Wind calculation system using a constant bank angle turn

• US 9,208,688 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2013
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Spinelli, Charles B., Taylor, Bobby D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Application Number:
  US14/045,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20140039732A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0204 to counteract a sudden perturbation, e.g. cross-wind, gust
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0039 Modification of a flight plan

Abstract

A method and apparatus for operating an aircraft. The aircraft is flown at a constant bank angle in which the aircraft crosses an intended ground track for the aircraft. Information is identified about a wind using positions of the aircraft flying at the constant bank angle.

Claims

1. An aircraft ground track control system comprising:

a location sensor configured such that, during a flight of the aircraft, the location sensor determines a location of the aircraft; and

a computer system comprising;

a connection of the computer system to the aircraft when the aircraft lacks a receiver for information about a direction and a velocity of a wind that can affect a flight of the aircraft over an intended ground track; and

a code programmed to receive information about the aircraft as the aircraft flies along a maneuver ground track with a constant bank angle such that the maneuver ground track crosses the intended ground track of the aircraft at two points along the intended ground track and the code determines, based upon the intended ground track and positions of the aircraft, received from the location sensor, as the aircraft flies along the maneuver ground track, the direction and the velocity of the wind, and adjust a heading flown by the aircraft to maintain the intended ground track.

2. The aircraft ground track control system of claim 1, wherein the computer system comprises a program code to identify, based upon the direction and the velocity of the wind, a wind correction angle.

3. The aircraft ground track control system of claim 2, wherein the aircraft is an unmanned aerial vehicle and the computer system comprises a program code to adjust the heading, based upon the wind correction angle, of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

4. The aircraft ground track control system of claim 1, wherein the computer system comprises a code programmed to automatically receive information about the aircraft flying along the intended ground track with the constant bank angle in which the maneuver ground track crosses the intended ground track of the aircraft and identify the information about the wind from the positions of the aircraft along the maneuver ground track.

5. The aircraft ground track control system of claim 1, wherein the aircraft flies in a turn at the constant bank angle in which the aircraft crosses the intended ground track for the aircraft.

6. The aircraft ground track control system of claim 1, wherein the aircraft is an unmanned aerial vehicle.

7. The aircraft ground track control system of claim 1, wherein the computer system is located in at least one of the aircraft and a remote location.

8. The aircraft ground track control system of claim 1, wherein the information about the wind comprises a wind vector.

9. The aircraft ground track control system of claim 1, further comprising the computer comprising a code programmed to determine a true airspeed for the aircraft.

10. The aircraft ground track control system of claim 1, further comprising the computer comprising a code programmed to determine a true angle heading rate for the aircraft.

11. A machine for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:

a computer in communication with the unmanned aerial vehicle and comprising a code programmed to;

determine a speed and a direction of a wind that affects a control input that keeps the unmanned aerial vehicle flying along an intended ground track, based upon inputs of;

a constant bank angle in which the unmanned aerial vehicle crosses the intended ground track for the unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein the constant bank angle is a first constant bank angle as the unmanned aerial vehicle crosses the intended ground track for the unmanned aerial vehicle in a first turn at the first constant bank angle in which the unmanned aerial vehicle crosses the intended ground track for the unmanned aerial vehicle; and

a second constant bank angle in which the unmanned aerial vehicle crosses the intended ground track for the unmanned aerial vehicle from an opposite direction of the intended ground track in a second turn;

identify a wind correction angle based upon the speed and the direction of the wind;

identify a heading, based upon the wind correction angle, for the unmanned aerial vehicle to maintain the intended ground track; and

adjust, based upon the heading, a flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle to fly on the intended ground track, such that the unmanned aerial vehicle flies on the intended ground track.

12. The machine of claim 11, further comprising the computer comprising a code programmed to determine a true airspeed for the unmanned aerial vehicle.

13. The machine of claim 11, further comprising the computer comprising a code programmed to determine a true angle heading rate for the unmanned aerial vehicle.