APPARATUS FOR INDICATING AIR TRAFFIC AND TERRAIN COLLISION THREAT TO AN AIRCRAFT

• US 20010013836A1
• Filed: 08/26/1999
• Published: 08/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atlantic Inertial Systems Incorporated (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Inventors: COWIE, MARK
• Granted Patent: US 6,538,581 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/961
• 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 5/0086 for monitoring terrain radar or analogous systems specially adapted for terrain avoidance G01S13/935

Abstract

Includes means (2) for monitoring the position and behaviour of air traffic in the vicinity of the aircraft and generating a warning or avoidance signal for air traffic predicted to be on a collision course. The apparatus also includes means (5) for monitoring the position and behaviour of the aircraft relative to terrain in the vicinity of the aircraft flight path to generate a warning or avoidance signal for terrain features predicted to provide a collision threat. Means (13, 14, 17) are provided for receiving the traffic warning signals and terrain warning signals comparing the signals and generating a combined warning or advisory signal which indicates an action for the aircraft which avoids both air traffic and terrain collisions.

Claims

1. Apparatus for indicating air traffic and terrain collision threats to an aircraft including traffic advisory means for monitoring the position and behaviour of air traffic in the vicinity of an in flight aircraft provided with the apparatus and for generating a warning and/or avoidance signal for air traffic predicted to be on a collision course with the in flight aircraft,

terrain advisory means for monitoring the position and behaviour of the in flight aircraft relative to terrain in the vicinity of the aircraft flight path and for generating a warning and/or avoidance signal for terrain features predicted to provide a collision threat on the aircraft flight path, and

interactive means for receiving traffic warning and/or avoidance signals from the traffic advisory means and terrain warning and/or avoidance signals from the terrain advisory means, comparing said signals and generating a combined warning and/or advisory signal which indicates an action for the aircraft which avoids both air traffic and terrain collisions.

2. Apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein the traffic advisory means includes a transponder for receiving signals relating to the absolute and/or relative positions of air traffic in the vicinity of the aircraft and a traffic warning and/or avoidance signal generator operable to receive output signals from the transponder, calculate and monitor the position and behaviour of air traffic in the vicinity of the aircraft and generate said traffic warning and/or avoidance signal.

3. Apparatus according to

claim 2

, wherein the traffic warning and/or avoidance signal generator is connectable to a flight management system of the aircraft to receive aircraft operating information therefrom.

4. Apparatus according to

claim 2

or

claim 3

, where the terrain advisory means includes a store of representations of terrain and obstacles in and around the aircraft'"'"'s flight path, a search logic device for retrieving data from the store within a predetermined latitudinal and longitudinal envelope defined relative to the aircraft position and velocity and a terrain warning and/or avoidance signal generator operable to receive, from a navigation system of the aircraft, signals representative of the latitude, longitude and altitude of the aircraft, calculate the predicted aircraft ground flight path and generate said terrain warning and/or avoidance signal.

5. Apparatus according to

claim 4

, wherein the terrain warning and/or avoidance signal generator includes a comparator for comparing the predicted aircraft ground flight path with the worst case terrain profile so that the terrain warning and/or avoidance signal is issued if either the predicted aircraft altitude falls below a predetermined minimum clearance height at any point along the predicted ground flight path or if intersection with the terrain is predicted to be less than a predetermined time to impact.

6. Apparatus according to

claim 4

or

claim 5

, wherein the interactive means interlinks and forms part of the traffic warning and/or avoidance signal generator and the terrain warning and/or avoidance signal generator.

7. Apparatus according to

claim 4

or

claim 5

, including an auditory warning device and a visual avoidance display device receiving output signals from said traffic warning and/or avoidance signal generator and said terrain warning and/or avoidance signal generator, which warning device additionally feeds and output signal to said display device.

8. Apparatus for indicating air traffic and terrain collision threats to an aircraft substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 as modified or not by any one of FIGS. 3 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.