AGTM airborne surveillance

• US 7,650,231 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2005
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Gadler, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Cuong H
• Application Number:
  US11/113,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20060241853A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,730 Days
• Field of Search: 701200-213, 701/117, 707/104.1, 707/10, 340/995.19
• US Class Current: 701/201
• 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. An apparatus for determining transportation routes using a geographical information systems (GIS) database that represents a geographical area, wherein the GIS database includes 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, comprising:

at least one airborne surveillance platform;

a computer system having a memory and a data storage device coupled thereto, the computer system receiving information from the airborne surveillance platform;

one or more programs, performed by the computer, for;

converting the information received from the airborne surveillance platform into a format acceptable to the data storage device; and

determining a transportation route for at least one vehicle within the geographical area using the information from the airborne surveillance platform.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10. The apparatus 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.