Aerial vehicle awareness display

• US 9,685,091 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2014
• Issued: 06/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Insitu Incorporated (The Boeing Co.)
• Original Assignee: Insitu Incorporated (The Boeing Co.)
• Inventors: Hayes, Andrew Royds
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US14/453,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20160364991A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0086 for monitoring terrain radar or analogous systems specially adapted for terrain avoidance G01S13/935

Abstract

A method of displaying information pertaining to an air vehicle is disclosed. Information is displayed indicative of first portions of a map where distance between a current altitude of the air vehicle and terrain in the map are within a first threshold. Information is displayed indicative of second portions of a map where a distance between the current altitude of the air vehicle and terrain in the map are within a second threshold. The first and second portions are updated based on a change in the current altitude of the air vehicle. In another example, a map including a projected flight path of an aircraft is displayed. Location-based information pertaining to radio frequency (RF) status between the aircraft and at least one ground radio is displayed on the map. The location-based information pertaining to RF status is updated based on a change in the current position of the air vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of displaying information pertaining to an air vehicle, the method comprising:

displaying information indicative of first portions of a map where a distance between a current altitude of the air vehicle and terrain in the map are within a first threshold;

displaying information indicative of second portions of a map where a distance between the current altitude of the air vehicle and terrain in the map are within a second threshold; and

updating the first and second portions based on a change in the current altitude of the air vehicle;

wherein at least one of the first or second portions are automatically displayed in response to an indication that an operator is engaging controls to change the current altitude of the air vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second portions are indicated using different colors.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the change in the current altitude is indicated by a user input indicative of a commanded altitude of the air vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first or second portions are automatically displayed if it is determined that the air vehicle will enter an area where the current altitude of the air vehicle will be within the first threshold or second threshold.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one of the first or second portions are automatically displayed when it is further determined that the air vehicle will enter the area within a predetermined time period.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein an operator is prohibited from removing the at least one of the first or second portions automatically displayed while the air vehicle is within the first threshold or second threshold.

7. A system configured to display information pertaining to an air vehicle, the system communicatively coupled to a display, the system comprising:

at least one memory having stored therein computer instructions that, upon execution by one or more processors of the system, at least cause the system to;

display information indicative of first portions of a map where a distance between a current altitude of the air vehicle and terrain in the map are within a first threshold;

display information indicative of second portions of a map where a distance between the current altitude of the air vehicle and terrain in the map are within a second threshold; and

update the first and second portions based on a change in the current altitude of the air vehicle, wherein at least one of the first or second portions are automatically displayed in response to an indication that an operator is engaging controls to change the current altitude of the air vehicle.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first and second portions are indicated using different colors.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the change in the current altitude is indicated by a user input indicative of a commanded altitude of the air vehicle.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first or second portions are automatically displayed if it is determined that the air vehicle will enter an area where the current altitude of the air vehicle will be within the first threshold or second threshold.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one of the first or second portions are automatically displayed when it is further determined that the air vehicle will enter the area within a predetermined time period.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein an operator is prohibited from removing the at least one of the first or second portions automatically displayed while the air vehicle is within the first threshold or second threshold.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-readable instructions, the computer-readable instructions comprising instructions that upon execution on one or more computing devices, at least cause the one or more computing devices to:

display information indicative of first portions of a map where a distance between a current altitude of an air vehicle and terrain in the map are within a first threshold;

display information indicative of second portions of a map where a distance between the current altitude of air vehicle and terrain in the map are within a second threshold; and

update the first and second portions based on a change in the current altitude of the air vehicle, wherein at least one of the first or second portions are automatically displayed in response to an indication that an operator is engaging controls to change the current altitude of the air vehicle.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the change in the current altitude is indicated by a user input indicative of a commanded altitude of the air vehicle.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first or second portions are automatically displayed if it is determined that the air vehicle will enter an area where the current altitude of the air vehicle will be within the first threshold or second threshold.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the at least one of the first or second portions are automatically displayed when it is further determined that the air vehicle will enter the area within a predetermined time period.

17. A flight information display for an air vehicle, the display comprising:

a first region of terrain having a first elevation, wherein the first region comprises a first indicator representing the height of the first elevation of the first region of terrain;

a second region of terrain having a second elevation, wherein the second region comprises a second indicator representing the height of the second elevation of the second region of terrain;

an air vehicle icon representing the air vehicle, wherein the air vehicle icon is configured to move within the display; and

one or more warning notifications based on a height difference between the air vehicle and the height of the first elevation or the height of the second elevation, wherein at least one of the first or second regions are automatically displayed in response to an indication that an operator is engaging controls to change the current altitude of the air vehicle.