Method for avoidance of one or more obstacles by an aircraft, and related computer program product, electronic system and aircraft
First Claim
1. A method of avoidance of one or more obstacles by an aircraft, the aircraft comprising a warning system capable of generating alerts as a function of the proximity of the obstacle(s), and an electronic avoidance system, the method being implemented by the electronic avoidance system, the method comprising:
- a) generating an alert by the warning system on detection of an obstacle;
b) if no manual avoidance maneuver is detected for a time period longer than a first determined time period effective from issue of the alert by the warning system and if the alert is maintained during this first time period, automatically activating an automatic avoidance guide mode to determine an obstacle-avoidance guidance rule, the determination of the guidance rule comprising the determination of at least one speed and/or heading set-point and the computing of the avoidance guidance rule as a function of the determined set-point(s); and
c) if an autopilot device of the aircraft is coupled to the automatic avoidance guide mode, transmitting to the autopilot device the avoidance guidance rule determined in step b) for automatic performing of a maneuver to avoid the obstacle by acting on at least one of two primary control members of the aircraft causing the aircraft to reach the set-point(s), the warning system being capable of generating alerts of at least a first and second type, step b) only being implemented in the event that the alert generated by the warning system is an alert of the second type.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for the avoidance of one or more obstacles by an aircraft, and a related computer program product, electronic system and aircraft are disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes a) generating an alert by a warning system on detection of an obstacle and b) if no manual avoidance maneuver is detected for a time period longer than a first determined time and if the alert is maintained during this first time period, automatically activating an automatic avoidance guide mode to determine an obstacle-avoidance guidance rule. The method further including c) if an autopilot device of the aircraft is coupled to the automatic avoidance guide mode, transmitting to the autopilot device the avoidance guidance rule determined in step b) for automatic performing of a maneuver to avoid the obstacle.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of avoidance of one or more obstacles by an aircraft, the aircraft comprising a warning system capable of generating alerts as a function of the proximity of the obstacle(s), and an electronic avoidance system, the method being implemented by the electronic avoidance system, the method comprising:
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a) generating an alert by the warning system on detection of an obstacle; b) if no manual avoidance maneuver is detected for a time period longer than a first determined time period effective from issue of the alert by the warning system and if the alert is maintained during this first time period, automatically activating an automatic avoidance guide mode to determine an obstacle-avoidance guidance rule, the determination of the guidance rule comprising the determination of at least one speed and/or heading set-point and the computing of the avoidance guidance rule as a function of the determined set-point(s); and c) if an autopilot device of the aircraft is coupled to the automatic avoidance guide mode, transmitting to the autopilot device the avoidance guidance rule determined in step b) for automatic performing of a maneuver to avoid the obstacle by acting on at least one of two primary control members of the aircraft causing the aircraft to reach the set-point(s), the warning system being capable of generating alerts of at least a first and second type, step b) only being implemented in the event that the alert generated by the warning system is an alert of the second type. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A non-transitory computer program product comprising software instructions which, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to:
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a) generate an alert by the warning system on detection of an obstacle; b) if no manual avoidance maneuver is detected for a time period longer than a first determined time period effective from issue of the alert by the warning system and if the alert is maintained during this first time period, automatically activate an automatic avoidance guide mode to determine an obstacle-avoidance guidance rule, the determination of the guidance rule comprising the determination of at least one speed and/or heading set-point and the computing of the avoidance guidance rule as a function of the determined set-point(s); and c) if an autopilot device of the aircraft is coupled to the automatic avoidance guide mode, transmit to the autopilot device the avoidance guidance rule determined in step b) for automatic performing of a maneuver to avoid the obstacle by acting on at least one of two primary control members of the aircraft causing the aircraft to reach the set-point(s), the warning system being capable of generating alerts of at least a first and second type, step b) only being implemented in the event that the alert generated by the warning system is an alert of the second type.
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12. An electronic avoidance system of one or more obstacles by an aircraft comprising a warning system capable of generating alerts as a function in particular of the proximity of the one or more obstacles, the electronic avoidance system comprising a memory having stored thereon software configured to cause a processor to determine a guidance rule for avoidance of an obstacle indicated by an alert generated by the warning system, to determine at least one speed and/or heading set-point, and to compute the avoidance guidance rule as a function of the determined set-point(s),
the electronic avoidance system further comprising an activator configured to: -
(i) automatically—
if no manual avoidance maneuver is detected for a time period longer than a first determined time period effective from issue of the alert by the warning system and if the alert is maintained during this first time period—
activate an automatic obstacle-avoidance guide mode for determination of an obstacle-avoidance guidance rule by the determination units;(ii) transmit the computed avoidance guidance rule to the autopilot—
if an autopilot device of the aircraft is coupled to the automatic avoidance guide mode—
for automatic performing of an avoidance maneuver of the obstacle by acting on at least one of two primary control members of the aircraft, to cause the aircraft to reach the set-point(s),the warning system being configured to generate alerts of at least a first and second type, automatic activation only being implemented in the event that the alert generated by the warning system is an alert of the second type. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. An aircraft comprising:
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a warning system capable of generating alerts as a function in particular of the proximity of one or more obstacles; and an electronic system for avoidance by the aircraft of the one or more obstacles, comprising an avoidance system, the avoidance system comprising; a memory having stored thereon software configured to cause a processor to;
i) determine a guidance rule for avoidance of an obstacle indicated by an alert generated by the warning system, ii) determine at least one speed and/or heading set-point, and iii) compute the avoidance guidance rule as a function of the determined set-point(s); andan activator configured to; (i) automatically—
if no manual avoidance maneuver is detected for a time period longer than a first determined time period effective from issue of the alert by the warning system and if the alert is maintained during this first time period—
activate an automatic obstacle-avoidance guide mode for determination of an obstacle-avoidance guidance rule by the determination units;(ii) transmit the computed avoidance guidance rule to the autopilot—
if an autopilot device of the aircraft is coupled to the automatic avoidance guide mode—
for automatic performing of an avoidance maneuver of the obstacle by acting on at least one of two primary control members of the aircraft, to cause the aircraft to reach the set-point(s),the warning system being configured to generate alerts of at least a first and second type, automatic activation only being implemented in the event that the alert generated by the warning system is an alert of the second type.
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15. A method of avoidance of one or more terrain obstacles by a rotary-wing aircraft, comprising a warning system capable of generating alerts as a function of the proximity of the terrain obstacle(s), and an electronic avoidance system, the method being implemented by the electronic avoidance system, the method comprising:
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a) generating an alert by the warning system on detection of a terrain obstacle; b) if no manual avoidance maneuver is detected for a time period longer than a first determined time period effective from issue of the alert by the warning system and if the alert is maintained during this first time period, automatically activating an automatic avoidance guide mode to determine an obstacle-avoidance guidance rule, the determination of the guidance rule comprising the determination of at least one speed and/or heading set-point and the computing of the avoidance guidance rule as a function of the determined set-point(s); and c) if an autopilot device of the rotary-wing aircraft is coupled to the automatic avoidance guide mode, transmitting to the autopilot device the avoidance guidance rule determined at step b) for automatic performing of a maneuver to avoid the terrain obstacle by acting on at least one of two primary control members of the rotary-wing aircraft causing the rotary-wing aircraft to reach the set-point(s), the warning system being capable of generating alerts of at least a first and second type, step b) only being implemented in the event that the alert generated by the warning system is an alert of the second type.
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Specification