Hold line awareness using tactile devices

• US 8,386,092 B1
• Filed: 09/02/2008
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2008
• 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: Carrico, Matthew J., Lehman, Maureen A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIPALA, EDWARD J
• Application Number:
  US12/231,388
• Time in Patent Office: 1,638 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/3, 701/120, 701/200, 701/207, 701/208, 701/213, 701/300, 701/4, 701/11, 701/14, 701/36, 701/45, 701/49, 701/116, 701/400, 701/408, 701/409, 701/431, 701/435, 701/466, 701/467, 701/468, 701/538, 340/945, 340/965, 340/972, 340/988, 340/979, 244/75.1, 244/76.R, 244/175
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0083 to help an aircraft pilot in the rolling phase
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

A hold line awareness system for alerting an occupant of an aircraft that the aircraft is approaching a hold line at an airport. In one broad aspect the invention includes an airport database located on an aircraft. The airport database is configured to store location information for a plurality of hold lines at the airport. A positioning system is located on the aircraft. The positioning system is configured to determine the aircraft location. A processor is located on the aircraft and is operatively connected to the airport database and the positioning system. The processor is configured to calculate the distance between the aircraft location and a hold line and provide a processor alerting output signal if the distance is less than a predetermined value. A sensory effector is located on the aircraft and operatively connected to the processor for receiving the processor alerting output signal and providing a tactile alert to an occupant in response thereto. In another broad aspect, a real time feature detecting system is utilized instead of the airport database. The feature detecting system is configured to detect features defining a plurality of hold lines at the airport and for determining the distance of the aircraft from a detected hold line.

Claims

1. A hold line awareness system for alerting an occupant of an aircraft on the ground that the aircraft is approaching a hold line at an airport, comprising:

a) an airport database located on an aircraft, said airport database being configured to store location information for a plurality of hold lines at the airport;

b) a positioning system located on the aircraft, said positioning system being configured to determine the aircraft location;

c) a processor located on the aircraft and being operatively connected to said airport database and said positioning system, said processor being configured to calculate the distance between the aircraft location and a hold line and provide a processor alerting output signal if said distance is less than a predetermined value; and

,

d) a sensory effector located on said aircraft and operatively connected to said processor for receiving said processor alerting output signal and providing a tactile alert to an occupant in response thereto.

2. The hold line awareness system of claim 1 wherein said positioning system comprises a NAV sensor.

3. The hold line awareness system of claim 1 wherein said sensory effector comprises a stick shaker.

4. The hold line awareness system of claim 1 wherein said sensory effector comprises a device located in the seat or armrest of the aircraft.

5. The hold line awareness system of claim 1 wherein said sensory effector comprises a yoke.

6. A hold line awareness system for alerting an occupant of an aircraft on the ground that the aircraft is approaching a hold line at an airport, comprising:

a) a real time feature detecting system located on an aircraft, said feature detecting system being configured to detect features defining a plurality of hold lines at the airport and for determining the distance of the aircraft from a detected hold line;

b) a processor located on the aircraft and being operatively connected to said real time feature detecting system, said processor being configured to provide a processor alerting output signal if said distance is less than a predetermined value; and

,

c) a sensory effector located on said aircraft and operatively connected to said processor for receiving said processor alerting output signal and providing a tactile alert to an occupant in response thereto.

7. The hold line awareness system of claim 6 wherein said sensory effector comprises a stick shaker.

8. The hold line awareness system of claim 6 wherein said sensory effector comprises a device located in the seat or armrest of the aircraft.

9. The hold line awareness system of claim 6 wherein said sensory effector comprises a yoke.

10. The hold line awareness system of claim 6 wherein said real time feature detecting system comprises an optical sensing system.

11. A method for alerting an occupant of an aircraft on the ground that the aircraft is approaching a hold line at an airport, comprising:

a) providing an airport database, said airport database being configured to store location information for a plurality of hold lines at the airport;

b) determining aircraft location utilizing a positioning system located on the aircraft;

c) utilizing a processor located on the aircraft and being operatively connected to said airport database and said positioning system, said processor being configured to calculate the distance between the aircraft location and a hold line and provide a processor alerting output signal if said distance is less than a predetermined value; and

,

d) providing a tactile alert to an occupant of an aircraft in response to said processing alerting output signal utilizing a sensory effector located on said aircraft and operatively connected to said processor.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of utilizing a positioning system comprises the step of using a NAV sensor.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of utilizing a sensory effector comprises the step of using a stick shaker.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of utilizing a sensory effector comprises the step of using a device located in the seat or armrest of the aircraft.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of utilizing a sensory effector comprises the step of using a yoke.