System and method for performing 4-dimensional navigation

• US 7,756,632 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2009
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Wise, John A., Wilson, Blake W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen; Shelley
• Application Number:
  US12/578,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20100030467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 273 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200
• US Class Current: 701/204
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/00 Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/106 Change initiated in response to external conditions, e.g. avoidance of elevated terrain or of no-fly zones
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for computing a vehicle'"'"'s motion in four dimensions (e.g., three spatial dimensions and time) and reliably predicting the vehicle'"'"'s arrival time at a predetermined location, by providing a graphical display to an operator of the vehicle'"'"'s progress that enables the operator to adjust the vehicle'"'"'s movement and achieve the desired arrival time. Specifically, a system and method are disclosed for computing the movement of an aircraft in four dimensions, predicting its arrival time at a predetermined waypoint, and displaying (in a highly intuitive format) the aircraft'"'"'s progress in achieving that desired arrival time. The pilot can then adjust the movement (e.g., speed) of the aircraft in accordance with the parameter(s) displayed, in order to achieve the desired arrival time. Thus, for example, numerous aircraft could be scheduled to arrive at a specific final approach waypoint at a predetermined rate (e.g., one aircraft per minute), which would enable the traffic controllers to optimize runway traffic without having to stack the aircraft in holding patterns and thereby waste fuel. Notably, although an example of an aircraft navigation and control system and method is disclosed, the system and method can be implemented for any type of vehicle (e.g., aircraft, spacecraft, ship, submarine, bus, train, automobile, etc.) whose operator desires to reach a particular location at a specified time.

Claims

1. A method for performing 4-dimensional navigation within a vehicle, comprising:

receiving navigation information for said vehicle;

estimating, for said vehicle, a range of arrival times for at least one predetermined location, said range of arrival times associated with a minimum value of said navigation information and a maximum value of said navigation information;

determining if said range of estimated arrival times includes a predetermined time of arrival; and

if said range of estimated arrival times includes said predetermined time of arrival, displaying an indication of a capability of said vehicle to arrive at said at least one predetermined location at said predetermined time of arrival, wherein the displaying comprises visually displaying a representation of current speed of said vehicle as a first symbol and displaying the range of estimated arrival times or a representation of a slower speed of said vehicle as a second symbol, wherein the position of said first symbol automatically moves relative to the position of said second symbol on the display.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said vehicle is an aircraft.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said vehicle is at least one of a ship, submarine, train, bus, truck and automobile.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying comprises:

displaying a faster speed of said vehicle as a third symbol fixed in position relative to said second symbol.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

displaying an alarm representing an inability of said vehicle to arrive at said at least one predetermined location at said predetermined time of arrival, if said range of estimated arrival times does not include said predetermined time of arrival.

6. A method for performing 4-dimensional navigation within a vehicle, comprising:

receiving navigation information for said vehicle;

determining a current location of said vehicle;

retrieving at least one predetermined location of a plurality of predetermined locations;

estimating, for said vehicle, a range of arrival times for said at least one predetermined location, said range of arrival times associated with a minimum value of said navigation information and a maximum value of said navigation information;

comparing said range of estimated arrival times for said at least one predetermined location with a predetermined time of arrival associated with said at least one predetermined location;

determining if said range of estimated arrival times includes said predetermined time of arrival;

if said range of estimated arrival times includes said predetermined time of arrival, displaying an indication of a capability of said vehicle to arrive at said at least one predetermined location at said predetermined time of arrival, wherein the displaying comprises visually displaying a representation of a current speed of said vehicle as a first symbol and displaying the range of estimated arrival times or a representation of a slower speed of said vehicle as a second symbol, wherein the position of said first symbol automatically moves relative to the position of said second symbol on the display; and

if said range of estimated arrival times does not include said predetermined time of arrival, displaying an indication of an incapability of said vehicle to arrive as said at least one predetermined location at said predetermined time of arrival.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said vehicle is an aircraft.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said vehicle is at least one of a ship, submarine, train, bus, truck and automobile.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein displaying comprises:

displaying a current speed of said vehicle as the first symbol.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

displaying an alarm representing an inability of said vehicle to arrive at said at least one predetermined location at said predetermined time of arrival, if said range of estimated arrival times does not include said predetermined time of arrival.