Display of climb capability for an aircraft based on potential states for the aircraft

• US 8,633,835 B1
• Filed: 08/25/2011
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Spencer, William F. V
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US13/217,773
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 340/977, 340/970, 342/65, 701/4, 701/14
• US Class Current: 340/977
• 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

Abstract

A method and apparatus for presenting information to operate an aircraft over terrain. A vertical profile view of the terrain is displayed relative to a location of the aircraft. A number of curves are displayed on the vertical profile view. The number of curves identify a climb capability for the aircraft based on a potential state for the aircraft.

Claims

1. A method for presenting information to operate an aircraft over terrain, the method comprising:

displaying a vertical profile view of the terrain relative to a location of the aircraft; and

displaying a number of curves on the vertical profile view, wherein the number of curves identify a climb capability of the aircraft based on a potential state for the aircraft.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the number of curves are a number of potential climb capability curves and identify a first number of maximum heights of the terrain that the aircraft can clear based on the potential state for the aircraft and further comprising:

displaying a number of current climb capability curves on the vertical profile view, wherein the number of current climb capability curves identify a second number of maximum heights of the terrain that the aircraft can clear based on a current state of the aircraft.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying the number of curves on the vertical profile view comprises:

displaying a curve on the vertical profile view, wherein the curve identifies a number of maximum heights of the terrain that the aircraft can clear by climbing and then changing to a substantially level flight, wherein the curve is based on the potential state of the aircraft, a minimum clearance height, and a desired safety margin.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the curve is a first curve and the number of maximum heights are a first number of maximum heights and wherein the step of displaying the number of curves on the vertical profile view further comprises:

displaying a second curve on the vertical profile view, wherein the second curve identifies a second number of maximum heights of the terrain that the aircraft can clear by climbing without taking into account whether the aircraft can change to the substantially level flight and wherein the second curve is based on the potential state of the aircraft, the minimum clearance height, and a safety margin less than the desired safety margin.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a first portion of the first curve overlaps with a second portion of the second curve.

6. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

responsive to a portion of the terrain being above the curve, generating an alert indicating that the aircraft cannot clear the terrain for the potential state for the aircraft.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether the aircraft is predicted to substantially maintain a desired height above the terrain during a flight of the aircraft based on the climb capability of the aircraft if the aircraft is in the potential state; and

selecting a number of maneuvers for operating the aircraft based on a current state for the aircraft and the climb capability for the aircraft if the aircraft is in the potential state when the aircraft is not predicted to substantially maintain the desired height above the terrain during the flight of the aircraft.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the number of potential climb capability curves are displayed using a first number of graphical indicators and the number of current climb capability curves are displayed using a second number of graphical indicators in which the first number of graphical indicators are different from the second number of graphical indicators.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a first graphical indicator for a curve in the number of potential climb capability curves is selected from at least one of a first color and a first pattern for the curve in the first number of curves and a second graphical indicator for a curve in the number of current climb capability curves is selected from at least one of a second color and a second pattern for the curve in the second number of curves.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the potential state for the aircraft comprises at least one of a change in a flight plan, dropping cargo at an unplanned location, not dropping the cargo at a planned location, an unplanned change in a configuration for control surfaces for the aircraft, and a loss of an engine.

11. A method for operating an aircraft over terrain, the method comprising:

determining whether the aircraft is predicted to substantially maintain a desired height above the terrain during a flight of the aircraft using a vertical profile view of the terrain and a number of curves displayed on the vertical profile view; and

selecting a number of maneuvers for operating the aircraft based on the potential state for the aircraft and a current state for the aircraft when the aircraft is not predicted to substantially maintain the desired height above the terrain during the flight of the aircraft.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

performing the number of maneuvers selected for operating the aircraft during the flight of the aircraft such that the aircraft will substantially maintain the desired height above the terrain if the potential state for the aircraft occurs.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a display device;

a storage device;

program code stored on the storage device; and

a processor unit configured to run the program code to display a vertical profile view of terrain relative to a location of an aircraft; and

display a number of curves on the vertical profile view, wherein the number of curves identify a climb capability of the aircraft based on a potential state for the aircraft.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the number of curves are a number of potential climb capability curves and identify a first number of maximum heights of the terrain that the aircraft can clear based on the potential state of the aircraft and wherein the processor unit is further configured to run the program code to display a number of current climb capability curves on the vertical profile view, wherein the number of current climb capability curves identify a second number of maximum heights of the terrain that the aircraft can clear based on a current state of the aircraft.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein in being configured to run the program code to display the number of curves on the vertical profile view, the processor unit is configured to run the program code to display a curve on the vertical profile view, wherein the curve identifies a number of maximum heights of the terrain that the aircraft can clear by climbing and then changing to a substantially level flight, wherein the curve is based on the potential state of the aircraft, a minimum clearance height, and a desired safety margin.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the curve is a first curve and the number of maximum heights are a first number of maximum heights and wherein in being configured to run the program code to display the number of curves on the vertical profile view, the processor unit is further configured to run the program code to display a second curve on the vertical profile view, wherein the second curve identifies a second number of maximum heights of the terrain that the aircraft can clear by climbing without taking into account whether the aircraft can change to the substantially level flight and wherein the second curve is based on the potential state for the aircraft, the minimum clearance height, and a safety margin less than the desired safety margin.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processor unit is further configured to run the program code to generate an alert indicating that the aircraft cannot clear the terrain for the potential state for the aircraft in response to a portion of the terrain being above the curve.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the potential state for the aircraft comprises at least one of a change in a flight plan, dropping cargo at an unplanned location, not dropping the cargo at a planned location, an unplanned change in a configuration for control surfaces for the aircraft, and a loss of an engine.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the number of potential climb capability curves are displayed using a first number of graphical indicators and the number of current climb capability curves are displayed using a second number of graphical indicators in which the first number of graphical indicators are different from the second number of graphical indicators.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein a first graphical indicator for a curve in the number of potential climb capability curves is selected from at least one of a first color and a first pattern for the curve in the first number of curves and a second graphical indicator for a curve in the number of current climb capability curves is selected from at least one of a second color and a second pattern for the curve in the second number of curves.