Terrain awareness and warning systems and methods

• US 9,387,938 B1
• Filed: 09/17/2014
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Waweru, Samuel M., Vanderkamp, Travis S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US14/489,230
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 340/947, 340/975, 340/948, 340/949, 340/977, 340/980, 340/981, 340/982, 340985-987, 340/990, 340/995.1, 340/995.11, 340/995.17
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/935 for terrain-avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9323 Alternative operation using light waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/22 Producing cursor lines and indicia by electronic means

Abstract

Systems and methods for use in generating alerts regarding terrain near aircraft are provided. A method includes determining a location of interest relative to an aircraft using a terrain awareness and warning system. The method further includes calculating a distance value and a bearing value for the location of interest relative to the aircraft. The method further includes providing first display data to an electronic display and providing second display data to the electronic display. The first display data is configured to cause the electronic display to show an aircraft situation display image indicating the location of interest relative to the aircraft. The second display data is configured to cause the electronic display to show the calculated distance value and the calculated bearing value.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining a location of interest relative to an aircraft using a terrain awareness and warning system;

calculating a distance value and a bearing value for the location of interest relative to the aircraft;

providing first display data to an electronic display, the first display data configured to cause the electronic display to show an aircraft situation display image indicating the location of interest relative to the aircraft; and

providing second display data to the electronic display, the second display data configured to cause the electronic display to show the calculated distance value and the calculated bearing value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second display data is further configured to cause the electronic display to show an indicator line extending from the aircraft to the location of interest.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the indicator line includes markings, wherein the markings indicate distances to the location of interest.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating an amount of time that the aircraft will reach the location of interest, wherein the second display data is further configured to cause the electronic display to show the calculated amount of time.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the calculated amount of time is based on the velocity of the aircraft.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

updating the second display data as the aircraft approaches the location of interest.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating an elevation value of the location of interest relative to the aircraft, wherein the second display data is further configured to cause the electronic display to show the elevation value.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

comparing an altitude of the aircraft with an altitude threshold, wherein the second display data is provided to the electronic display based in part on whether the altitude of the aircraft is above the altitude threshold.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

comparing a horizontal distance between the aircraft and the location of interest to a horizontal distance threshold, wherein the second display data is provided to the electronic display based in part on whether the horizontal distance between the aircraft and the location of interest is below the horizontal distance threshold.

10. A system, comprising:

an electronic display; and

an electronic processor configured to;

determine a location of interest relative to an aircraft using a terrain awareness and warning system;

calculate a distance value and a bearing value for the location of interest relative to the aircraft;

provide first display data to an electronic display, the first display data configured to cause the electronic display to show an aircraft situation display image indicating the location of interest relative to the aircraft; and

provide second display data to the electronic display, the second display data configured to cause the electronic display to show the calculated distance value and the calculated bearing value.

11. The system of claim 10, the electronic processor further configured to:

calculate an amount of time that the aircraft will reach the location of interest, wherein the second display data is further configured to cause the electronic display to show the calculated amount of time.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the calculated amount of time is based on the velocity of the aircraft.

13. The system of claim 11, the electronic processor further configured to:

update the second display data as the aircraft approaches the location of interest.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

calculating an elevation value of the location of interest relative to the aircraft, wherein the second display data is further configured to cause the electronic display to show the elevation value.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the second display data is further configured to cause the electronic display to show an indicator line extending from the aircraft to the location of interest, and wherein the indicator line includes markings, wherein the markings indicate distances to the location of interest.

16. The system of claim 10, the electronic processor further configured to:

compare an altitude of the aircraft with an altitude threshold, wherein the second display data is provided to the electronic display based in part on whether the altitude of the aircraft is above the altitude threshold.

17. The system of claim 16, the electronic processor further configured to:

compare a horizontal distance between the aircraft and the location of interest to a horizontal distance threshold, wherein the second display data is provided to the electronic display based in part on whether the horizontal distance between the aircraft and the location of interest is below the horizontal distance threshold.

18. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media having instructions stored thereon, the instructions being executable by one or more processors of an aircraft to:

determine a location of interest relative to an aircraft using a terrain awareness and warning system;

calculate a distance value and a bearing value for the location of interest relative to the aircraft;

provide first display data to an electronic display, the first display data configured to cause the electronic display to show an aircraft situation display image indicating the location of interest relative to the aircraft; and

provide second display data to the electronic display, the second display data configured to cause the electronic display to show the calculated distance value, the calculated bearing value, and an indicator line extending from the aircraft to the location of interest.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 18, the instructions being further executable by one or more processors of the aircraft to:

calculate an amount of time that the aircraft will reach the location of interest, wherein the second display data is further configured to cause the electronic display to show the calculated amount of time.

20. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 18, the instructions being further executable by one or more processors of the aircraft to:

update the second display data as the aircraft approaches the location of interest.

21. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 18, wherein the indicator line includes markings, wherein the markings indicate distances to the location of interest.

22. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 18, the instructions being further executable by one or more processors of the aircraft to:

compare an altitude of the aircraft with an altitude threshold, wherein the second display data is provided to the electronic display based in part on whether the altitude of the aircraft is above the altitude threshold.

23. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 22, the instructions being further executable by one or more processors of the aircraft to:

compare a horizontal distance between the aircraft and the location of interest to a horizontal distance threshold, wherein the second display data is provided to the electronic display based in part on whether the horizontal distance between the aircraft and the location of interest is below the horizontal distance threshold.