Architecture independent event driven transponders and position reporting devices

• US 9,403,602 B1
• Filed: 05/12/2014
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Paulus, Ryan J., Heinrich, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tissot, Adam
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pipala, Edward J
• Application Number:
  US14/275,221
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0065 Black boxes, devices automatically broadcasting distress signals
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0059 by communicating emergency situations to ground control or between crew members
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0231 Emergency, distress or locator beacons
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0008 with other aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0056 in an emergency situation, e.g. hijacking

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing architecture independent event driven vehicle position reporting are disclosed. The position reporting capability in accordance with the present disclosure is provided by a stand-alone, self-contained apparatus operating independently from the rest of the systems onboard a vehicle. This stand-alone, self-contained apparatus is configured to detect a non-nominal or a hostile condition, and automatically starts position reporting and/or tracking. In addition, this stand-alone, self-contained apparatus is configured in a manner so that it cannot be turned off or disabled.

Claims

1. A vehicle position reporting system, comprising:

an event monitor, the event monitor configured to monitor an operating condition of at least one device located on the vehicle and to detect an occurrence of a triggering event; and

a locator transmitter, the locator transmitter configured to ping a satellite system when the locator transmitter is activated,

wherein the locator transmitter is activated by the event monitor when the occurrence of the triggering event is detected, and wherein the event monitor and the locator transmitter are prevented from being disabled by a vehicle operator.

2. The vehicle position reporting system of claim 1, wherein the locator transmitter is an emergency locator transmitter configured to ping a satellite system for search and rescue.

3. The vehicle position reporting system of claim 1, wherein an control interface to the vehicle position reporting system is hidden to prevent user interactions with the vehicle position reporting system.

4. The vehicle position reporting system of claim 1, further comprising:

a dedicated power source, the dedicated power source configured to maintain operations of the event monitor and the locator transmitter in an event of power outage.

5. The vehicle position reporting system of claim 1, wherein the event monitor is further configured to monitor at least one data bus and a power condition on the vehicle.

6. The vehicle position reporting system of claim 5, wherein the occurrence of the triggering event is detected when at least one of:

the device located on the vehicle, the data bus, and the power condition on the vehicle at least partially fails.

7. The vehicle position reporting system of claim 1, wherein the event monitor is further configured to engage an existing communication device onboard the vehicle for position reporting when the occurrence of the triggering event is detected.

8. A vehicle position reporting system, comprising:

an event monitor, the event monitor configured to monitor an operating condition of at least one device located on the vehicle and to detect an occurrence of a triggering event; and

a dedicated transponder, the dedicated transponder configured to report a position of the vehicle to at least one external equipment when the dedicated transponder is activated,

wherein the dedicated transponder is activated by the event monitor when the occurrence of the triggering event is detected, and wherein the event monitor and the dedicated transponder are prevented from being disabled by a vehicle operator.

9. The vehicle position reporting system of claim 8, wherein the dedicated transponder is an automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) transponder.

10. The vehicle position reporting system of claim 8, wherein an control interface to the vehicle position reporting system is hidden to prevent user interactions with the vehicle position reporting system.

11. The vehicle position reporting system of claim 8, further comprising:

a dedicated power source, the dedicated power source configured to maintain operations of the event monitor and the dedicated transponder in an event of power outage.

12. The vehicle position reporting system of claim 8, further comprising:

a dedicated positioning device, the dedicated positioning device configured to provide the position of the vehicle to the dedicated transponder.

13. The vehicle position reporting system of claim 8, wherein the event monitor is further configured to monitor at least one data bus and a power condition on the vehicle.

14. The vehicle position reporting system of claim 8, wherein the event monitor is further configured to engage an existing communication device onboard the vehicle for position reporting when the occurrence of the triggering event is detected.

15. A vehicle position reporting system, comprising:

an event monitor, the event monitor configured to monitor an operating condition of at least one device located on the vehicle and to detect an occurrence of a triggering event;

a dedicated transponder, the dedicated transponder configured to report a position of the vehicle to at least one external equipment when the dedicated transponder is activated, wherein the dedicated transponder is activated by the event monitor when the occurrence of the triggering event is detected, and wherein the event monitor and the dedicated transponder are prevented from being disabled by a vehicle operator; and

a dedicated power source, the dedicated power source configured to maintain operations of the event monitor and the dedicated transponder in an event of power outage.

16. The vehicle position reporting system of claim 15, wherein the dedicated transponder is an automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) transponder.

17. The vehicle position reporting system of claim 15, wherein an control interface to the vehicle position reporting system is hidden to prevent user interactions with the vehicle position reporting system.

18. The vehicle position reporting system of claim 15, further comprising:

a dedicated positioning device, the dedicated positioning device configured to provide the position of the vehicle to the dedicated transponder.

19. The vehicle position reporting system of claim 15, wherein the event monitor is further configured to monitor at least one data bus and a power condition on the vehicle.

20. The vehicle position reporting system of claim 15, wherein the event monitor is further configured to engage an existing communication device onboard the vehicle for position reporting when the occurrence of the triggering event is detected.