System and method for automatically controlling a path of travel of a vehicle

• US 7,142,971 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2003
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Cameron, Douglas C., Brown, Eric D., Krothapalli, Krish R., von Klein, Walter Jr., Williams, Todd M.
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US10/369,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20040162670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• Field of Search: 701 2- 3, 701 9- 16, 701/36, 701 23- 26, 701120-122, 701300-302, 701/110, 340/945, 340/947, 340/961, 340/963, 340/573.1, 244/118.5, 244/75.R, 244183-197
• US Class Current: 701/110
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0015 Devices specially adapted for the protection against criminal attack, e.g. anti-hijacking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0031 means for overriding or restricting access to flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0061 for transition from automatic pilot to manual pilot and vice versa

Abstract

The method and system for automatically controlling a path of travel of a vehicle include engaging an automatic control system when the security of the onboard controls is jeopardized. Engagement may be automatic or manual from inside the vehicle or remotely via a communication link. Any onboard capability to supersede the automatic control system may then be disabled by disconnecting the onboard controls and/or providing uninterruptible power to the automatic control system via a path that does not include the onboard accessible power control element(s). The operation of the vehicle is then controlled via the processing element of the automatic control system. The control commands may be received from a remote location and/or from predetermined control commands that are stored onboard the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for automatically controlling a path of travel of a vehicle comprising:

engaging an automatic control system of the vehicle;

disabling any onboard capability to supersede the engaged automatic control system, wherein disabling any onboard capability to supersede the engaged automatic control system comprises bypassing at least one onboard accessible power control element by providing power to the automatic control system in response to engagement of the automatic control system via an alternative power control element comprising at least one power limiting element that is inaccessible, wherein bypassing at least one onboard accessible power control element further comprises providing power from an alternative, inaccessible power supply via the alternative power control element comprising at least one power limiting element in response to engagement of the automatic control system; and

controlling operation of the vehicle via the automatic control system.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a signal indicating the safety of the vehicle is jeopardized prior to engaging the automatic control system of the vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein engaging the automatic control system comprises manually engaging the automatic control system from onboard the vehicle.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein engaging the automatic control system comprises automatically engaging the automatic control system when the security of the controls onboard the vehicle is jeopardized.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising communicating with at least one location off-board the vehicle via a communication link between the vehicle and the at least one off-board location.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein engaging the automatic control system comprises remotely engaging the automatic control system from the at least one location off-board the vehicle via the communication link.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein controlling operation of the vehicle via the automatic control system comprises receiving control commands from the at least one location off-board the vehicle via the communication link and carrying out the control commands.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein disabling any onboard capability to supersede the engaged automatic control system comprises disabling any onboard capability to disengage the engaged automatic control system.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein disabling any onboard capability to supercede the engaged automatic control system comprises disconnecting onboard controls.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein controlling operation of the vehicle via the automatic control system comprises receiving predetermined control commands stored onboard the vehicle and executing the predetermined control commands.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein engaging an automatic control system comprises engaging an automatic flight control system of an air vehicle, wherein disabling any onboard capability to supersede the engaged automatic control system comprises disabling any onboard capability to supersede the engaged automatic flight control system, and wherein controlling operation of the vehicle comprises controlling operation of the air vehicle via the automatic flight control system.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein controlling operation of the air vehicle via the automatic flight control system comprises determining a navigation path of the air vehicle to control at least one of a flight operation of the air vehicle and a landing of the air vehicle.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising establishing communications relating to the automatic control system via a dedicated communications link between the vehicle and a remote location, wherein the dedicated communications link is distinct from any communications link established for other types of communications.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one power limiting element comprises at least one circuit breaker.

15. A system for automatically controlling a path of travel of a vehicle comprising:

at least one engagement element capable of engaging an automatic control system of the vehicle; and

at least one processing element capable of disabling any onboard capability to supersede the engaged automatic control system and any onboard capability to disengage the engaged automatic control system, and wherein said processing element is capable of receiving instructions for controlling operation of the vehicle via the automatic control system, and wherein said processing element is also capable of providing power to the automatic control system from an alternative, inaccessible power supply in response to engagement of the automatic control system, and wherein said processing element is further capable of bypassing at least one onboard accessible power control element in response to engagement of the automatic control system so as to provide power to the automatic control system from the alternative, inaccessible power supply via an alternative power control element comprising at least one power limiting element that is also inaccessible.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said at least one engagement element is located onboard the vehicle and is capable of receiving an input from onboard the vehicle to engage the automatic control system.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein said at least one engagement element is located onboard the vehicle and is capable of automatically engaging the automatic control system when the security of the controls onboard the vehicle is jeopardized.

18. The system according to claim 15, further comprising a communication system capable of communicating with at least one location off-board the vehicle via a communication link between the vehicle and the at least one off-board location.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein one of said at least one engagement element is located outside the vehicle and is capable of remotely engaging the automatic control system via the communication link of said communication system.

20. The system according to claim 18, wherein said processing element is also capable of receiving control commands from at least one location outside the vehicle via the communication link of said communication system.

21. The system according to claim 15, wherein said processing element is also capable of disconnecting onboard controls.

22. The system according to claim 15, further comprising a storage element onboard the vehicle, and wherein said processing element is also capable of receiving predetermined control commands from said storage element for controlling operation of the vehicle via the automatic control system.

23. The system according to claim 15, wherein said at least one engagement element is capable of engaging an automatic flight control system of an air vehicle, wherein said at least one processing element is capable of disabling any onboard capability to supersede the engaged automatic flight control system and any onboard capability to disengage the engaged automatic flight control system, and wherein said at least one processing element is capable of receiving instructions for controlling operation of the air vehicle via the automatic flight control system.

24. The system according to claim 15, further comprising a transmitter and a receiver for establishing a dedicated communications link for communications relating to the automatic control system between the vehicle and a remote location, wherein the dedicated communications link is distinct from any communications link established for other types of communications.

25. The system according to claim 15, wherein the at least one power limiting element comprises at least one circuit breaker.

26. A method of engaging an uninterruptible autopilot mode to automatically control flight operations of an air vehicle, comprising:

initiating an autopilot system of the air vehicle;

disconnecting onboard flight controls and bypassing at least one onboard accessible power control element to connect the autopilot system of the air vehicle to an alternative, inaccessible power supply in response to initiation of the autopilot system, such that the uninterruptible autopilot mode of the air vehicle is engaged, wherein bypassing at least one onboard accessible power control element comprises switching from the at least one onboard accessible power control element to an alternative, inaccessible power control element comprising at least one power limiting element so as to supply power via the alternative, inaccessible power control element to the autopilot system from the alternative, inaccessible power supply in response to initiation of the autopilot system; and

automatically navigating the air vehicle without input from onboard the air vehicle via the uninterruptible autopilot mode of the air vehicle.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein initiating an autopilot mode of the air vehicle comprises transmitting an uninterruptible autopilot mode signal from onboard the air vehicle to the autopilot system of the air vehicle.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein transmitting an uninterruptible autopilot mode signal from onboard the air vehicle comprises automatically transmitting an uninterruptible autopilot mode signal upon an occurrence of an event onboard the air vehicle.

29. The method according to claim 26, wherein initiating an autopilot mode of the air vehicle comprises transmitting an uninterruptible autopilot mode signal from a remote location to the autopilot system of the air vehicle.

30. The method according to claim 26, further comprising transmitting a signal from the air vehicle to at least one remote location to indicate that the uninterruptible autopilot mode of the air vehicle has been engaged, subsequent to initiating the autopilot mode of the air vehicle.

31. The method according to claim 26, wherein automatically navigating the air vehicle comprises automatically navigating the air vehicle away from populated areas.

32. The method according to claim 26, wherein automatically navigating the air vehicle comprises automatically navigating the air vehicle to one of a plurality of predetermined landing sites and automatically landing the air vehicle at the landing site.

33. The method according to claim 26, further comprising establishing communications relating to the autopilot system via a dedicated communications link between the air vehicle and a remote location, wherein the dedicated communications link is distinct from any communications link established for other types of communications.

34. The method according to claim 26, wherein the at least one power limiting element comprises at least one circuit breaker.

35. An uninterruptible autopilot system for automatically controlling flight operations of an air vehicle, comprising:

an autopilot system capable of receiving a signal to initiate the uninterruptible autopilot system of the air vehicle;

at least one switching element capable of disconnecting onboard manual flight controls and bypassing at least one onboard accessible power control element to connect said autopilot system of the air vehicle to an alternative inaccessible power supply in response to initiation of the autopilot system, such that the uninterruptible autopilot system of the air vehicle is engaged, wherein said at least one switching element is responsive to initiation of the uninterruptible autopilot system so as to bypass at least one onboard accessible power control element by switching from the at least one onboard accessible power control element to an alternative, inaccessible power control element comprising at least one power limiting element so as to supply power via the alternative, inaccessible power control element to the autopilot system from the alternative, inaccessible power supply; and

a processing element capable of automatically navigating the air vehicle without input from onboard the air vehicle via the uninterruptible autopilot system of the air vehicle.

36. The system according to claim 35, wherein said autopilot system is capable of receiving a signal from onboard the air vehicle to initiate the uninterruptible autopilot system of the air vehicle.

37. The system according to claim 36, wherein said autopilot system is capable of receiving an automatically generated signal from onboard the air vehicle to initiate the uninterruptible autopilot system of the air vehicle.

38. The system according to claim 35, wherein said autopilot system is capable of receiving a signal from a location off-board the air vehicle to initiate the uninterruptible autopilot system of the air vehicle.

39. The system according to claim 35, wherein said autopilot system is capable of transmitting a signal to at least one remote location to indicate that the uninterruptible autopilot system of the air vehicle has been engaged.

40. The system according to claim 35, wherein said processing element is capable of receiving directions to automatically navigate the air vehicle away from populated areas.

41. The system according to claim 35, wherein said processing element is capable of receiving directions to automatically navigate the air vehicle to one of a plurality of predetermined landing sites and automatically landing the air vehicle at the landing site.

42. The system according to claim 35, wherein said autopilot system comprises said processing element.

43. The system according to claim 35, further comprising a transmitter and a receiver for establishing a dedicated communications link for supporting communications relating to the autopilot system between the air vehicle and a remote location, wherein the dedicated communications link is distinct from any communications link established for other types of communications.

44. The system according to claim 35, wherein the at least one power limiting element comprises at least one circuit breaker.