Integrated live and simulation environment system for an aircraft

• US 9,230,446 B1
• Filed: 12/01/2009
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Lechner, Robert James, Mendro, Lindsay Ann, Hicks, Kelly Jean, Guehne, Robert Edward, Huether, Carolynne Ann
• Primary Examiner(s): Musselman, Timothy A
• Application Number:
  US12/628,831
• Time in Patent Office: 2,226 Days
• Field of Search: 434 29- 71, 703/8, 731/180.3, 244/220
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/003 for military purposes and tactics
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/44 providing simulation in a real aircraft flying through the atmosphere without restriction of its path

Abstract

A method and apparatus comprising an aircraft, a network interface, a display system, a sensor system, and a computer system. The network interface, the display system, the sensor system, and the computer system are associated with the aircraft. The network interface is configured to exchange data using a wireless communications link. The computer system is configured to run a number of processes to receive simulation data received through the network interface over the wireless communications link. The computer system is configured to generate simulation sensor data using the simulation data. The computer system is configured to receive live sensor data from the sensor system associated with the aircraft. The computer system is also configured to present the simulation sensor data with the live sensor data on the display system.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an aircraft;

a network interface associated with the aircraft, wherein the network interface is configured to exchange data using a wireless communications link;

a display system associated with the aircraft;

a sensor system associated with the aircraft configured to obtain live sensor data for the aircraft, at least a portion of the live sensor data including data obtained from an infrared targeting pod positioned external to the aircraft;

a first computer system associated with the aircraft, the first computer system in communication with the network interface;

the network interface in communication with a second computer system at a location remote from the aircraft, the second computer system configured to;

perform a simulation of a number of objects and

generate simulation data from the simulation and send the simulation data to the network interface, such that the simulation data comprises;

constructive data that comprises data generated by a software program to simulate an object; and

virtual data that comprises data generated through a training device that receives a manual input;

the first computer system being configured to run a number of processes the number of processes comprising a model of a sensor in the sensor system receive the simulation data generated at the second computer system through the network interface over the wireless communications link;

separate the simulation data into arrays of simulation data;

responsive to receiving the simulation data, transformed to a format that matches the live sensor data, and generate simulation sensor data using the simulation data;

receive live sensor data from the sensor system associated with the aircraft; and

present the simulation sensor data with the live sensor data on the display system.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in presenting the simulation sensor data and the live sensor data on the display system, the first computer system is configured to process the simulation sensor data and the live sensor data on the display system to form processed sensor data and present the processed sensor data on the display system simultaneously.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein in processing the simulation sensor data and the live sensor data, the first computer system is configured to create information about a number of objects in the simulation sensor data and the live sensor data and present the information about the number of objects.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the model of the sensor further includes at least one model that is selected from a group comprising an infrared sensor model, an Interrogator Friend or Foe model, a chaff and flair dispenser model, and an electronic warfare jamming model.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first computer system is configured to run the number of processes to receive the simulation data received through the network interface;

generate the simulation sensor data using the simulation data;

receive the live sensor data from the sensor system associated with the aircraft; and

present the simulation sensor data with the live sensor data on the display system while the aircraft is in flight.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a weapons server configured to generate results for simulation weapons fired by the aircraft.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the weapons server runs on the second computer system at a ground location.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a number of flight simulators configured to generate the simulation data and send the simulation data to the network interface.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second computer system is located at a ground terminal.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first computer system is further configured to run the number of processes, after separating the simulation data into arrays of simulation data.

11. An apparatus comprising:

an aircraft having a sensor system;

a training software; and

a computer system, a first portion of the computer system is in a location remote to the aircraft and a portion of the training software runs on the first portion of the computer system, a second portion of the computer system on the aircraft, such that a number of processes on the second portion of the computer system comprise a model of a sensor in the sensor system, the computer system being configured to run the training software such that the training software;

receives simulation data from the first portion of the computer system, such that the simulation data comprises;

constructive data that comprises data generated by a software program to simulate an object; and

virtual data that comprises data generated through a training device that receives a manual input;

separates the simulation data into arrays of simulation data;

creates, responsive to receiving the simulation data, simulation sensor data from the simulation data using the model of the sensor;

receive live sensor data from the sensor system associated with the aircraft, such that at least a portion of the live sensor data comprises data obtained from an infrared targeting pod positioned external to the aircraft; and

present the simulation sensor data, transformed to a format matching the live sensor data, and the live sensor data on a display system.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:

the aircraft with a network interface, the display system, and the sensor system.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the training software comprises the model of the sensor.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the computer system is configured to run the training software to generate ownship data for the aircraft and send the ownship data to a remote computer system.

15. A method for training in an aircraft, the method comprising:

generating simulation data from a number of simulators in a computer system located remote from the aircraft, such that the simulation data comprises;

constructive data that comprises data generated by a software program to simulate an object; and

virtual data that comprises data generated through a training device that receives a manual input;

receiving the simulation data from a network interface in the aircraft during a training session, the network interface using a wireless communications link to receive the simulation data;

separating the simulation data in a computer system in the aircraft into arrays of simulation data;

receiving live sensor data from a sensor system in the aircraft, at least a portion of the live sensor data including data obtained from an infrared targeting pod positioned external to the aircraft;

responsive to receiving the simulation data, generating simulation sensor data using the simulation data, using a model of the sensor, the simulation sensor data transformed to a format matching the live sensor data; and

presenting the simulation sensor data with the live sensor data on a display system in the aircraft.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the simulation data comprises at least one of constructive data and virtual data.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

generating ownship data for the aircraft; and

sending the ownship data to a remote computer system using the network interface.