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Method of detecting and displaying a collision hazard for an aircraft, by generating a consolidated warning relating to avoiding an obstacle by a vertically upward maneuver

  • US 9,773,423 B2
  • Filed: 12/09/2014
  • Issued: 09/26/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for an aircraft fitted with a collision avoidance apparatus having (i) a plurality of independent collision avoidance systems of different types having modes of operation that are distinct from one another and (ii) an interface in communication with the collision avoidance systems, the method comprising:

  • detecting obstacles in an environment of the aircraft by the collision avoidance systems;

    generating collision avoidance warnings by the collision avoidance systems in response to detecting the obstacles, wherein each collision avoidance warning includes an obstacle avoidance alert for the aircraft and the obstacle avoidance alerts of at least two of the collision avoidance warnings are vertically upward obstacle avoidance alerts;

    receiving by the interface the collision avoidance warnings;

    selecting by the interface the at least two of the collision avoidance warnings for use in generating a consolidated warning;

    wherein the step of selecting by the interface the at least two of the collision avoidance warnings is performed by the interface applying a selection criterion relating to a vertically upward obstacle avoidance maneuver, with only those collision avoidance warnings that include a vertically upward obstacle avoidance alert being selected by the interface for use in generating the consolidated warning;

    any other collision avoidance warning not being selected by the interface;

    generating by the interface the consolidated warning using the at least two of the collision avoidance warnings, any other collision avoidance warning being excluded from being used in generating the consolidated warning; and

    communicating by the interface the consolidated warning to a pilot of the aircraft via at least a display.

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