Determining landing sites for aircraft
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for generating safe ingress flight paths to an identified landing site for an aircraft, the method comprising:
- generating, by a processing device, a spanning tree for the identified landing site byproducing a plurality of possible approach paths by starting at a touchdown point on the identified landing site and building each of the plurality of possible approach paths from the touchdown point outward while minimizing altitude changes while moving away from the touchdown point,identifying obstructions proximate the identified landing site, andeliminating any obstructed possible approach paths of the plurality of possible approach paths that conflict with the obstructions to produce a plurality of allowed approach paths to the touchdown point;
storing, in a data storage device, the spanning tree including the allowed approach paths;
providing information from the spanning tree in the data storage device to an in-flight display for use by aircraft personnel; and
providing a countdown timer with each of the plurality of allowed approach paths indicating a time in which the allowed approach path remains available as an option for the identified landing site.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A routing tool is disclosed. The routing tool is configured to determine a landing site for an aircraft by receiving flight data. The routing tool identifies at least one landing site proximate to a flight path and generates a spanning tree between the landing site and the flight path. According to some embodiments, the landing sites are determined in real-time during flight. Additionally, the landing sites may be determined at the aircraft or at a remote system or device in communication with the aircraft. In some embodiments, the routing tool generates one or more spanning trees before flight. The spanning trees may be based upon a flight plan, and may be stored in a data storage device. Methods and computer readable media are also disclosed.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for generating safe ingress flight paths to an identified landing site for an aircraft, the method comprising:
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generating, by a processing device, a spanning tree for the identified landing site by producing a plurality of possible approach paths by starting at a touchdown point on the identified landing site and building each of the plurality of possible approach paths from the touchdown point outward while minimizing altitude changes while moving away from the touchdown point, identifying obstructions proximate the identified landing site, and eliminating any obstructed possible approach paths of the plurality of possible approach paths that conflict with the obstructions to produce a plurality of allowed approach paths to the touchdown point; storing, in a data storage device, the spanning tree including the allowed approach paths; providing information from the spanning tree in the data storage device to an in-flight display for use by aircraft personnel; and
providing a countdown timer with each of the plurality of allowed approach paths indicating a time in which the allowed approach path remains available as an option for the identified landing site. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A routing tool for generating safe ingress flight paths to an identified landing site for an aircraft, the routing tool comprising a database configured to store flight data corresponding to a flight path for the aircraft, and a routing module configured to:
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generate a spanning tree for the identified landing site by producing a plurality of possible approach paths by starting at a touchdown point on the identified landing site and building each of the plurality of possible approach paths from the touchdown point outward while minimizing altitude changes while moving away from the touchdown point, identifying obstructions proximate the identified landing site, and eliminating any obstructed possible approach paths of the plurality of possible approach paths that conflict with the obstructions to produce a plurality of allowed approach paths to the touchdown point; store, in a data storage device, the spanning tree including the allowed approach paths; provide information from the spanning tree in the data storage device to an in-flight display for use by aircraft personnel; and provide a countdown timer with each of the plurality of allowed approach paths indicating a time in which the allowed approach path remains available as an option for the identified landing site. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon, the execution of which by a processor cause a routing tool to:
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generate a spanning tree for an identified landing site by producing a plurality of possible approach flight paths by starting at a touchdown point on the identified landing site and building each of the plurality of possible approach paths from the touchdown point outward while minimizing altitude changes while moving away from the touchdown point, identifying obstructions proximate the identified landing site, and eliminating any obstructed possible approach paths of the plurality of possible approach paths that conflict with the obstructions to produce a plurality of allowed approach paths to the touchdown point; store, in a data storage device, the spanning tree including the allowed approach paths; provide information from the spanning tree in the data storage device to an in-flight display for use by aircraft personnel; display a vertical profile view of a glide path for approach to the identified at least one landing site that includes current aircraft position; and
providing a countdown timer with each of the plurality of allowed approach paths indicating a time in which the allowed approach path remains available as an option for the identified landing site. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification