Method for changing the path followed by an aircraft, the aircraft initially following a predefined path, the method allowing a possible return of the aircraft to the predefined path
First Claim
1. A method performed by a Flight Management System of an aircraft for planning a path followed by the aircraft, the aircraft initially following a first path defined by a sequence of waypoints (AAA, BBB, CCC, DDD, EEE, FFF), the aircraft leaving the first path in order to follow a second path, the method allowing a subsequent return of the aircraft to the first path, comprising the steps of:
- one-to-one projecting the waypoints (AAA, BBB, CCC, DDD) of the first path onto the second path according to a projection function ensuring that the order of the sequence of the projected image points (ABAAA, ABBBB, ABCCC, ABDDD) complies with the order of the sequence of the original waypoints (AAA, BBB, CCC, DDD), the projection of a waypoint already reached by the aircraft also being considered as having been reached;
wherein the projections of the waypoints (ABAAA, ABBBB, ABCCC, ABDDD) on the second path are considered reached by the aircraft progressively as the latter progresses along the second path; and
planning the path to guide the aircraft subsequently rejoining the first path at the first waypoint in the order of the sequence of waypoints whose projection is not yet considered as reached on the second path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method for changing the path followed by an aircraft, the aircraft initially following a predefined path on the basis of a sequence of waypoints, the method allowing a subsequent return of the aircraft to the predefined path in the same direction or in the reverse direction. The method allows a possible return of the aircraft to the predefined path in the same direction such that the waypoints of the predefined path are projected onto a new path according to a projection function ensuring that the order of the sequence of the projected image points complies with the order of the sequence of the original waypoints. The projection of a waypoint already reached by the aircraft also is considered as having been reached. The projections of the waypoints on the new path are considered reached by the aircraft progressively as the latter progresses along the new path. The aircraft eventually rejoins the predefined path at the first waypoint in the order of the sequence of points whose projection is not yet considered as reached on the new path.
12 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method performed by a Flight Management System of an aircraft for planning a path followed by the aircraft, the aircraft initially following a first path defined by a sequence of waypoints (AAA, BBB, CCC, DDD, EEE, FFF), the aircraft leaving the first path in order to follow a second path, the method allowing a subsequent return of the aircraft to the first path, comprising the steps of:
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one-to-one projecting the waypoints (AAA, BBB, CCC, DDD) of the first path onto the second path according to a projection function ensuring that the order of the sequence of the projected image points (ABAAA, ABBBB, ABCCC, ABDDD) complies with the order of the sequence of the original waypoints (AAA, BBB, CCC, DDD), the projection of a waypoint already reached by the aircraft also being considered as having been reached; wherein the projections of the waypoints (ABAAA, ABBBB, ABCCC, ABDDD) on the second path are considered reached by the aircraft progressively as the latter progresses along the second path; and planning the path to guide the aircraft subsequently rejoining the first path at the first waypoint in the order of the sequence of waypoints whose projection is not yet considered as reached on the second path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method performed by a Flight Management System of an aircraft for planning a path followed by the aircraft, the aircraft initially following a first path defined by a sequence of waypoints (AAA, BBB, CCC, DDD, EEE, FFF), the aircraft leaving the first path in order to follow a second path, the method allowing a subsequent return of the aircraft to the first path in the reverse direction, comprising the steps of:
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one-to-one projecting the waypoints (AAA, BBB, CCC, DDD) of the first path onto the second path according to a projection function ensuring that the order of the sequence of the projected image points (ABAAA, ABBBB, ABCCC, ABDDD) complies with the order of the sequence of the original waypoints (AAA, BBB, CCC, DDD), the projection of a waypoint already reached by the aircraft also being considered as having been reached; wherein the projections of the waypoints (ABAAA, ABBBB, ABCCC, ABDDD) on the second path are considered reached by the aircraft progressively as the latter progresses along the second path; and planning the path to guide the aircraft subsequently rejoining the first path in the reverse direction at the last waypoint in the order of the sequence of waypoints whose projection has been considered as reached on the second path. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of generating a path for an aircraft performed by a Flight Management System of the aircraft, the path being arranged to allow the aircraft to join a first path from a second path, the first path having a plurality of waypoints that defines a flying sequence, the method comprising:
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one-to-one projecting the waypoints on the first path onto the second path to generate a plurality of projected waypoints on the second path; identifying at least one of the waypoints on the first path as reached if a projected waypoint on the second path corresponding to the at least one of the waypoints being determined as flown over by the aircraft; and generating the path to allow the aircraft to subsequently join the first path at a last waypoint on the first path being identified as reached in an order of the flying sequence or a first waypoint being not identified as reached in the order of the flying sequence. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification