Low-cost flight training and synthetic visualization system and method

• US 20070020588A1
• Filed: 01/09/2006
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Appareo Systems LLC (AGCO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Appareo Systems LLC (AGCO Corporation)
• Inventors: Batcheller, Barry, Ohlsen, Tyler
• Granted Patent: US 7,848,698 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/30
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/165 Control of aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/08 for teaching control of aircraft, e.g. Link trainer

Abstract

A low-cost training and synthetic visualization system and method directed to improving an individual'"'"'s airborne performance in general aviation, skydiving, and other aerial applications. The system is comprised of a self-contained mobile sensor and data storage device for recording the travel path, orientation, and forces acting upon an object as it moves through space, a desktop graphics software program for creating a playback of the recorded data on a three-dimensional representation of the environment through which the object moved, a means of linking the sensor and data storage device to the software program for the purpose of exchanging information, and a centralized data storage and retrieval system designed to accept, assimilate and redistribute the recorded data.

Claims

1. A flight training and synthetic visualization system comprising:

a. a self-contained mobile data recording unit, comprising;

i. an inertial measurement means to continuously sense three-dimensional orientation of said mobile data recording unit in terms of yaw, pitch, and roll;

ii. a position detector means for generating signals representative of the three-dimensional position in space of said mobile data recording unit;

iii. a magnetic field sensing means to provide continuous magnetic heading information for said mobile data recording unit;

iv. an environmental sensing means for determining various ambient environmental conditions;

v. a processor means to gather navigational information captured by the components of said mobile data recording unit;

vi. a storage device for storing said navigation information for future download;

vii. an embedded software means to manage and preserve power of said mobile data recording unit by selectively disabling said components of said mobile data recording unit;

viii. a user input means to allow an operator to control the settings and activities of said mobile data recording unit;

ix. a user feedback means to provide status information on said mobile data recording unit to said operator;

x. an internal, rechargeable power source;

xi. a charging means for said rechargeable power source;

xii. a means for transferring said navigational information to a secondary computer system; and

xiii. a protective enclosure;

b. A graphics software engine executing on said secondary computer system for creating a display of said navigational information;

c. A data transfer means for transferring said navigational information, calibration data, and status information between said mobile data recording unit and said software engine; and

d. A centralized data storage and retrieval system designed to accept and assimilate said navigational information from said software engine, and to provide additional data and graphics for enhancing said display of said navigational information.

2. The flight training and synthetic visualization system of claim 1, wherein said display of said navigational information comprises:

a. a realistic, three-dimensional recreation of the trip of said moving body through three-dimensional space based on said navigational information;

b. additional flight information superimposed on said three-dimensional recreation;

c. additional graphical images superimposed on said three-dimensional recreation;

d. a tabulated, digital readout of said navigational data; and

e. a plurality of simulated aircraft flight instruments displaying the state of said navigational information at the corresponding point in said three-dimensional recreation.

3. The flight training and synthetic visualization system of claim 2, wherein said additional flight information comprises:

a. a time/date stamp corresponding to the actual time/date of said movements through space;

b. digital readouts of flight data corresponding to actual said navigational information; and

c. environmental/weather reports corresponding to the actual weather experienced during said movements through space.

4. The flight training and synthetic visualization system of claim 2, wherein said additional graphical images comprise:

a. a first three-dimensional model of said moving body used to indicate the actual flight path of said moving body;

b. a second three-dimensional model of said moving body, displayed in the form of a ghost image, used to indicate an intended or ideal flight path;

c. lines and text callouts connecting said first three-dimensional model and said second three-dimensional model to indicate the horizontal and vertical displacement of said moving body'"'"'s actual flight path from said intended or ideal flight path;

d. satellite or high-altitude photographs of the actual environment experienced during said movements through space;

e. an artificially-created depiction, such as a map or illustration, of said environment;

f. airport approach and landing information, such as a synthetic visualization of an airport'"'"'s glideslope and localizer paths;

g. weather graphics simulating the actual weather experienced during said movements through space;

h. a graphical representation, such as a ribbon, of said mobile data recording unit'"'"'s path through three-dimensional space;

i. a three-dimensional graphical simulation of terrain and obstructions;

j. a three-dimensional visualization of special airspace types, such as “

no fly”

zones and aerobatic flight boxes; and

k. graphical representations of flight parameters such as altitude and airspeed corresponding to actual said navigational information.

5. The flight training and synthetic visualization system of claim 1, wherein said data transfer means is a wireless radio connection.

6. The flight training and synthetic visualization system of claim 1, wherein said data transfer means is a physical connection such as optical fiber, copper wire, etc.

7. The flight training and synthetic visualization system of claim 1, wherein said data transfer means is a removable memory device.

8. The flight training and synthetic visualization system of claim 1, wherein said secondary computer system is a portable computer system such as a handheld personal digital assistant.

9. The flight training and synthetic visualization system of claim 8, wherein said display of said navigational information is created in real-time as said mobile data recording unit moves through three-dimensional space.

10. The flight training and synthetic visualization system of claim 1, wherein said display of said navigational information is created from stored data an indefinite period of time after said mobile data recording unit has completed its trip.

11. The flight training and synthetic visualization system of claim 1, wherein said mobile data recording unit is mounted in a piloted airborne vehicle.

12. The flight training and synthetic visualization system of claim 1, wherein said mobile data recording unit is mounted on a skydiver.

13. The flight training and synthetic visualization system of claim 1, wherein said mobile data recording unit is mounted in an unmanned airborne vehicle such as a radio controlled aircraft.

14. The flight training and synthetic visualization system of claim 1, wherein said environmental sensing means comprises:

a. a temperature sensor for determining the ambient temperature; and

b. a pressure sensor for determining the ambient barometric pressure.

15. A method of flight instruction and analysis, comprising the steps of:

a. mounting a mobile data recording unit containing a plurality of navigation sensors on a moving body;

b. generating, by said mobile data recording unit, measurements of the orientation and movement through three-dimensional space of said moving body;

c. recording, by said mobile data recording unit, of said measurements;

d. transferring said measurements to a secondary computer system for display and manipulation;

e. processing said measurements on said secondary computer system so that errors found in the data streams recorded by said navigation sensors can be corrected and augmented by data streams from other sensors;

f. creating a graphical display of said measurements on said secondary computer system; and

g. downloading aerial or satellite images and other data from an external, centralized data storage and retrieval system into said secondary computer system for the purpose of augmenting said graphical display.

16. The method of flight instruction and analysis of claim 15, wherein said display of said measurements comprises:

a. a realistic, three-dimensional recreation of the trip of said moving body through three-dimensional space based on said measurements;

b. additional flight information superimposed on said three-dimensional recreation;

c. additional graphical images superimposed on said three-dimensional recreation;

d. a tabulated, digital readout of said measurements; and

e. a plurality of simulated aircraft flight instruments displaying the state of said measurements at the corresponding point in said three-dimensional recreation.

17. The method of flight instruction and analysis of claim 16, wherein said additional flight information comprises:

a. a time/date stamp corresponding to the actual time/date of said movements through space;

b. digital readouts of flight data corresponding to actual said measurements; and

c.environmental/weather reports corresponding to the actual weather experienced during said movements through space.

18. The method of flight instruction and analysis of claim 16, wherein said additional graphical images comprise:

a. a first three-dimensional model of said moving body used to indicate the actual flight path of said moving body;

b. a second three-dimensional model of said moving body, displayed in the form of a ghost image, used to indicate an intended or ideal flight path;

c. lines and text callouts connecting said first three-dimensional model and said second three-dimensional model to indicate the horizontal and vertical displacement of said moving body'"'"'s actual flight path from said intended or ideal flight path;

d. satellite or high-altitude photographs of the actual environment experienced during said movements through space;

e. an artificially-created depiction, such as a map or illustration, of said environment;

f. airport approach and landing information, such as a synthetic visualization of an airport'"'"'s glideslope and localizer paths;

g. weather graphics simulating the actual weather experienced during said movements through space;

h. a graphical representation, such as a ribbon, of said mobile data recording unit'"'"'s path through three-dimensional space;

i. a three-dimensional graphical simulation of terrain and obstructions;

j. a three-dimensional visualization of special airspace types, such as “

no fly”

zones and aerobatic flight boxes; and

k. graphical representations of flight parameters such as altitude and airspeed corresponding to actual said navigational information.

19. A method of real-time flight training, comprising the steps of:

a. pre-downloading aerial or satellite images from an external, centralized data storage and retrieval system into a portable computer system for use during a trip;

b. mounting a mobile data recording unit containing a plurality of navigation sensors on a moving body;

c. locating said portable computer system on said moving body near said mobile data recording unit;

d. generating, by said mobile data recording unit, measurements of the orientation and movement through three-dimensional space of said moving body;

e. transmitting said measurements to said portable computer system in real-time for immediate display and manipulation;

f. processing said measurements on said portable computer system so that errors found in the data streams recorded by said navigation sensors can be corrected and augmented by data streams from other sensors; and

g. creating a graphical display of said measurements on said portable computer system in real-time as said trip is occurring.

20. The method of real-time flight training of claim 19, wherein said display of said measurements comprises a three-dimensional recreation in real-time of the trip of said moving body through three-dimensional space.

21. The method of real-time flight training of claim 19, wherein said display of said measurements comprises a plurality of simulated aircraft flight instruments displaying the state of said measurements in real-time.

22. The method of real-time flight training of claim 19, wherein said display of said measurements comprises a tabulated, digital readout of said measurements in real-time.