Aircraft system and method for improving navigation performance

• US 9,097,529 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2012
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Shehi, Christopher John, Crocker, Reginald, TenPasBell, Kimberly, Johnson, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stroud, James E
• Application Number:
  US13/547,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20140019038A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 701/416
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 high integrity navigation system and method are provided. The method comprises performing a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) of a desired flight path of an aircraft, for example an approach to an airport, and comparing the CRC with a stored CRC performed on the identified flight path. If the comparison exceeds a first threshold, a first alert is provided wherein the pilot is to perform a published missed approach. A second alert, also requiring a missed approach, is provided when one or more comparisons are performed of a sensor position of the aircraft with the high integrity flight path; a defined flight path with the high integrity flight path; and the sensor position with an aircraft position determined by a flight management system, and thresholds are exceeded.

Claims

1. A method allowing an aircraft to navigate by required navigation performance, the aircraft including a flight management system, a processor, and a display, the method comprising:

storing a plurality of flight paths and a first cyclic redundancy check for each of the flight paths in the flight management system;

identifying one of the flight paths as a desired flight path in the flight management system;

providing the identified flight path to the display;

displaying the desired flight path even if the identified flight path is no longer being received by the display;

computing a second cyclic redundancy check by the processor for the desired flight path;

comparing by the processor the first cyclic redundancy check of the identified flight path with the second cyclic redundancy check;

providing a first alert signal by the processor to the display when the comparison of the first cyclic redundancy check of the identified flight path with the second cyclic redundancy check exceeds a first threshold;

determining a sensor position of the aircraft by an external sensor of the aircraft;

comparing within the processor the sensor position with the high integrity flight path; and

providing by the processor a second alert signal and the high integrity flight path to the display when the comparison of the sensor position with the high integrity flight path exceeds a second threshold;

displaying a first alert when the first alert signal is provided; and

displaying a second alert when the second alert signal is provided.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing by the processor the second alert signal and the new flight path to the display when a comparison of the sensor position with an aircraft position determined by the flight management system exceeds a third threshold.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a defined flight path by the flight management system; and

providing by the processor the second alert signal and the high integrity flight path to the display when a comparison of the defined flight path with the high integrity flight path exceeds a third threshold.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing by the processor the second alert signal and the high integrity flight path to the display when information from the flight management system is not available.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying a published missed approach when the first alert signal is provided.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the steps are accomplished in sequence and further comprising:

repeating the step of comparing the sensor position with the high integrity flight path until the identified flight path is completed.

7. A method allowing an aircraft to navigate by required navigation performance, the aircraft including a flight management system, a processor, and a display, the method comprising:

storing a plurality of flight paths and a first cyclic redundancy check for each of the flight paths in the flight management system;

identifying one of the flight paths as a desired flight path in the flight management system;

providing the identified flight path to the display;

displaying the desired flight path even if the identified flight path is no longer being received by the display;

computing a second cyclic redundancy check by the processor for the desired flight path;

comparing by the processor the first cyclic redundancy check of the identified flight path with the second cyclic redundancy check;

providing a first alert signal by the processor to the display when the comparison of the first cyclic redundancy check of the identified flight path with the second cyclic redundancy check exceeds a first threshold;

performing at least one of the actions selected from the group consisting of;

comparing within the processor a sensor position of the aircraft as determined by the processor with a high integrity flight path;

determining a defined flight path by the flight management system and comparing the defined flight path with the high integrity flight path; and

comparing the sensor position with an aircraft position determined by the flight management system;

providing by the processor a second alert signal to the display when at least one of the actions exceeds a threshold;

displaying on the display a first alert when the first alert signal is provided; and

displaying on the display a second alert when the second alert signal is provided.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

providing by the processor the second alert signal and the high integrity flight path to the display when information from the flight management system is not available.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

displaying a published missed approach when the first alert signal is provided.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

displaying the high integrity flight path when the second alert signal is provided.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the steps are accomplished in sequence and further comprising:

repeating the steps from the step of comparing the sensor position with the high integrity flight path until the high integrity flight path is completed.

12. An aircraft navigation system comprising:

a flight management system including a navigation database and configured to;

store a plurality of flight paths and a first cyclic redundancy check for each of the flight paths; and

identify one of the flight paths;

determine a sensor position of the aircraft;

a processor coupled to the flight management system, the processor configured to;

compute a second cyclic redundancy check for the identified flight path;

compare the first cyclic redundancy check with the second cyclic redundancy check;

provide a first alert signal to the display when the comparison of the first cyclic redundancy check with the second cyclic redundancy check exceeds a first threshold;

determine a high integrity flight path;

compare the sensor position with the high integrity flight path; and

provide a second alert signal and the high integrity flight path when the comparison of the sensor position with the high integrity flight path exceeds a second threshold; and

a display coupled to the flight management system and configured to;

receiving by the display the identified flight path;

displaying the desired flight path even if the identified flight path is no longer being received by the display;

display a first alert in response to the first alert signal; and

display a second alert in response to the second alert signal.

13. The aircraft display system of claim 12 wherein the flight navigation system is further configured to:

determine a defined flight path;

and the processor is further configured to;

provide the second alert signal and the high integrity flight path when a comparison of the defined flight path with the high integrity flight path exceeds a third threshold.

14. The aircraft display system of claim 12 further comprising an external sensor configured to:

sense a second position of the aircraft; and

wherein the processor is further configured to;

provide the second alert signal and the high integrity flight path when a comparison of the sensor position with an aircraft position determined by the flight management system exceeds a third threshold.

15. The aircraft display system of claim 12 wherein the processor is further configured to:

provide the second alert signal and the high integrity flight path to the display when information from the flight management system is not available.

16. The aircraft display system of claim 12 wherein the processor is further configured to:

display a published missed approach when the first alert signal is provided.

17. The aircraft display system of claim 12 wherein the steps are processed in sequence and the processor is further configured to:

repeat the steps from the step of comparing the sensor position with the high integrity flight path until the aircraft has completed flying the high integrity flight path.