Cognitive aircraft hazard advisory system (CAHAS)

• US 8,548,727 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2008
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Kauffman, Donald C., Dorneich, Michael Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US12/323,350
• Publication Number:
  US 20090276149A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,771 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/3, 701/300, 701/301, 701/120, 701/200, 701/8, 701/9, 701/302, 340/945, 340/961, 340/963, 340/951, 340/968, 340/973, 340/902, 340/964, 180/167
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0008 with other aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0078 for monitoring traffic from the aircraft radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0086 for monitoring terrain radar or analogous systems specially adapted for terrain avoidance G01S13/935
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0091 for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W
• 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

Integrated surveillance systems and methods for processing multiple sensor inputs and determining a best route for avoiding multiple hazards. An example method performed on a first aircraft includes generating a plurality of routes for avoiding a previously determined alert from a first advisory system. Then, probability of success information is generated at other advisory systems for each of the plurality of routes. The best route of the plurality of routes is determined based on the generated probabilities and output to the flight crew or other aircraft. The probability of success information includes a previously defined uncertainty value. The uncertainty value corresponds to quality of data provided to or provided by the respective advisory system.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

on a first aircraft,

at a plurality of advisory systems, generating a plurality of routes for avoiding a previously determined alert;

at a processing device, generating probability of safe outcome from a hazardous situation for each of the plurality of routes; and

at the processing device, determining a best route of the plurality of routes based on the generated probabilities of safe outcome from a hazardous situation;

at an output device outputting the determined best route, wherein outputting comprises outputting the determined best route to at least one other aircraft,

on the at least one other aircraft,

at a processing device,

generating a plurality of routes based on the outputted best route;

generating probability of safe outcome at local advisory systems for each of the plurality of routes; and

determining the best route of the plurality of routes based on the generated probabilities; and

at an output device outputting the determined best route.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the previously determined alert is from a first advisory system, and wherein the probability of safe outcome of flight information comprises a previously defined uncertainty value, wherein the uncertainty value corresponds to accuracy of at least one of data provided to or provided by the respective one of the first or other advisory systems.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the plurality of routes is based on information received from one of a Flight Management System (FMS) or a Flight Control System (FC).

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising at the processing device of the first aircraft receiving at least one of aircraft traffic or weather hazard information from at least one of ground or satellite-based systems, wherein generating the plurality of routes is based on the received at least one of aircraft traffic or weather hazard information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of advisory systems are selected from the group consisting of:

a Traffic Alert Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), an Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS), a Weather Radar, and an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) In System.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of advisory systems are three or more of a Traffic Alert Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), an Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS), a Weather Radar, an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) In System.

7. A system comprising:

on a first aircraft,

a first advisory system configured to generate a plurality of routes for avoiding a previously determined alert based on the generated flight information;

at least one other advisory system configured to generate probability of safe outcome from a hazardous situation for each of the plurality of routes; and

a component configured to determine a best route of the plurality of routes based on the generated probabilities of safe outcome from a hazardous situation and output the determined best route, wherein the component outputs the determined best route to other aircraft,

on the other aircraft,

a first component configured to generate a plurality of routes based on the outputted best route from the first aircraft;

one or more advisory systems configured to generate probability of safe outcome from a hazardous situation for each of the plurality of routes; and

a second component configured to determine a best route of the plurality of routes based on the generated probabilities and output the determined best route.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the probability of safe outcome of flight information comprises a previously defined uncertainty value, wherein the uncertainty value corresponds to accuracy of at least one of data provided to or provided by the respective one of the first or other advisory systems.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the first aircraft further comprises at least one of a Flight Management System (FMS) or a Flight Control System (FC) for generating the flight information, wherein the first advisory system generates the plurality of routes based on the generated flight information.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the first aircraft further comprises a component configured to receive at least one of aircraft traffic or weather hazard information from at least one of ground or satellite-based systems, wherein the first advisory system generates the plurality of routes based on the received at least one of aircraft traffic or weather hazard information.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the first and the at least one other advisory system are selected from the group consisting of:

a Traffic Alert Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), an Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS), a Weather Radar, and an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) In System.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the first and the at least one other advisory system are three or more of a Traffic Alert Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), an Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS), a Weather Radar, an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) In System.