Method and system for resolving traffic conflicts in take-off and landing

• US 8,457,812 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2009
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Malta
• Original Assignee: University of Malta
• Inventors: Zammit-Mangion, David, Zammit, Brian, Sammut, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Algahaim, Helal A
• Application Number:
  US12/486,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20100324755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,447 Days
• Field of Search: 701/15, 701/301, 340/945
• US Class Current: 701/15
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0065 for taking-off
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/065 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. for taxiing or rolling

Abstract

A method and system for resolving existing and potential traffic conflicts that may occur during take-off and landing in aviation that includes means of monitoring movements on the runway, its approaches and environs to determine whether a conflict or potential conflict exists, means to resolve a conflict and to generate an output pertaining to this resolution.

Claims

1. A method of resolving runway conflicts during an approach to a runway, a landing and a takeoff, the method comprising:

detecting a presence of traffic and mobile obstacles in at least one of a vicinity of an aircraft and an intended path of the aircraft, during an approach to a runway, a landing and a take-off;

determining whether at least one of a conflict and a potential conflict exists based on the detected traffic;

then determining, via a processing device, an escape manoeuvre based on the geometry and dynamics of the at least one conflict and potential conflict that will successfully resolve the at least one conflict and potential conflict; and

generating an output pertaining to the determined manoeuvre.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a performance of the aircraft to determine is used to determine the manoeuvre to resolve the at least one conflict and potential conflict.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein scheduled performance data is used to determine the manoeuvre to resolve the at least conflict and potential conflict.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a directive aural alert or an instruction is generated.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the aural alert directs a pilot to perform at least one of a go-around during landing, a stop during take-off, and a stop during taxi as the aircraft approaches the runway.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the aircraft is triggered to automatically execute the determined manoeuvre.

7. The method of claim 1, further including generating aural alerts pertaining to distances to the at least one conflict and potential conflict.

8. The method of claim 1, further including generating aural alerts advising a pilot that the at least one conflict and potential conflict is resolved when the conflict or potential conflict is resolved.

9. The method of claim 1, further including storing and retrieving runway and airport survey data.

10. The method of claim 1, further including displaying on a graphical display a position of the aircraft with respect to the runway or other geographical point on an airfield.

11. The method of claim 10, further including displaying on a graphical display other traffic in relation to geographic points on the airfield and in relation to the aircraft.

12. The method of claim 1, further including communicating, via a communication device, with other aircraft, vehicles or entities to enable coordination of a conflict resolution manoeuvre.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein information pertaining to the determined conflict or potential conflict is transmitted.

14. The method of claim 1, further including resolving the at least one conflict and potential conflict in coordination with at least one of a conflict traffic and a conflict moving obstacle.

21. The method of claim 1, further including obtaining positional and kinematic information of the detected traffic using vector notation of the detected traffic and the aircraft.

15. A system for resolving runway conflicts, that monitors and detects a presence of traffic and mobile obstacles in a vicinity of an aircraft and an intended path of the aircraft during an approach to a runway, a landing, and a take-off, that determines whether at least one of a conflict and a potential conflict exists, that determines an escape manoeuvre that will successfully resolve the at least one conflict and potential conflict and generates an output pertaining to the determined manoeuvre, the system including a data acquisition device, a data processing device, and an output device to generate an output pertaining to the determined manoeuvre.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the output device includes an audio device.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the output device includes a display device.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the output device is electrically connected to a guidance system of the aircraft.

19. The system of claim 15, further including a data storage device for storing and retrieving runway and airport survey data.

20. The system of claim 15, further including a wireless datalink device for communicating with other aircraft, vehicles and entities to enable coordination of a conflict resolution manoeuvre.