Method and device for detecting noise on a guide signal of LOC type received by an aircraft

• US 8,239,077 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2008
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Colomer, Alexandre
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHUONG P
• Application Number:
  US12/109,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20090005920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/4, 701/7, 701/8, 701 16- 18, 244/75.1, 244/183, 244/185, 244/186, 342/407, 342410-413, 731/78.T
• US Class Current: 701/7
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/026 of associated receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/16 Azimuthal guidance systems, e.g. system for defining aircraft approach path, localiser system
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0202 specially adapted to aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913

Abstract

A method and a device for an aircraft for detecting noise in a signal of LOC type. A first step includes estimating a first lateral speed of the aircraft according to a first set of parameters. Concurrently, at least one second lateral speed of the aircraft is estimated according to at least one second set of parameters, among which at least one parameter is of different nature from each parameter of the first set of parameters. A second step includes comparing the first lateral speed and the at least one second lateral speed according to a threshold. If the difference between the first lateral speed and the at least one second lateral speed is greater than the threshold, the presence of noise in the signal of LOC type is detected.

Claims

1. A method for detecting, in an aircraft, the presence of noise in a localizer (LOC) signal, the method comprising:

estimating a first lateral speed of the aircraft on the basis of inertial information according to a first set of parameters;

estimating at least one second lateral speed of the aircraft on the basis of guide information of the LOC signal according to at least one second set of parameters, among which at least one parameter is of different nature from each parameter of the first set of parameters;

comparing the first lateral speed and the at least one second lateral speed and obtaining a difference between the first lateral speed and the at least one second lateral speed;

verifying the difference with a threshold;

verifying an automatic pilot has been engaged for a sufficient predetermined time;

verifying the estimated first lateral speed and the estimated at least one second lateral speed are coherent; and

indicating a presence of noise in the LOC signal when the difference between the first lateral speed and the at least one second lateral speed is greater than the threshold and the automatic pilot has been engaged for the sufficient predetermined time and when the estimated lateral speeds are coherent.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

validating the detecting of the presence of noise in the LOC signal.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the validating is based on at least one parameter of a state of the aircraft.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

validating the estimating steps of the first and at least one second lateral speed.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

deactivating an automatic pilot control device of the aircraft.

6. A device for detecting, in an aircraft, the presence of noise in a localizer (LOC) signal, the device comprising:

an estimator configured to estimate a first lateral speed of the aircraft on the basis of inertial information according to a first set of parameters;

a second estimator configured to estimate at least one second lateral speed of the aircraft on the basis of guide information of the LOC signal according to at least one second set of parameters, among which at least one parameter is of different nature from each parameter of the first set of parameters;

a comparator configured to compare the first lateral speed and the at least one second lateral speed and obtain a difference between the first lateral speed and the at least one second lateral speed;

a first verifier configured to verify the difference with a threshold;

a second verifier configured to verify an automatic pilot has been engaged for a sufficient predetermined time;

a third verifier configured to verify the estimated first lateral speed and the estimated at least one second lateral speed are coherent; and

an indicator configured to indicate detect presence of noise in the LOC signal when the difference between the first lateral speed and the at least one second lateral speed is greater than the threshold and the automatic pilot has been engaged for the sufficient predetermined time and when the estimated lateral speeds are coherent.

8. An aircraft equipped with a device according to claim 6.

7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium encoded with executable instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

estimating a first lateral speed of the aircraft on the basis of inertial information according to a first set of parameters;

estimating at least one second lateral speed of the aircraft on the basis of guide information of the LOC signal according to at least one second set of parameters, among which at least one parameter is of different nature from each parameter of the first set of parameters;

comparing the first lateral speed and the at least one second lateral speed and obtaining a difference between the first lateral speed and the at least one second lateral speed;

verifying the difference with a threshold;

verifying an automatic pilot has been engaged for a sufficient predetermined time;

verifying the estimated first lateral speed and the estimated at least one second lateral speed are coherent; and

indicating a presence of noise in the LOC signal when the difference between the first lateral speed and the at least one second lateral speed is greater than the threshold and the automatic pilot has been engaged for the sufficient predetermined time and when the estimated lateral speeds are coherent.