System and method for determining an object threat level

• US 8,600,587 B1
• Filed: 09/16/2010
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2010
• 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: Seah, Kirschen A., Kronfeld, Kevin M., Finley, Jeffery A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CAMBY, RICHARD M
• Application Number:
  US12/884,018
• Time in Patent Office: 1,174 Days
• Field of Search: 701/10, 701/14, 701/415, 701/416
• US Class Current: 701/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/00 Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration
• 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

A vehicle system for determining an object threat level, includes a display and electronics configured to receive mission context data indicating an operational state of the vehicle. The electronics determines a threat level of the object in response to the mission context data. The electronics determines at least one recommended action in response to the threat level. The electronics provides an indication of the threat level and at least one recommended action to the display.

Claims

1. A vehicle system for determining an object threat level associated with a threat, comprising:

a display; and

electronics configured to receive mission context data indicating an operational state of the vehicle and data relating to weather, the electronics determining the object threat level in response to the mission context data, the electronics determining at least one recommended action in response to the object threat level and the operational state of the vehicle, the electronics providing an indication of the object threat level and the at least one recommended action to the display;

wherein the electronics is configured to provide a representation of the weather on the display, the representation including an indication of the object threat level, wherein the recommended action is a proposed flight path, the proposed flight path avoiding the threat, wherein the proposed flight plan is provided on the display.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the data related to the weather comprises weather radar data.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a weather radar system configured to provide the weather radar data.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the electronics receives mission context data from multiple sources, the electronics determining a priority for the mission context data from the multiple sources.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the proposed flight path is depicted as a dashed line.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the proposed flight path is a route around the threat when the passengers are determined to be or are likely to be sleeping and the threat is light turbulence.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronics determines a priority of multiple threat levels for multiple threats and recommended actions for the multiple threats.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface element configured to receive user input related to a query of the threat level or at least one recommended action, the electronics providing an indication of the reasoning for the threat level or at least one recommended action to the display.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface element configured to receive user input related to confirmation, revision, or denial of the at least one recommended action.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronics automatically provides at least one of an alert to passengers to fasten safety belts and an alert to flight attendants to discontinue beverage service.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises an aircraft or a ground vehicle.

12. A method for determining an object threat level associated with a weather threat to a vehicle, comprising:

receiving mission context data indicating an operational state of the vehicle at electronics, the mission contest data comprising data related to weather;

determining the object threat level of the weather threat in response to the data related to the weather using the electronics;

determining at least one recommended action in response to the object threat level and the operational state using the electronics; and

providing an indication of the object threat level and the at least one recommended action from the electronics to a display, wherein a representation of the weather is provided on the display, the representation including the indication of the object threat level and wherein the recommended action is a proposed flight path avoiding the weather threat and wherein the proposed flight path is provided on the display.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the data related to weather comprises weather radar data.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining a priority for mission context data received from multiple sources using the electronics.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the proposed flight path is depicted as a dashed line.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the recommended alternate route is a route around the weather threat when the passengers are determined to be or are likely to be sleeping and the weather threat is light turbulence.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining a priority of multiple threat levels and recommended actions for multiple objects using the electronics.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving user input related to a query of the object threat level or at least one recommended action at a user interface; and

providing an indication of the reasoning for the threat level or at least one recommended action to the display.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

automatically providing at least one of an alert to passengers to fasten safety belts and an alert to flight attendants to discontinue beverage service.

20. A vehicle system for determining an object threat level of a weather threat, comprising:

means for receiving mission context data indicating an operational state of the vehicle and including data related to weather;

means for determining the object threat level in response to the mission context data;

means for determining at least one recommended action in response to the object threat level; and

means for providing an indication of the object threat level and an indication of the at least one recommended action, wherein a representation of the weather is provided on a display, the representation including the indication of the object threat level and wherein the recommended action is a proposed flight path avoiding the weather threat and is provided on the display.