Apparatus and method for ensuring retention of situational awareness by employing an active network guidance and emergency logic (angel) system

• US 6,778,906 B1
• Filed: 03/04/2003
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Roe, George M., Hennings, George N., Blosser, Richard R., Hennings, Elsa J., Harmon, Roy J., Bass, Gregory A., Warner, Norman W., Vian, John I., Austin, Barbara J., Warner, Harold D., Edwards, Kent T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US10/385,164
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/201, 701/207, 701/208, 701/213, 701/300, 701/301, 701/302, 342/28, 342/29, 342/70, 342/71, 342/72, 342/195, 342/357.06, 342/357.08, 340/961
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0061 for transition from automatic pilot to manual pilot and vice versa

Abstract

A preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention relates to an apparatus for Active Network Guidance and Emergency Logic (ANGEL). ANGEL is a computer based program designed to function preferably in the mission computer on a vehicle, preferably an aircraft The program is preferably installed as part of an aircraft'"'"'s Operational Flight Program (OFP) card(s) in the mission computer. ANGEL new versions and updates can be installed along with OFP updates. A second aspect of the present invention is a method for integrating and interacting with vehicle subsystems and controller subsystems, to prevent mishaps and accidents during a mission. ANGEL can prevent aircrew and aircraft problems by providing cueing or automation of emergency tasking, displaying procedures for aircrew to respond in emergency situations and providing assistance to an incapacitated pilot. In addition, ANGEL improves aircrew and aircraft survivability by reducing susceptibility to air to air and ground to air threats, reducing controlled flight into terrain and midair collisions and aiding in successful ejection from unrecoverable aircraft.

Claims

1. A system for integrating and interacting with vehicle subsystems and controller subsystems, to prevent mishaps and accidents occurring during a mission, comprising:

a collection component operating to gather vehicle and situation status data continuously from said vehicle subsystems and said controller subsystems, said status data having contents;

an analysis component operating to compare said contents of said status data to acceptable limits;

a first mode of operating when said contents of said status data are within said acceptable limits, wherein said controller subsystems are adapted to make inquiries of said vehicle subsystems and are adapted to direct the operation of said vehicle subsystems, wherein said first mode is a normal mode;

a second mode of operating when said contents of said status data are outside of said acceptable limits to a moderate degree including;

advising said controller subsystems of unacceptable status data,

advising of courses of action, wherein said controller subsystems are adapted to make inquiries of said vehicle subsystems and are adapted to direct the operation of said vehicle subsystems;

a third mode of operating when said contents of said status data are outside of said acceptable limits to a severe degree including;

a binary code assigned when said status data is outside of said acceptable limits to said severe degree,

said binary codes prioritized according to the severity and possibility of said mishaps,

a binary word formed by collecting said binary codes in an order of priority, wherein

corrective actions are determined corresponding to said binary word, wherein

corrective actions corresponding to said binary word are performed by effecting the operation of said vehicle and controller subsystems; and

definitions of said moderate degree and said severe degree being adjustable according to the changing requirements of said mission.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle subsystems are aircraft subsystems.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said controller subsystems comprise those through which a pilot interacts with said vehicle subsystems.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said controller subsystems comprise a command and control system interacting with said vehicle subsystems.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said system comprises the Active Network Guidance and Emergency Logic (ANGEL) program.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the said vehicle subsystems can be selected and/or deselected according to the requirements of said mission at any time.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said system is installed as part of an aircraft'"'"'s Operational Flight Program (OFP).

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said collection component operating to gather vehicle and situation status data continuously from said vehicle subsystems and said controller subsystems gathers data from at least one source selected from the group consisting of digital devices, analog devices, aural devices, devices communicating in three dimensions, shared memory devices, and any combination thereof.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said at least one source is located on a vehicle.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein said at least one source is ground based.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein said shared memory is volatile and/or non-volatile memory.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the integrating and interacting with the vehicle and controller subsystems is performed by an intelligent agent.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said third mode utilizes a decision table to assign said binary codes, to form said binary words, and to determine said corrective actions.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said decision table is particular to a specific type of vehicle.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein said decision table is particular to a specific type of aircraft.

16. A system for integrating and interacting with vehicle subsystems and controller subsystems, to prevent mishaps and accidents occurring during a mission, comprising:

collecting means for gathering vehicle and situation status data continuously from said vehicle and controller subsystems, said status data having contents;

processing means for analyzing said status data by comparing said contents of said status data to acceptable limits;

means for operating in a first mode when said contents of said status data are within said acceptable limits, wherein said controller subsystems are adapted to make inquiries of said vehicle subsystems and are adapted to direct the operation of said vehicle subsystems, wherein said first mode is a normal mode;

means for operating in a second mode when said contents of said status data are outside of said acceptable limits to a moderate degree including;

advising said controller subsystems of unacceptable status data,

advising of courses of action, wherein said controller subsystems are adapted to make inquiries of said vehicle subsystems and are adapted to direct the operation of said vehicle subsystems;

means for operating in a third mode when said contents of said status data is outside of said acceptable limits to a severe degree including;

means for assigning a binary code when said status data is outside of said acceptable limits to said severe degree,

means for prioritizing said binary codes according to the severity and possibility of said mishaps,

means for collecting said binary codes, in an order of priority, to form a binary word,

means for determining corrective actions corresponding to said binary word,

means for effecting the operation of said vehicle and controller subsystems to perform said corrective actions corresponding to said binary word; and

means for adjusting the definitions of said moderate degree and said severe degree according to the changing requirements of said mission.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said vehicle subsystems are aircraft subsystems.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein said controller subsystems comprise those through which a pilot interacts with said vehicle subsystems.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein said controller subsystems comprise a command and control system interacting with said vehicle subsystems.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein said system comprises the Active Network Guidance and Emergency Logic (ANGEL) program.

21. The system of claim 16 wherein the said vehicle subsystems can be selected and/or deselected according to the requirements of said mission at any time.

22. The system of claim 16 wherein said system is installed as part of an aircraft'"'"'s Operational Flight Program (OFP).

23. The system of claim 16 wherein said collecting means gathers status data from at least one source selected from the group consisting of digital devices, analog devices, aural devices, devices communicating in three dimensions, shared memory devices, and any combination thereof.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein said at least one source is located on a vehicle.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein said at least one source is ground based.

26. The system of claim 23 wherein said shared memory is volatile and/or non-volatile memory.

27. The system of claim 16 wherein the integrating and interacting with the vehicle and controller subsystems is performed by an intelligent agent.

28. The system of claim 16 wherein said means for operating in a third mode utilizes a decision table to assign said binary codes, to form said binary words, and to determine said corrective actions.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein said decision table is particular to a specific type of vehicle.

30. The system of claim 28 wherein said decision table is particular to a specific type of aircraft.

31. A method for integrating and interacting with vehicle subsystems and controller subsystems, to prevent mishaps and accidents occurring during a mission, comprising:

gathering vehicle and situation status data continuously from said vehicle and controller subsystems, said status data having contents;

analyzing said status data by comparing said contents of said status data to acceptable limits;

operating in a first mode when said contents of said status data are within said acceptable limits, wherein said controller subsystems are adapted to make inquiries of said vehicle subsystems and are adapted to direct the operation of said vehicle subsystems, wherein said first mode is a normal mode;

operating in a second mode when said contents of said status data are outside of said acceptable limits to a moderate degree including;

advising said controller subsystems of unacceptable status data,

advising of possible courses of action, wherein said controller subsystems are adapted to make inquiries of said vehicle subsystems and are adapted to direct the operation of said vehicle subsystems;

operating in a third mode when said contents of said status data are outside of said acceptable limits to a severe degree including;

assigning a binary code when said status data is outside of said acceptable limits to said severe degree,

prioritizing said binary codes according to the severity and possibility of said mishaps,

collecting said binary codes, in an order of priority, to form a binary word,

determining corrective actions corresponding to said binary word,

effecting the operation of said vehicle and controller subsystems to perform said corrective actions corresponding to said binary word;

adjusting the definitions of said moderate degree and said severe degree according to the changing requirements of said mission.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein said vehicle subsystems are aircraft subsystems.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein said controller subsystems comprise those through which a pilot interacts with said vehicle subsystems.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein said controller subsystems comprise a ground command and control system interacting with said vehicle subsystems.

35. The method of claim 31 wherein said method comprises the Active Network Guidance and Emergency Logic (ANGEL) program.

36. The method of claim 31 wherein the said vehicle subsystems can be selected and/or deselected according to the requirements of said mission at any time.

37. The method of claim 31 wherein said method is installed as part of an aircraft'"'"'s Operational Flight Program (OFP).

38. The method of claim 31 wherein said gathering vehicle and situation status data continuously from said vehicle and controller subsystems includes gathering status data from at least one source selected from the group consisting of digital devices, analog devices, aural devices, devices communicating in three dimensions, shared memory devices, and any combination thereof.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein said at least one source is located on a vehicle.

40. The method of claim 38 wherein said at least one source is ground based.

41. The method of claim 38 wherein said shared memory is volatile and/or non-volatile memory.

42. The method of claim 31 wherein the integrating and interacting with the vehicle and controller subsystems is performed by an intelligent agent.

43. The method of claim 31 wherein said third mode utilizes a decision table to assign said binary codes, to form said binary words, and to determine said corrective actions.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein said decision table is particular to a specific type of vehicle.

45. The method of claim 43 wherein said decision table is particular to a specific type of aircraft.