System and method for generating and displaying an electric taxi index

• US 8,676,399 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2011
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Nutaro, Joseph, Hughes, Keith, Pepitone, David
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US13/301,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20130131888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/7, 701 13- 16, 701/22, 244/158.1, 180/65.21, 180/65.28, 180/65.31
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• 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 5/0091 for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/065 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. for taxiing or rolling

Abstract

A taxi method for an aircraft having a primary thrust engine taxi system and an electric taxi system is provided. The method involves obtaining aircraft and airport status data and generating therefrom taxi drive information indicative of the relative cost of taxiing the aircraft along a predetermined route using the electric taxi system versus the aircraft engine taxi system. The taxi drive index information is presented to a user.

Claims

1. A taxi method for an aircraft having a primary thrust engine taxi system and an electric taxi system, the method comprising:

obtaining aircraft status data for the aircraft;

obtaining airport status data associated with an airport;

generating, in response to the aircraft status data and the airport status data, taxi drive information indicative of the relative cost of taxiing the aircraft along a predetermined route using the electric taxi system and the aircraft engine taxi system; and

presenting the taxi drive information to a user.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising presenting the aircraft status data and the airport status data to a processor onboard the aircraft.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the processor is an electronic flight bag.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the step of obtaining aircraft status data comprises obtaining information from an airline operator.

5. A method according to claim 3, wherein the step of obtaining aircraft status data comprises obtaining information from systems onboard the aircraft.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the step of obtaining airport status data comprises obtaining information from at least one of an airport operator and an airport service.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of generating comprises displaying recommending use of the electric drive taxi system if the cost of using the electric drive taxi system is less than the cost of using the engine taxi system.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the step of generating comprises displaying taxi drive information that recommends using the electric drive index if the cost of using the electric drive taxi system is less than the cost of using the engine taxi system by a predetermined threshold.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined threshold is related to a historical success rate of reducing cost when the electric drive system has been selected under similar conditions.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the aircraft status data comprises its weight, engine, and apu fuel burn characteristics.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the airport status data comprises at least one of airport identification, airport configuration, gate number, runway identification, taxi route clearance, and congestion data.

12. A method carried out by a cockpit display system including a cockpit monitor, the method comprising:

receiving aircraft and airport status data relating to a host aircraft having a primary thrust engine taxi system and an electric drive taxi system;

comparing the cost of utilizing an electric drive taxi system to the cost of utilizing an aircraft engine taxi system when taxiing a predetermined route; and

generating a display on the cockpit monitor including symbology indicative of which taxi system would be less costly to operate.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising displaying the symbology on a touchscreen display.

14. A method according to claim 13, further comprising, entering aircraft and airport status data via the touchscreen display.

15. A method according to claim 14, further comprising selecting on the touchscreen display whether the predetermined route is prior to takeoff or prior to landing.

16. A method according to claim 15, further comprising entering information relating to aircraft data and aircraft data.

17. A display system for deployment onboard an aircraft including a data source that provides a display system with data indicative of the relative efficiency of using an electric drive taxi system and an aircraft engine taxi system to travel along a predetermined path, comprising:

a monitor for receiving and displaying taxi data; and

a processor operatively coupled to the monitor and configured to generate a display including symbology indicative whether it would be more cost effective to utilize the electric drive taxi system or the aircraft engine taxi system for a given taxi route.

18. A display system according to claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to receive

airport and airline status data relating to the aircraft.

19. A display system according to claim 18 wherein the processor is configured to generate a display on the monitor including symbology recommending use of the electric drive taxi system if the predicted cost of using the electric drive taxi system along a predetermined taxi route is less than that of using the aircraft engine taxi system.

20. A display system according to claim 19, wherein the processor is a portable processor.