Method and system for monitoring the performance of an aircraft during take off

• US 7,158,052 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2002
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cranfield University
• Original Assignee: Cranfield University
• Inventors: Zammit-Mangion, David, Eshelby, Martin Ewart
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US10/479,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20040260434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,687 Days
• Field of Search: 340/945, 340/959, 340/963, 340/970, 340/971, 340/972, 340/980, 701/15, 701/16, 731/78.T
• US Class Current: 340/959
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0083 to help an aircraft pilot in the rolling phase

Abstract

A system, method and display for monitoring the performance of an aircraft during the take-off maneuver that includes the steps of monitoring the progress of the take-off maneuver by acquiring data representative of the aircraft'"'"'s motion at a plurality of points during the maneuver, generating a function that best fits the acquired data, and using the generated function to predict future progress of the maneuver.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring performance of an aircraft during a takeoff maneuver, the method including the steps of monitoring progress of the maneuver by acquiring a plurality of data sets representative of the aircraft'"'"'s motion at a plurality of points during the maneuver, generating a function that best fits the acquired data sets, and using the function generated to predict future progress of the maneuver.

2. The method set forth in claim 1, further including the steps of comparing the predicted progress with a predetermined standard and providing an indication of the performance based on the comparison.

3. The method set forth in claim 2, wherein the indication of the aircraft'"'"'s performance includes indicia representing the magnitude and sign of the comparison of the predicted progress with the predetermined standard.

4. The method set forth in claim 1, wherein the function generated is extrapolated to predict the future progress of the maneuver.

5. The method set forth in claim 1, wherein the function generated is used to determine coefficients of a second function, which is used to predict the future progress of the maneuver.

6. The method set forth in claim 1, wherein the function generated is derived by a process of curve-fitting using a least squares method.

7. The method set forth in claim 6, wherein a second order polynomial function is fit to the acquired plurality of data sets representing the monitored progress of the maneuver.

8. The method set forth in claim 7, wherein predetermined limits are placed on the coefficients of the polynomial function.

9. The method set forth in claim 6, wherein compensation is applied to the curve-fitting function to adjust its curvature.

10. The method set forth in claim 1, wherein an alternative method of monitoring performance is employed during an initial part of the takeoff maneuver.

11. The method set forth in claim 1, wherein uncertainty in the predicted progress of the takeoff maneuver is calculated.

12. The method set forth in claim 11, wherein the uncertainty calculation is used to control the performance indication.

13. The method set forth in claim 1, wherein data collected during monitoring is recorded for later analysis.

14. The method set forth in claim 1, wherein X data sets are collected during the takeoff maneuver and used to generate a function having Y coefficients, where X>

Y.

15. The method set forth in claim 1 performed by a system constructed and arranged for monitoring the performance of an aircraft during the takeoff maneuver, the system including a data acquisition unit, a data processing device and a display device.

16. A system for monitoring the performance of an aircraft during a takeoff maneuver, the system including a data acquisition unit, a data processing device and a display device, the system being constructed and arranged so as to monitor progress of the takeoff maneuver, wherein, during operation, the data acquisition unit acquires a plurality of data sets representative of the motion of the aircraft at a plurality of points during the maneuver, the data processing device generates a function that best fits the acquired data sets and the data processing device uses the function generated to predict future progress of the maneuver.

17. The system set forth in claim 16, being further constructed and arranged for comparing the predicted progress with a predetermined standard and for providing an indication of the performance based on the comparison.

18. The system set forth in claim 16, further including a data recording device for recording data collected during monitoring.

19. The system set forth in claim 16, wherein the collected data sets from successive measurements are stored and used to determine, by curve fitting, the achieved performance of the aircraft.

20. The system set forth in claim 16, wherein X data sets are collected during the takeoff maneuver and used to generate a function having Y coefficients, where X>

Y.

21. A system for monitoring the performance of an aircraft during a takeoff maneuver, the system including a data acquisition unit, a data processing device and a display device, the system being constructed and arranged so as to monitor progress of the takeoff maneuver, wherein, during operation, the data acquisition unit acquires a plurality of data sets representative of the motion of the aircraft at a plurality of points during the maneuver, the data processing device generates a function that best fits the acquired data sets, and the data processing device uses the function generated to predict future progress of the maneuver, the display device including an indicator element that, in use, extends from a first position representing a scheduled level of performance to a second position representing an achieved level of performance, the length and direction of the indicator element representing, respectively, the magnitude and sign of the difference between the scheduled performance and the achieved performance.

22. The system set forth in claim 21, wherein the indicator element includes a bar-like element of variable length.

23. The system set forth in claim 21, wherein the indicator element is constructed and arranged so as to change color according to the difference between the scheduled performance and the achieved performance.

24. The system set forth in claim 21, wherein the indicator element is located adjacent to a graduated scale.

25. The system set forth in claim 21 located adjacent to an airspeed indicator.