Systems and methods for filtering wingtip sensor information

• US 9,575,174 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2013
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Vasek, Jiri, Kolcarek, Pavel, Olofinboba, Olukayode
• Primary Examiner(s): WINDRICH, MARCUS E
• Application Number:
  US13/741,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20130321193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,499 Days
• Field of Search: 342/29, 342/36, 342/53, 701/301
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/04 Systems determining presence of a target based on relative movement of target G01S13/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/93 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/934 on airport surfaces, e.g. while taxiing
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/933 of aircraft or spacecraft
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/04 Display arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/51 Display arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0078 for monitoring traffic from the aircraft radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• 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

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing improved situational awareness for an aircraft while taxiing. An exemplary method generates reflectivity data based on an associated emission at a transceiver located on an aircraft. At a processor, targets are determined if a portion of the generated reflectivity data is greater than a predefined threshold. Then, the analyzed targets are determined as to whether they are within a dynamically defined three-dimensional envelope. The envelope is based on wingtip light module speed and trajectory. On a display device, an indication of the nearest target is presented at the associated range to the nearest target.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

at a transceiver located on an aircraft, generating reflectivity data based on an associated emission of signals;

at a processor, determining a speed and a trajectory of a wingtip light module of an aircraft;

determining dimensions of a three-dimensional envelope based on the speed and the trajectory of the wingtip light module, and based on predefined vertical boundary information;

and determining targets if a portion of the generated reflectivity data within the dynamically defined three-dimensional envelope is greater than a predefined threshold; and

on a display device, presenting an indication of a nearest target at the associated distance range relative to the aircraft by at least;

generating, by the processor, a first range overhead display comprising an aircraft icon in response to determining the nearest target is farther than a threshold distance from the aircraft;

and generating, by the processor, a second range overhead display comprising an aircraft icon in response to determining the nearest target is closer than the threshold distance from the aircraft.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first range overhead display comprises one or more sensor cones beginning at the respective wingtip of the aircraft icon, and the second range overhead display comprises one or more sensor cones beginning at the respective wingtip of the aircraft icon, and the threshold distance is based on maximum and minimum stopping distances of the aircraft.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more sensor cones of the first range overhead display have a greater range than the one or more sensor cones of the second range overhead display.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more sensor cones comprise one or more range lines located previously designated distances from at least one of the aircraft or the associated wingtip.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein presenting the indication of the nearest target comprises highlighting a range line of the one or more sensor cones that is associated with the reflectivity data comprising the nearest target.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein presenting the indication of the nearest target comprises highlighting a distance value associated with the reflectivity data identifying the nearest target.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising at the processor, determining the nearest target comprises an airport structure, wherein presenting the indication of the nearest target comprises presenting at least a partial outline of a corresponding airport structure based on previously stored airport information in response to determining the nearest target comprises the airport structure.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is located at one or more wingtip light modules of the aircraft.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the speed and the trajectory of the wingtip light module of the aircraft comprises deriving the speed and the trajectory of the wingtip light module of the aircraft based on a speed and a trajectory of the aircraft.

9. A system located on an aircraft, the system comprising:

a transceiver configured to generate reflectivity data based on an associated emission of signals;

a processor configured to;

determine a speed and a trajectory of a wingtip light module of the aircraft, determine dimensions of a three-dimensional envelope based on the speed and the trajectory of the wingtip light module, and based on predefined vertical boundary information;

and determine targets if a portion of the generated reflectivity data within the dynamically defined three-dimensional envelope is greater than a predefined threshold; and

a display device, wherein the processor is configured to present, via the display device, an indication of a nearest target at the associated distance range relative to the aircraft, the processor being configured to generate the indication by at least generating a first range overhead display comprising an aircraft icon in response to determining the nearest target is farther than a threshold distance from the aircraft, and generating a second range overhead display comprising an aircraft icon in response to determining the nearest target is closer than the threshold distance from the aircraft.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the first range overhead display comprises one or more sensor cones beginning at the respective wingtip of the aircraft icon; and

the second range overhead display comprises one or more target cones beginning at the respective wingtip of the aircraft icon.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more sensor cones of the first range overhead display have a greater range than the one or more sensor cones of the second range overhead display.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more sensor cones comprise one or more range lines located previously designated distances from at least one of the aircraft or the associated wingtip.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to control the display device to present the indication of the nearest target by at least highlighting a range line of the one or more sensor cones that is associated with the reflectivity data comprising the nearest target.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to control the display device to present the indication of the nearest target by at least highlighting a distance value associated with the reflectivity data identifying the nearest target.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the nearest target comprises an airport structure and control the display device to present the indication of the nearest target by at least presenting at least a partial outline of a corresponding airport structure based on previously stored airport information in response to determining the nearest target comprises the airport structure.

16. The system of claim 9, further comprising one or more wingtip light modules, each of the one or more wingtip light modules being configured to contain the transceiver.

18. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to determine the speed and the trajectory of the wingtip light module of the aircraft by at least deriving the speed and the trajectory of the wingtip light module of the aircraft based on a speed and a trajectory of the aircraft.

19. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to determine the dimensions of the envelope based on the speed and the trajectory of the wingtip light module of the aircraft, the wingspan of the aircraft, and the predefined vertical boundary information.

20. The system of claim 10, wherein the threshold distance is based on maximum and minimum stopping distances of the aircraft.