Method for assisting the piloting of an aircraft on the ground and system for its implementation

• US 9,401,094 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2015
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus SAS (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Cros, Christophe, Loubiere, Vincent, Godin, Alexandre
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stroud, James E
• Application Number:
  US14/790,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20160005319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/20 Perspective computation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/045 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. determination of anti-collision manoeuvers radar or analogous systems specially adapted for anti-collision between aircraft G01S13/933
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/065 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. for taxiing or rolling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/635 Region indicators; Field of view indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A method for assisting the piloting of an aircraft on the ground comprises the steps of obtaining a panoramic view of at least one area adjacent to the aircraft, isolating an image corresponding to a part of the panoramic view and which is selected according to an orientation desired by the pilot, and displaying the image on a display device visible by the pilot. A system for the implementation of the method is also provided.

Claims

1. A method for assisting the piloting of an aircraft on the ground, comprising:

obtaining a panoramic view of at least one area adjacent to the aircraft,

indicating an orientation of a mobile display device using a pointer having an orientation sensor connected to the mobile display device,

indicating the orientation of the mobile display device to an image processing device,

using the image processing device, isolating an image which corresponds to a part of the panoramic view as a function of the orientation indicated by the pointer, and

displaying the isolated image on the mobile display device based on the orientation indicated by the pointer,

wherein an orientation of the image displayed on the display device is independent of the orientation of the display device.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising detecting an obstacle from the panoramic view, and emitting a signal if a distance separating the aircraft and the detected obstacle based on a predetermined value.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising reconstituting the panoramic view from a plurality of views captured by at least one camera.

4. A system for assisting the piloting of an aircraft on the ground, the aircraft comprising a fuselage, wings and landing gear, the system comprising:

at least one image acquisition device, attached to the aircraft, and configured to generate a panoramic or reconstituted panoramic view of at least one area adjacent to the aircraft,

a mobile display device,

a pointer constructed and arranged for indicating an orientation of the mobile display device and including an orientation sensor connected to the mobile display device, and configured to indicate the orientation of the mobile display device to an image processing device, and

wherein the image processing device, from the panoramic or reconsititued panoramic view, is configured to isolate an image as a function of the orientation indicated by the orientation sensor, and the isolated image is displayed on the display device based on the orientation indicated by the orientation sensor.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the mobile display device includes at least one of:

an immersive helmet and immersive glasses.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the mobile display device includes a tablet.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein the image acquisition device is disposed under the fuselage of the aircraft in an area where the wings join the fuselage.

8. The system according to claim 4, wherein the image acquisition device is adjustable in at least one of:

orientation and focus.

9. The system according to claim 4, wherein the image acquisition device is static and disposed inside a transparent cowl protruding with respect to the fuselage of the aircraft.

10. The system according to claim 4, wherein the image acquisition device is mobile between a first retracted position inside the fuselage and a second deployed position outside of the fuselage.

11. The system according to claim 4, further comprising at least one of:

a collision sensor and a line detection sensor.