Aircraft environmental impact measurement system

• US 9,269,205 B1
• Filed: 10/01/2014
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Lamkin, Andrew Fannon, Buster, Duke, Nutaro, Joseph J., Warpinski, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, Alex C
• Application Number:
  US14/504,092
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 701/14
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0052 for cruising combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value G01C23/00

Abstract

An environmental impact measurement system for an aircraft includes a one-way data interface and a processing system. The one-way data interface is adapted to continuously receive and transmit aircraft data and flight plan data. The processing system is in operable communication with the one-way data interface to receive the aircraft data and the flight plan data transmitted therefrom. The processing system is configured, upon receipt of the aircraft data and the flight plan data, to generate at least data representative of real-time environmental impact of the aircraft, and recommendations for improving the real-time environmental impact of the aircraft.

Claims

1. An environmental impact measurement system for an aircraft, comprising:

a one-way data interface adapted to continuously receive and transmit aircraft data and flight plan data;

a static items data source having stored therein relatively non-dynamic science data, aircraft data, and historic data; and

a processing system in operable communication with the one-way data interface to receive the aircraft data and the flight management data transmitted therefrom, the processing system configured, upon receipt of the aircraft data and the flight plan data, to generate at least data representative of;

(i) real-time environmental impact of the aircraft, and

(ii) recommendations for improving the real-time environmental impact of the aircraft,

wherein the processing system is in operable communication with the static items data source and is further configured to selectively retrieve at least portions of the science data, the aircraft data, and the historic data from the static items data source and, upon retrieval thereof, to at least generate the data representative of the real-time environmental impact and the recommendations.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an aircraft data source in operable communication with the one-way data interface and configured to supply the aircraft data thereto; and

a flight management data source in operable communication with the one-way data interface and configured to supply the flight management data thereto.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the aircraft data includes at least data representative of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) location, date and time, groundspeed, aircraft orientation, temperature, light intensity, altitude, airspeed, bank angle, engine status, auxiliary power unit (APU) status, flap configuration, and weather.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the flight management data includes at least data representative of current flight plan, traffic information, and fuel planning.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a market data source in operable communication with the processing system, the market data source configured to supply real-time market data,

wherein the processing system is further configured to selectively retrieve real-time market data from the market data source and, upon retrieval thereof, to at least generate the data representative of the recommendations.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the real-time market data includes data representative of the current fuel price, fare system data, passenger manifests, and airport fees.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the science data includes (i) conversion rates for converting various units of fuel and/or oil usage into units of greenhouse gas generation, and (ii) emission tables that include look-up tables that list expected emissions levels for a given aircraft type and engine configuration, and normalized impacts for various combustion products at altitude;

the historical data includes market history data, priority inputs data, and past aircraft performance data; and

the aircraft data includes optimal aircraft data and aircraft dimension data.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the processor is further configured, upon receipt of the aircraft data and the flight plan data, to generate standard performance metrics and custom performance metrics;

the standard performance metrics include data representative of global warming potential (GWP), contrail formation, NOx formation, and instantaneous CO2 emissions; and

the custom performance metrics include data representative of aircraft performance over time, late arrivals versus missed connections, and route timing.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a non-transitory metrics storage device in operable communication with the processing system, the metrics storage device configured to receive and store the standard performance metrics and the custom performance metrics.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a data export interface in operable communication with the non-transitory metrics storage device and configured to allow selective retrieval of the standard performance metrics and the custom performance metrics.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured:

to receive priority data representative of ranked priorities, the ranked priorities including cost, time, and environmental impact; and

in response to the priority data, to generate one or more advisories based on the ranked priorities.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a display device in operable communication with the processing system, the display device configured, in response to commands received from the processing system, to display one or more images representative of;

the real-time environmental impact of the aircraft, and

the recommendations for improving the real-time environmental impact of the aircraft.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the display device is further configured, in response to commands received from the processing system, to render a plurality of fields representative of aircraft status.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the display device is further configured, in response to commands received from the processing system, to render an environmental impact field that displays an instantaneous measure of overall system performance from an environmental impact standpoint relative to best performance the aircraft could attain.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the display device is further configured, in response to commands received from the processing system, to render a priority input user interface, the priority input user interface configured to allow a user to establish priorities for the recommendations and supply priority data representative thereof, the priority data representative of ranked priorities that include cost, time, and environmental impact.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the data representative of recommendations for improving the real-time environmental impact of the aircraft comprise one or more of:

flight route recommendations;

aircraft altitude recommendations; and

cruise number recommendations.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a data collection system in operable communication with the one-way data interface, the data collection system configured to;

receive at least a portion of the aircraft data,

determine, based at least in part on the aircraft data, carbon emission rate data, and

store the aircraft data and carbon emission rate data.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the data collection system comprises:

a digital interface configured to allow selective retrieval of the stored aircraft data and carbon emission rate data.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the data collection system comprises:

a tamper sensor configured to sense unauthorized access to the data collection system.

20. An environmental impact measurement system for an aircraft, comprising:

a one-way data interface adapted to continuously receive and transmit aircraft data and flight plan data; and

a data collection system in operable communication with the one-way data interface, the data collection system configured to;

receive at least a portion of the aircraft data,

determine, based at least in part on the aircraft data, carbon emission rate data, and

store the aircraft data and carbon emission rate data,

wherein the data collection system comprises a digital interface configured to allow selective retrieval of the stored aircraft data and carbon emission rate data.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the data collection system comprises:

a tamper sensor configured to sense unauthorized access to the data collection system.

22. An environmental impact measurement system for an aircraft, comprising:

a one-way data interface adapted to continuously receive and transmit aircraft data and flight plan data; and

a processing system in operable communication with the one-way data interface to receive the aircraft data and the flight management data transmitted therefrom, the processing system configured, upon receipt of the aircraft data and the flight plan data, to generate at least data representative of;

(i) real-time environmental impact of the aircraft, and

(ii) recommendations for improving the real-time environmental impact of the aircraft, and

standard performance metrics and custom performance metrics,

wherein;

the standard performance metrics include data representative of global warming potential (GWP), contrail formation, NOx formation, and instantaneous CO2 emissions; and

the custom performance metrics include data representative of aircraft performance over time, late arrivals versus missed connections, and route timing.

23. An environmental impact measurement system for an aircraft, comprising:

a one-way data interface adapted to continuously receive and transmit aircraft data and flight plan data; and

a processing system in operable communication with the one-way data interface to receive the aircraft data and the flight management data transmitted therefrom, the processing system configured, upon receipt of the aircraft data and the flight plan data, to generate at least data representative of;

(i) real-time environmental impact of the aircraft, and

(ii) recommendations for improving the real-time environmental impact of the aircraft,

wherein the processing system is further configured;

to receive priority data representative of ranked priorities, the ranked priorities including cost, time, and environmental impact; and

in response to the priority data, to generate one or more advisories based on the ranked priorities.

24. An environmental impact measurement system for an aircraft, comprising:

a one-way data interface adapted to continuously receive and transmit aircraft data and flight plan data;

a processing system in operable communication with the one-way data interface to receive the aircraft data and the flight management data transmitted therefrom, the processing system configured, upon receipt of the aircraft data and the flight plan data, to generate at least data representative of;

(i) real-time environmental impact of the aircraft, and

(ii) recommendations for improving the real-time environmental impact of the aircraft; and

a display device in operable communication with the processing system, the display device configured, in response to commands received from the processing system, to;

(i) display one or more images representative of the real-time environmental impact of the aircraft, and the recommendations for improving the real-time environmental impact of the aircraft, and

(ii) render a priority input user interface, the priority input user interface configured to allow a user to establish priorities for the recommendations and supply priority data representative thereof, the priority data representative of ranked priorities that include cost, time, and environmental impact.

25. An environmental impact measurement system for an aircraft, comprising:

a one-way data interface adapted to continuously receive and transmit aircraft data and flight plan data; and

a processing system in operable communication with the one-way data interface to receive the aircraft data and the flight management data transmitted therefrom, the processing system configured, upon receipt of the aircraft data and the flight plan data, to generate at least data representative of;

(i) real-time environmental impact of the aircraft, and

(ii) recommendations for improving the real-time environmental impact of the aircraft,

wherein the data representative of recommendations for improving the real-time environmental impact of the aircraft comprise one or more of;

flight route recommendations;

aircraft altitude recommendations; and

cruise number recommendations.

26. An environmental impact measurement system for an aircraft, comprising:

a one-way data interface adapted to continuously receive and transmit aircraft data and flight plan data;

a processing system in operable communication with the one-way data interface to receive the aircraft data and the flight management data transmitted therefrom, the processing system configured, upon receipt of the aircraft data and the flight plan data, to generate at least data representative of;

(i) real-time environmental impact of the aircraft, and

(ii) recommendations for improving the real-time environmental impact of the aircraft; and

a data collection system in operable communication with the one-way data interface, the data collection system configured to;

receive at least a portion of the aircraft data,

determine, based at least in part on the aircraft data, carbon emission rate data, and

store the aircraft data and carbon emission rate data.

27. An environmental impact measurement system for an aircraft, comprising:

a one-way data interface adapted to continuously receive and transmit aircraft data and flight plan data; and

a data collection system in operable communication with the one-way data interface, the data collection system configured to;

receive at least a portion of the aircraft data,

determine, based at least in part on the aircraft data, carbon emission rate data, and

store the aircraft data and carbon emission rate data,

wherein the data collection system comprises a tamper sensor configured to sense unauthorized access to the data collection system.