Abstract: A method of determining effectiveness of an aircraft braking system on an aircraft during an aircraft landing including generating a scalar deceleration value when a predefined braking event occurs that corresponds to effectiveness of a braking system associated with an aircraft landing operation during occurrence of a predefined braking event on an aircraft; and disseminating the generated scalar deceleration value to downstream users. A system includes a data collection module adapted to collect data relating to braking data associated with each of an associated plurality of segments of deceleration of the aircraft during a predefined braking event; a calculation module adapted to generate a scalar deceleration value based on data obtained; and a communication module in signal communication with the calculation module and with at least one downstream user of the system adapted to communicate the scalar deceleration value to at least one downstream user.

Abstract: The invention discloses differing embodiments of methods, aircraft, and apparatus for communicating the braking conditions of a runway. In one embodiment, braking information may be determined from a first aircraft which has landed on the runway. The braking information may be communicated to air traffic control and/or a second aircraft. Communication of the braking information may take place utilizing an Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast system (ADS-B) and/or other type of automatic networking system.

Abstract: The invention discloses differing embodiments of methods, aircraft, and apparatus for determining the landing conditions of a runway. In one embodiment, braking data may be collected from an aircraft which has landed on the runway; a braking performance measurement of the aircraft may be calculated based on the braking data; and a normalized braking performance measurement may be determined based on the braking performance measurement. The invention may be utilized to predict the expected braking performance of various types of aircraft on the runway. The invention may provide landing performance information to a broad host of users, and/or may be used as a basis for the development of a new aviation standard for the reporting of runway braking action.

Abstract: Methods and systems for presenting a current position of a vehicle on a moving map display are provided. The method includes determining a current position and a path of travel of the vehicle, determining a current position of at least one of a second vehicle, an object, and an area of interest wherein determining a current position of the second vehicle includes determining a path of travel of the second vehicle, and displaying a depiction of the vehicle and at least a portion of the at least one of the second vehicle, the object, and the area of interest at a first range setting. The method further includes automatically changing from the first range setting to a second range setting based on at least one of an approach autorange activation, an offscale traffic activation, and an offscale object or area of interest autorange activation, and displaying the ownship depiction and at least a portion of the at least one of the second vehicle, the object, and the area of interest at the second range setting.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for optimizing runway exiting. Prior to landing, the pilot may choose to input one or more new landing parameters. Then, based on current landing parameters (e.g., any new landing parameter(s) and remaining default landing parameters) and the aircraft performance parameters, predicted landing performance can be updated and indicia of the updated predicted landing performance can be displayed to the pilot on an updated airport map and display. The updated predicted landing performance can include, among other things, a display of AUTOBRAKE landing performance. When no further changes to the current landing parameters are desired, the automatic braking system can be set to provide dynamic braking to slow the aircraft to a selected velocity at a selected position on a particular runway.

Abstract: In exemplary embodiments, braking of an airplane is controlled during a rejected takeoff. A rejected takeoff of an airplane from a runway is initiated. Position of the airplane is determined, such as by inputting aircraft position from a global positioning system. Distance remaining on the runway is determined. Deceleration to stop the aircraft in the determined distance remaining on the runway is calculated, and the calculated deceleration is provided to an autobraking system of the airplane. When the aircraft can not be stopped in the determined distance remaining on the runway, a predetermined deceleration that correlates to maximum braking may be provided to the aircraft's autobraking system. The calculated deceleration may be provided to the autobraking system until a pilot takes command of the aircraft's brakes or the aircraft has stopped.

Abstract: Systems, computer program products, and methods for displaying navigation performance based flight path deviation information during the final approach segment to a runway and during landing of non-precision flight modes are provided. Improved graphical depictions of navigation performance based flight path deviation information provide pilots and flight crew members with clear, concise displays of the dynamic relationship between ANP and RNP, mode and aspect of flight and related procedures, intersecting flight paths, and current actual flight path deviation from a predefined flight path during the final approach segment to a runway and during landing. For example, an enhanced IAN display may include NPS-type deviation scales to show RNP/ANP relationships and predetermined RNP markers to alert the pilots and flight crew members that the FMC has transitioned from an NPS display for RNAV (LNAV/VNAV) flight procedures to an enhanced IAN display for a non-precision (non-xLS) approach and/or landing.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for receiving, by an airplane, one or more clearances and/or instructions from a control system via a data link between the control system and a system of the airplane, are described herein. The system of the airplane may then facilitate a user in accepting or rejecting at least one of the received one or more clearances and/or instructions, and if accepted, may load the clearance and/or instructions and/or adjust controls to correspond to the clearance and/or instructions. Further, the system of the airplane may be adapted to display at least instructionsindicia of whether the received instructions are met to a user.

Abstract: The invention discloses differing embodiments of methods, aircraft, and apparatus for determining the landing conditions of a runway. In one embodiment, braking data may be collected from an aircraft which has landed on the runway; a braking performance measurement of the aircraft may be calculated based on the braking data; and a normalized braking performance measurement may be determined based on the braking performance measurement. The invention may be utilized to predict the expected braking performance of various types of aircraft on the runway. The invention may provide landing performance information to a broad host of users, and/or may be used as a basis for the development of a new aviation standard for the reporting of runway braking action.

Abstract: A method for demodulation of a phase shift keyed signal in which the phase shift keyed signal is converted into a plurality of successive outputs, each of which is representative of a phase and amplitude of the phase shift keyed signal over additional sets of windows and carrier phases. Each said additional set has a different offset in time and carrier phase from the other additional sets of windows and carrier phases. The carrier phase and window offsets of the phase shift keyed signal are estimated using the plurality of successive outputs. The phase shift keyed signal is then decoded back into digital data using the estimates.

Abstract: The present invention is a laser ranging device that incorporates an internal tilt sensor, an internal temperature sensor, and an internal pressure sensor. The tilt sensor is used to measure the target's vertical angle relative to the horizontal reference plane. Digital signal processing circuitry controls the firing of the laser pulse, calculation of time-of-flight range, measurement of the vertical angle of the tilt sensor, measurement of ambient temperature and storage of tilt sensor and temperature sensor calibration data. The digital signal processing circuitry then provides the user temperature corrected ballistic ranging information, including horizontal range. Additionally, an automatic gain control system minimizes the effects of target to target variance in reflectivity and its associated errors. It is also an object of this invention to electronically minimize errors in the measurement of a vertical angle caused by housing vibration and by temperature variance errors.

Abstract: A method for reducing noise in borehole electromagnetic telemetry systems in which a signal receiver is positioned at a distance from a drill site borehole at which the signal receiver couples strongly to a signal from a signal transmitter disposed in the borehole and weakly to drill site noise emanating from the drill borehole, a noise receiver is positioned at a distance from the drill site borehole at which the noise receiver couples substantially only to magnetotelluric and/or drill site noise, the contributions of the magnetotelluric noise and drill site noise are determined, and subtracted from the signal received by the signal receiver, resulting in a reduced noise signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring and detecting a magnetic signature of a magnetically detectable object from a distance includes a portable sensor group for detecting the magnetic signature. The portable sensor group includes three gradient sensors, each of the three gradient sensors adapted to independently measure both a magnitude and a direction of the magnetic signature, a first of said gradient sensors measuring an axial gradient in the vertical direction, a second of said gradient sensors measuring a first horizontal gradient in the vertical direction, and a third of said gradient sensors measuring a second horizontal gradient in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A circuit for driving a current into an inductor, which circuit includes at least one main capacitor, a power supply operably connected to the main capacitor, the inductor, and at least two pairs of switches connecting the main capacitor to the inductor, whereby the connection of the main capacitor to the inductor is made in either polarity. Current is driven into the inductor by applying a current to the main capacitor, applying a voltage to the inductor from the main capacitor resulting in generation of inductive energy, and recapturing the inductive energy with the main capacitor at the end of a cycle.

Abstract: A locatable gas distribution system having magnetic polyethylene (PE) pipe with ferrite particles embedded within the polyethylene. The magnetic polyethylene pipe has a magnetic pattern signature with a constant magnitude and a constant change in a direction along a length of the pipe.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring and detecting a magnetic signature of a magnetically detectable object from a distance includes a portable sensor group for detecting the magnetic signature. The portable sensor group includes three gradient sensors, each of the three gradient sensors adapted to independently measure both a magnitude and a direction of the magnetic signature, a first of said gradient sensors measuring an axial gradient in the vertical direction, a second of said gradient sensors measuring a first horizontal gradient in the vertical direction, and a third of said gradient sensors measuring a second horizontal gradient in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A downhole magnetic hollow core dipole antenna has a high permeability material magnetic core composed of laminated sections placed around a section of drill pipe and running substantially along the length of the pipe. The magnetic core is then surrounded by electrically conductive windings, which in turn are surrounded by a protective sleeve which, if conductive, is split to prevent power-robbing eddy current generation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable, hand-held distance-measurement apparatus utilizing a laser range finder. The distance-measurement apparatus executes a number of distance-measurement cycles. In each cycle, a capacitor begins charging at approximately the same time that a light pulse is generated. An analog-to-digital converter generates a digital representation of the capacitor voltage at approximately the same time that a reflected light pulse is received. The lowest and the highest digital values are discarded and the remaining digital values are averaged and scaled to produce a distance measurement. A reflective target may be used at a remote location to reflect the light beam back to the distance-measurement apparatus. The distance-measurement apparatus has several power saving features that facilitate convenient battery operation. The distance-measurement apparatus may also have a view finder.

Abstract: A magnetically detectable plastic pipe having magnetic particles distributed in the wall of the pipe so that it is easily detected from the surface when buried in the ground, in a wall in concrete or other distant or relatively inaccessible locations. The magnetic particles are preferably distributed in the wall of the pipe by extrusion with the plastic at the time the pipe is formed and the pipe is passed through a magnet to magnetize the pipe diametrically with one pole on one side of the pipe and the other pole diametrically opposite. The pipe magnetization polarity may be selectively reversed to encode a unique magnetic signature to the pipe. Changing the magnetization polarity may also be used to encode data on the pipe. The pipe may be rotated and passed linearly through the magnet, or the magnet may be rotated around the pipe to produce a spiralled diametrically oriented magnetic structure. Another magnetic material used is strontium ferrite.

Abstract: A magnetically detectable plastic, e.g., polyethylene, polyvinyl, etc., pipe for underground use comprises a hollow tubular plastic pipe having particles of magnetic material embedded in plastic and secured integrally with the wall of the pipe. The magnetic particles are of iron oxide or barium ferrite and of a size, shape, distribution and proportion such that the plastic pipe may be easily detected by magnetic detection apparatus on the surface when the plastic pipe is buried at a selected depth under the ground. The magnetic particles are uniformly distributed throughout the thickness and uniformly distributed around the entire circumference of the plastic pipe or the magnetic particles may be distributed in discrete portions of the plastic pipe, as for example, a uniform outer layer of the pipe or in stripes or strips extending along the pipe.