Systems and methods for providing optimal taxi clearances

• US 9,530,324 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2010
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aviation Communication and Surveillance Systems LLC (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Aviation Communication and Surveillance Systems LLC (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stayton, Gregory T., Bobrowitz, Peter J., Manberg, Charles C., Ridenour, Richard D. II
• Primary Examiner(s): EL CHANTI, HUSSEIN A
• Application Number:
  US12/775,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20110029225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,427 Days
• Field of Search: 701/120
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/065 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. for taxiing or rolling

Abstract

A system is delineated comprising a display and a receiver coupled to the display for receiving data for presenting on the display, the data representing spoken VHF messages.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a display; and

a receiver coupled to the display for receiving a signal representing verbal content spoken by a human for transmission as a VHF message and for presenting on the display data representing the verbal content spoken by the human; and

wherein the display is configured to provide automatic pop-up of a highlight of a reference airplane-to-follow based on the data, and

wherein the data comprises routing instructions comprising at least an identification of the reference airplane-to-follow, wherein the reference airplane-to-follow comprises an airplane to follow behind,

wherein the system is configured to operate in an own ship.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the human comprises an Air Traffic Controller.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the human comprises an operator of an aircraft on an airport within proximity of the system.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the content comprises instructions directing an aircraft hosting the system to a runway for take-off.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the content comprises instructions directing an aircraft hosting the system to an arrival gate.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein the content comprises instructions directing an aircraft hosting the system to an area for de-icing operations for the aircraft.

7. The system of claim 3 wherein the content comprises communication intended to coordinate travel between an aircraft hosting the system and the aircraft carrying the operator.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a cruise control configured to monitor a spacing between the own ship and the reference airplane-to-follow.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the cruise control is further configured to stop the own ship when the reference airplane-to-follow stops.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the cruise control is further configured to provide a textual indication of at least one of required speed or time spacing.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the automatic pop-up of the highlight comprises circling the airplane-to-follow.