk calculating identification parameters, a circuit to calculate criticality of the obstructions, a display to display both the obstructions with the identification and criticality parameters of the obstructions, and a generator of alerts to describe the situation according to a combination of the identification and criticality parameters. One or more embodiments of the invention is a monitoring system adapted for zones close to the aircraft and in the flight zones not visible to the crew. One or more embodiments of the invention applies particularly to helicopters executing low-altitude flights. It relates more particularly to military carriers such as rescue carriers.

Claims

1. A method to monitor an obstruction for an aircraft having a monitoring device, the method comprising the steps of:

measuring location and identification parameters to locate and to identify the obstruction;

calculating identification parameters to calculate a location and a dimension of the obstruction, a direction and a speed of the obstruction, a distance between the aircraft and the obstruction, and a variation in the distance between the aircraft and the obstruction; and

generating audible and visual alerts to describe the location, a displacement and a criticality of the obstruction with respect to the aircraft, by calculation of an aircraft risk zone and an obstruction risk zone,

wherein the aircraft risk zone comprises a volume disposed at a location corresponding to an anticipated location of a predetermined part of the aircraft, and the obstruction risk zone is located at a position of the obstruction and comprises the dimensions of the obstruction increased by a volume whose dimensions are dependent on a speed of approach of the obstruction and an anticipation time, and the audible and visual alerts are triggered when the obstruction risk zone penetrates the aircraft risk zone.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the aircraft risk zone comprises:

a first zone comprising a volume situated at a highest criticality level risk zone; and

a second zone comprising a ring of the aircraft risk zone,

wherein an obstruction within the first zone has an alert criticality level that is different than an alert criticality level for an obstruction within the second zone.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein dimensions of the first zone and the second zone are calculated as a function of a geometric description of the aircraft, of flight margins and of dynamic flight parameters of the aircraft.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein dimensions of the first and the second zones are centered on a vertical fin of the aircraft.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein, when the aircraft is located at low altitude and is moving at low speed, the monitoring device limits display of a monitored zone to a zone close to the aircraft.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein a display of the obstructions and of the audible and visual alerts is triggered as a function of a duration that the obstruction risk zone is inside the aircraft risk zone.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein a circuit is configured to detect obstructions located inside the aircraft risk zone and the obstructions inside the aircraft risk zone are displayed by a representation different than a representation of obstructions located outside the risk zone.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein one or more indicators produce one of visual and audible alerts comprising one or more of:

criticality of the alert;

nature of the obstruction;

dimension of the obstruction;

position of the obstruction; and

displacement of the obstruction in relation to a displacement of the aircraft.

9. The method according to claim 2, wherein dimensions of the first and the second zones are configurable.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein a detector measures the location and identification parameters based on a plurality of sensors, and an identification circuit allocates to each identification parameter a confidence coefficient depending on the sensor that provided the datum, the confidence coefficient evolving as a function of instantaneous flight parameters and of measurement discrepancies between the sensors.