AIRCRAFT SYNTHETIC VISION SYSTEM FOR APPROACH AND LANDING

• US 20100026525A1
• Filed: 07/31/2008
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: He, Gang, Wyatt, Ivan Sandy, Feyereisen, Thea L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,852,236 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/972
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/005 Flight directors indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 5/005 altimeters for aircraft G01C5/02, G01C5/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/006 in accordance with predefined flight zones, e.g. to avoid prohibited zones
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913

Abstract

An aircraft synthetic vision system (100) is provided for increasing data input to a pilot (109) during approach and landing flight operations, and includes a runway assistance landing system (114) and a plurality of databases (106, 108, 110, 112) which may include, for example, a terrain database (106), an obstacle database (112); and a validated runway database (110). The processor (104) detects the likelihood of an error in determining the altitude from at least one of the runway assistance landing system (114), the plurality of databases (106, 108, 110, 112), and identifies the error. The processor (104) further determines augmented coordinates, and a processor (104) generates symbology commands to a first display (116) for displaying a runway environment in response to data provided to the processor (104) from each of the runway assistance landing system (114), the plurality of databases (106, 108, 110, 112), and the processor (104).

Claims

1. An aircraft synthetic vision system for approach and landing, comprising:

a runway assistance landing system;

a plurality of databases containing data;

a first apparatus determining augmented coordinates;

a second apparatus detecting the likelihood of an error in determining the altitude from at least one of the runway assistance landing system, the plurality of databases, and the first apparatus, and identifying the error;

a processor capable of generating symbology commands defining a runway environment in response to data provided to the processor from each of the runway assistance landing system, the plurality of databases, and the first and second apparatus; and

a first display coupled to the processor for displaying the runway environment and aircraft approach status.

2. The aircraft synthetic vision system of claim 1 wherein the second apparatus displays the error to a pilot.

3. The aircraft synthetic vision system of claim 1 wherein the second apparatus prevents the data causing the error from being used to calculate the altitude.

4. The aircraft synthetic vision system of claim 1 wherein the first display provides at least one of a visual and an aural indication if the approach status is unsuitable for the displayed runway environment.

5. The aircraft synthetic vision system of claim 4 wherein the approach status is unsuitable when the augmented coordinates received by the runway assistance landing system are mismatched from the data within the plurality of databases.

6. The aircraft synthetic vision system of claim 4 further comprising a plurality of sensors, wherein the approach status is unsuitable when the augmented coordinates received by the runway assistance landing system are mismatched from the data within the plurality of sensors.

7. The aircraft synthetic vision system of claim 1 further comprising a second display that displays a recommended aircraft flight path including at least one of the variables selected from the group consisting of rate of descent and, airspeed.

8. An aircraft synthetic vision system for approach and landing, comprising:

a runway assistance landing system;

a plurality of databases including;

a terrain database;

an obstacle database; and

a validated runway database.

a first apparatus detecting the likelihood of an error in determining the altitude from at least one of the runway assistance landing system, the plurality of databases, and the first apparatus, and identifying the error;

a second apparatus determining augmented coordinates;

a first display; and

a processor capable of generating symbology commands to the first display for displaying a runway environment in response to data provided to the processor from each of the runway assistance landing system, the plurality of databases, and the first and second apparatus.

9. The aircraft synthetic vision system of claim 8 wherein the first display displays the error to a pilot.

10. The aircraft synthetic vision system of claim 8 wherein the first apparatus prevents the data causing the error from being used to calculate the altitude.

11. The aircraft synthetic vision system of claim 8 wherein the first display provides a visual indication if the approach status is unsuitable for the displayed runway environment.

12. The aircraft synthetic vision system of claim 11 wherein the approach status is unsuitable when the augmented coordinates received by the runway assistance landing system are mismatched from the data within the plurality of databases.

13. The aircraft synthetic vision system of claim 8 further comprising a second display that displays a recommended aircraft flight path.

14. A method for displaying an aircraft synthetic runway environment in an aircraft, comprising:

providing a validated runway database;

determining the altitude of the aircraft;

detecting the likelihood of an error in determining the altitude;

determining augmented coordinates;

displaying a runway alignment on the primary flight display;

displaying an aircraft glide slope to the runway on a primary flight display;

displaying terrain providing a hazard to an aircraft approaching the runway on the primary flight display; and

displaying obstacles providing a hazard to the aircraft approaching the runway, wherein each of the displaying steps comprises using enhanced symbology.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the displaying steps include displaying a flight path marker, an acceleration cue, a runway marker.

16. The aircraft synthetic vision system of claim 14 further comprising displaying the error to a pilot.

17. The aircraft synthetic vision system of claim 14 wherein the detecting step includes collecting data and further comprising preventing any of the data causing an error from being used to calculate the altitude.

18. The aircraft synthetic vision system of claim 14 further comprising displaying a visual indication if the approach status is unsuitable for the displayed runway environment.

19. The aircraft synthetic vision system of claim 18 further comprising determining that the approach status is unsuitable when the augmented coordinates received by the runway assistance landing system are mismatched from the data within the plurality of databases.

20. The aircraft synthetic vision system of claim 18 further comprising determining that the approach is unsuitable when at least one of a) a runway is not confirmed in the correct position for a safe landing and b) the aircraft approach is not suitable considering 1) airspeed and altitude, and 2) at least one of lateral and vertical deviation.