AGTM AIRBORNE SURVEILLANCE

• US 20100106395A1
• Filed: 12/01/2009
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Gadler, Daniel J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,849,551 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/91 for traffic control G01S13/93 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data

Abstract

Systems, methods and apparatuses for managing ground transportation in a geographical area are disclosed. A system for managing ground transportation in a geographical area in accordance with the present invention comprises at least one airborne surveillance platform, a graphical information systems (GIS) database, receiving information from the airborne surveillance platform, the GIS database storing data that represents the geographical area, the GIS database including at least one node representing at least one geographical location within the geographic area and at least one arc representing at least one street within the geographic area, and a routing tool, coupled to the GIS database, wherein the dynamic routing tool accepts data from the GIS database and determines a transportation route for at least one vehicle within the geographical area using at least the data from the GIS database and the information from the airborne surveillance platform.

Claims

1. A system for managing ground transportation in a geographical area, comprising:

at least one airborne surveillance platform;

a graphical information systems (GIS) database, receiving information from the airborne surveillance platform, the GIS database storing data that represents the geographical area, the GIS database including at least one node representing at least one geographical location within the geographic area and at least one arc representing at least one street within the geographic area; and

a routing tool, coupled to the GIS database, wherein the dynamic routing tool accepts data from the GIS database and determines a transportation route for at least one vehicle within the geographical area using at least the data from the GIS database and the information from the airborne surveillance platform.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the airborne surveillance platform flies in a specified flight path.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the specified flight path is altered based on a given event.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the given event is one or more of:

an emergency situation, traffic conditions, or airborne surveillance platform servicing.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the airborne surveillance platform provides information to the GIS database in one or more forms selected from the group consisting:

millimeter wave data, radar data, and photographic data.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the airborne surveillance platform reacquires data from the geographic area on a periodic basis.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the airborne surveillance platform provides the information to the GIS database via a communication link.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the airborne surveillance platform uses target recognition data that is sent to the GIS database to align the information with the data in the GIS database.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the airborne surveillance platform is a High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) aircraft.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein the data from the GIS database and information from the airborne surveillance platform is optimized to maximize a traffic flow along the transportation route.