System and method for managing speed constraints during required time of arrival operations
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for an aircraft to accomplish a required time of arrival at a waypoint, comprising:
- determining, by a processor, an aircraft speed and speed profile required along a given flight plan containing one or more speed constraints including AT, AT OR BELOW or AT OR ABOVE speed constraints and a required time of arrival (RTA), wherein the determining the speed profile is based upon the mechanism consisting of;
applying both a positive and a negative speed pads at a flight segment where both the AT OR BELOW and the AT OR ABOVE components of speed constraints apply,wherein the speed pads for the AT OR ABOVE speed constraints (PadPos) and for the AT OR BELOW speed constraints (PadNeg) determine the speed pad (PadDiv(i)) in an area (i) where the AT OR ABOVE speed constraint and the AT OR BELOW speed constraint difference (dV(i)) is less than twice a nominal speed pad (2*PadNom), and the PadDiv(i) is determined as;
If PadPos<
PadNom, then PadDiv(i)=PadPos*dV(i)/2/PadNom;
If PadNeg<
PadNom, then PadDiv(i)=(2*PadNom−
PadNeg)*dV(i)/2/PadNom;
If PadDiv(i)=dV(i)/2,and at least one or more of the mechanisms consisting of;
continuous RTA ECON speed management between speed constraints;
padding of an AT speed constraint and an AT or ABOVE speed constraint;
decelerating proactively; and
using a variable guidance margin, wherein the variable guidance margin is a speed change not included in a flight plan prediction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus includes strategies for improving required time of arrival reliability by an aircraft comprising determining a speed correction for one of AT speed constraints or an AT or ABOVE speed constraints, wherein the determining is selected from one or more of the mechanisms from the group consisting of continuous RTA speed management between constraints, padding of the AT speed constraints and the AT or ABOVE speed constraints; decelerating proactively; and using a variable guidance margin, wherein the guidance margin is a speed change not reflected in a flight plan prediction.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for an aircraft to accomplish a required time of arrival at a waypoint, comprising:
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determining, by a processor, an aircraft speed and speed profile required along a given flight plan containing one or more speed constraints including AT, AT OR BELOW or AT OR ABOVE speed constraints and a required time of arrival (RTA), wherein the determining the speed profile is based upon the mechanism consisting of; applying both a positive and a negative speed pads at a flight segment where both the AT OR BELOW and the AT OR ABOVE components of speed constraints apply, wherein the speed pads for the AT OR ABOVE speed constraints (PadPos) and for the AT OR BELOW speed constraints (PadNeg) determine the speed pad (PadDiv(i)) in an area (i) where the AT OR ABOVE speed constraint and the AT OR BELOW speed constraint difference (dV(i)) is less than twice a nominal speed pad (2*PadNom), and the PadDiv(i) is determined as;
If PadPos<
PadNom, then PadDiv(i)=PadPos*dV(i)/2/PadNom;
If PadNeg<
PadNom, then PadDiv(i)=(2*PadNom−
PadNeg)*dV(i)/2/PadNom;
If PadDiv(i)=dV(i)/2,and at least one or more of the mechanisms consisting of; continuous RTA ECON speed management between speed constraints; padding of an AT speed constraint and an AT or ABOVE speed constraint; decelerating proactively; and using a variable guidance margin, wherein the variable guidance margin is a speed change not included in a flight plan prediction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for an aircraft to accomplish a required time of arrival at a waypoint and at a desired speed, comprising:
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padding one of an AT OR ABOVE and AT OR BELOW components of a speed constraint to preserve at least one control margins; correcting an initial time error using a Continuous RTA ECON speed management between constraints; reducing a positive speed pad on the AT OR ABOVE component if a RTA speed falls below a lowest AT OR ABOVE component of the speed constraint plus a Padpos speed; increasing the Padpos speed to an initial value PadNom prior to increasing the RTA speed above a padded speed; using a speed pad PadNeg under the AT OR BELOW speed constraints; using a guidance margin mechanism to increase robustness, reliability and also smoothness of RTA control; and activating, where the RTA speed is not modifiable, a proactive deceleration of the aircraft as the aircraft approaches a deceleration segment to the AT or AT OR BELOW speed constraints or an approach speed. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A system determining an aircraft four dimensional trajectory along a path to a waypoint having a required time of arrival, the system comprising:
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a processor configured to; calculate a first estimated speed to reach the waypoint at the required time of arrival via a required time of arrival solver; compute in real time a time difference between an estimated time of arrival at the first estimated speed and the required time of arrival via a trajectory predictor; and determine a speed correction for one of an AT speed constraint or an AT OR ABOVE speed constraint via a speed profile generator, wherein the determining a speed correction is selected from one or more of the mechanisms consisting of; continuous RTA ECON speed management between speed constraints; padding of the AT or ABOVE speed constraints; decelerating proactively; and using a variable guidance margin, wherein the variable guidance margin is a speed change not included in a flight path prediction; and a display configured to; display a graph including the first estimated speed, a second estimated speed, and a third estimated speed if the third estimated speed is above the highest AT or ABOVE speed constraint. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification