System and methods for situation awareness, advisory, tracking, and aircraft control information

• US 9,324,236 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2011
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Estkowski, Regina I., Whitley, Ted Dell, Baumeister, Richard, Spence, Graham
• Primary Examiner(s): McNally, Kerri
• Application Number:
  US13/303,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20130126679A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,616 Days
• Field of Search: 340945-950, 340972-973, 34099511-99519, 340/961, 340/964, 340/953
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0039 Modification of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned 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

Abstract

A portable device for presenting situation awareness information is provided. The portable device is operable onboard an aircraft and includes a communications module configured to communicate with a data center to receive situation awareness information that includes at least a real-time position for each of a plurality of additional aircraft, a sensor module configured to determine a real-time position of the portable device, and a display device configured to overlay a moving map display with the situation awareness information and the real-time position of the portable device.

Claims

1. A portable device for presenting situation awareness information, said portable device operable onboard an aircraft and comprising:

a communications module configured to communicate with a data center to receive situation awareness information and routing commands from the data center, wherein the situation awareness information includes at least a real-time position for each of a plurality of additional aircraft;

an external device interface module configured to supply the routing commands received from the data center to an autopilot system of the aircraft;

a sensor module configured to determine a real-time position of said portable device; and

a display device configured to overlay a moving map display with the situation awareness information and the real-time position of said portable device, wherein said portable device is a tablet computer.

2. A portable device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said portable device is located onboard an unmanned aerial vehicle.

3. A portable device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said situation awareness information includes at least one of an advisory, a warning, and a route command.

4. A portable device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said portable device further comprises a user interface module configured to receive at least one alert from a user.

5. A portable device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said communications module is configured to receive situation awareness information that includes weather advisories, and wherein said display device is configured to display received weather advisories.

6. A portable device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said communications module is further configured to transmit the real-time position of said portable device to the data center, and wherein the data center is one of an automated dynamic airspace control center, an air route traffic control center, an airport-based control tower, a terminal radar approach control system, or a flight service station.

7. A portable device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said display device is further configured to display a plurality of waypoints corresponding to a flight plan of the aircraft.

8. A portable device in accordance with claim 7, wherein said display device is further configured to update the displayed plurality of waypoints based on the routing commands received from the data center.

9. A method for processing situation awareness information, said method comprising:

receiving, at a portable device operable onboard an aircraft, situation awareness information and routing commands from a data center, the situation awareness information including at least a real-time position for each of a plurality of additional aircraft;

supplying the routing commands received from the data center to an autopilot system of the aircraft;

determining a real-time position of the portable device; and

displaying, on the portable device, a moving map overlaid with the situation awareness information and the real-time position of the portable device, wherein the portable device is a tablet computer.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9, further comprising:

verifying, at the portable device, the validity of the routing commands, wherein the portable device is located onboard an unmanned aerial vehicle.

11. A method in accordance with claim 9, wherein determining a real-time position of the portable device comprises determining the real-time position of the portable device using a global positioning system sensor.

12. A method in accordance with claim 9, wherein receiving situation awareness information comprises receiving situation awareness information that includes locations of at least one of flocks of birds, thermals, turbulence, and control towers.

13. A method in accordance with claim 9, further comprising displaying, on the portable device, a plurality of waypoints corresponding to a flight plan of the aircraft.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13, further comprising:

updating the displayed plurality of waypoints based on the routing commands, wherein the data center is located onboard another aircraft.

15. A method for transmitting a real-time position of an aircraft comprising:

positioning a portable device onboard the aircraft, the portable device including a sensor module and a communications module;

determining the real-time position of the aircraft using the sensor module;

transmitting the real-time position of the aircraft from the portable device to a data center using the communications module, wherein the portable device is a tablet computer;

receiving, at the portable device, routing commands from the data center; and

supplying the routing commands received from the data center to an autopilot system of the aircraft.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, at the portable device, situation awareness information from a user onboard the aircraft; and

transmitting the situation awareness information from the portable device to the data center using the communications module.

17. A method in accordance with claim 15, wherein receiving situation awareness information comprises receiving one or more alerts.

18. A method in accordance with claim 15, wherein determining the real-time position of the aircraft comprises determining a real-time position of the portable device using a global positioning system sensor.