With Course Diversion Patents (Class 701/122)
  • Patent number: 11951983
    Abstract: An autonomous controller for lateral motion includes a vehicle positioning module that calculates a lateral departure degree from the center of a virtual line after a line is lost using position information of a vehicle. The position information is derived by data obtained from the vehicle which is traveling. The controller also includes a driving route determination module that determines the virtual line connecting waypoints previously generated on a map for a section where the line is lost to connect an old line with a new line. A lateral control module then performs lateral autonomous control of the vehicle in a direction where the lateral departure degree is minimized to cause the vehicle to follow a driving route connecting waypoints set on the virtual line to travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Hyun Su Kim
  • Patent number: 11790790
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating an electric aircraft flight plan, where the apparatus includes a sensor and controller. The electric aircraft includes a sensor that is configured to detect a position of an electric aircraft, generate a position datum, and transmit the position to a flight controller. The electric aircraft also includes a database of recommended flights. The recommended flight plan is displayed on a display in the electric aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Steven J. Foland, Nicholas Warren, John Charles Palombini
  • Patent number: 11787560
    Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) system for facilitating aircraft approaching and landing includes a database for storing airfields information and associated one or more approach patterns. The system also includes a display screen with user input interface configured for selecting a pattern for an aircraft to approach and land on an airfield, displaying the selected pattern in an overhead graphical view of the airfield according to the related information stored in the database. The system further includes a processing unit in signal communication with the database, one or more aircraft position sensors, and the display screen. The processing unit is configured to receive aircraft location and movement information from one or more aircraft sensors, airfield information from the database, and user input from the user input interface to determine display content and format of the display content on the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Area 2601, LLC
    Inventors: Albert F. Tellechea, Diego M. Alfonso, Joseph R. Collins
  • Patent number: 11783717
    Abstract: Methods and systems for an aircraft entering a terminal radar approach control (TRACON) airspace to identify a number of feasible target traffic for a paired approach for the aircraft. Traffic data is filtered to identify a plurality of neighbor traffic that are entering the TRACON airspace or within the TRACON airspace when the aircraft is entering the TRACON airspace and estimating, concurrently, for each neighbor traffic of the plurality of neighbor traffic: a trajectory, a traffic arrival time at an ideal location for a respective paired approach with the aircraft, a spacing interval between the neighbor traffic and the aircraft for the respective paired approach, and a respective target location for the aircraft to begin the respective paired approach, as a function of the spacing interval. Based on the estimations, the method identifies feasible, marginally feasible, and infeasible targets, and displays this information in an intuitive lateral display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Rajeev Mohan, Ravish Udupa, Ruben Carrillo, Bhalakrishnan Janardhanan
  • Patent number: 11705009
    Abstract: A system and method for optimizing mission fulfillment via unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) within a mission space generates or receives atmospheric models forecasting weather and wind through the mission space, the atmospheric models having an uncertainty factor. Until the projected flight time, the controller may iterate through one or more simulations of a projected flight plan through the mission space, determining the probability of successful fulfillment of mission objectives based on the most current atmospheric models (including the ability of the UAS to navigate the flight plan within authorized airspace constraints). Based on conditions and behaviors observed during a simulated flight plan, the controller may revise flight plans, flight times, or atmospheric models for subsequent simulations. Based on multiple probabilities of fulfillment across multiple simulations, the controller selects an optimal flight plan and/or flight time for fulfillment of the assigned set of mission objectives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Liberko, Kevin McElroy, Boe A. Svatek, Brian R Wolford, Kevin M Kronfeld
  • Patent number: 11606194
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system for securing wireless data communication. The system includes a launcher and a projectile. The launcher has a random number generator, a launcher memory, a launcher encryption/decryption module, and a launcher transceiver. The projectile has a projectile memory, a projectile encryption/decryption module, and a projectile transceiver. Both the launcher encryption/decryption module and the projectile encryption/decryption module are configured to use the one-time pad to encrypt and to decrypt data. The system is configured to establish a temporary datalink at a point in time in which the projectile and the launcher are substantially collocated so that the one-time pad can be transmitted from random number generator located in the launcher to the projectile memory using the temporary datalink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: United States Government as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Jonathan N Blakely
  • Patent number: 11498697
    Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) system for facilitating aircraft approaching and landing includes a database for storing airfields information and associated one or more approach patterns. The system also includes a display screen with user input interface configured for selecting a pattern for an aircraft to approach and land on an airfield, displaying the selected pattern in an overhead graphical view of the airfield according to the related information stored in the database. The system further includes a processing unit in signal communication with the database, one or more aircraft position sensors, and the display screen. The processing unit is configured to receive aircraft location and movement information from one or more aircraft sensors, airfield information from the database, and user input from the user input interface to determine display content and format of the display content on the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Area 2601, LLC
    Inventors: Albert F. Tellechea, Diego M. Alfonso, Joseph R. Collins
  • Patent number: 11249489
    Abstract: A method of determining a vertical path of an aircraft from its current position, an associated computer program product and a determining system are disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes determining a vertical path of the aircraft including determining an initial path segment and N following path segments, composing the vertical path of the aircraft from the determined path segments and freezing this vertical path. The method further includes determining a status of each of the altitude constraints along the entire vertical path of the aircraft, each status being chosen between an achievable status when the corresponding altitude constraint is satisfied and a missed status otherwise, and displaying the vertical path of the aircraft and statuses of the determined altitude constraints to the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Manuel Bauer, Geoffrey Durand
  • Patent number: 11222546
    Abstract: An on-board computing apparatus and associated methods that process aircraft data gathered from aircraft, such as during flight of these aircraft, to pair aircraft during at least portions of a flight route. This enables collaborative airspace management. In certain cases, paired aircraft may be controlled to fly in formation, e.g. flown to maintain a defined separation distance within two- or three-dimensional space over a given period of time. Formation flying in this manner, with pairs of lead and follower aircraft, can allow a follower aircraft to take advantage of a vortex generated by the lead aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Airbus SAS
    Inventors: Tanushree Garai, Srushti Virdhe, Akshay Bansal
  • Patent number: 11081012
    Abstract: Electronic devices and methods for optimizing the vertical profile to be flown by an aircraft during the cruise phase of a flight. Based on continuously updated information about the aircraft's weight and the atmospheric wind and temperature, the method provides an optimal sequence of climbs and/or descents along the flight path during the cruise phase. Following the step climb/descent profile proposed by the method results in the most cost-optimal flight (if a cost index was selected) or in the most fuel-efficient flight (if the long-range cruise mode was selected). The method may be implemented in the flight management computer or any other electronic data processing device that can access the required information to perform the calculations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Bastian Figlar, David Garrido-Lopez, Johan L. De Prins
  • Patent number: 10909858
    Abstract: An aircraft management system and method includes a flight plan diversion prediction system including a rerouting control unit that is configured to generate one or more reroute options for an aircraft based on an analysis of a current position of the aircraft, a predicted future position of the aircraft, a current position of an in-flight hazard, and a predicted future position of the in-flight hazard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Samantha Schwartz, Melissa Irene Blackstun, Theresa Ernsbach, Brian Azcuenaga, Stephen Solomon Altus, Aaron Pilcher, Jeffrey Lee Williams
  • Patent number: 10838431
    Abstract: A method implemented by computer for the management of the descent of an aircraft, comprises the steps of: receiving a descent profile; determining a search band comprising a plurality of flight segments of the profile; and selecting a flight segment in the search band. Various selection criteria are described, in particular the consideration of the commands of pitch-up and/or separation with respect to the active segment (anticipation distance). Other developments comprise the fact that the search band is configurable, the consideration of the load factor, modalities of tangent capture (trajectory with no segment crossing), compliance with altitude constraints, the determination of capture parabola modeling the trajectory, as well as the activation of the segment selected as control reference. System aspects and software aspects are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Geoffrey Durand, Bertrand Caudron de Coquereaumont, Johan Boyer
  • Patent number: 10755588
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for aircraft stand management are described herein. One device includes a memory, and a processor to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to receive information associated with arriving and departing flights at an airport, determine, using the received information, whether a conflict exists at a parking stand of the airport assigned to an aircraft, generate, using the received information, an airfield parking stand analysis, including a time chart for the parking stand and a list of different parking stands to assign to the aircraft in response to a conflict existing at the parking stand, and a user interface to display the airfield parking stand analysis in a single integrated display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Andrea Antonini, Karel Macek, Maksood Moidin Kadike
  • Patent number: 10302436
    Abstract: A path searching apparatus includes: a path searching unit that searches for an optimal path of a movable body that performs traveling from a start node to a goal node by performing a path searching process based on A-Star algorithm, and a predicting unit that predicts a surrounding situation of the movable body at each of times in future. The path searching unit determines whether a first surrounding situation involves a change from a second surrounding situation, on a basis of the predicted surrounding situation, and upon determining that the first surrounding situation involves the change, updates an estimated smallest cost value h* of a node on which the searching has been already performed, on a basis of the first surrounding situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoaki Itabashi, Satoshi Okada, Akihiro Yamane
  • Patent number: 10157549
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system and computer program product for estimating the impact of new operational conditions in a baseline air traffic scenario. The system comprises: an intent inference module for retrieving flight track data and associated aircraft type information of a flight in a baseline air traffic scenario, and inferring an aircraft intent that fits the flight track data; an intent generation module for, using an alternative air traffic scenario based on the baseline air traffic scenario with new operational conditions, generating an aircraft intent for each flight in the alternative air traffic scenario that fits the new operational conditions; a trajectory computation module for computing the trajectory of each flight in the baseline and alternative air traffic scenario using their aircraft intent; an evaluation module for computing a trajectory-based analytics on each computed trajectory of the baseline and alternative air traffic scenario using a set of metrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Luis P. D'Alto, Marco La Civita, Javier Lopez, Miguel Angel Vilaplana Ruiz
  • Patent number: 10108189
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an aerial vehicle are provided. The method includes receiving a first signal from a first input device, wherein the first signal is related to a mode of a flight director. The method includes outputting a parameter on an output device, wherein the parameter is related to the mode. The method includes receiving a second signal from a second input device, wherein the second signal causes the parameter to change to a new parameter. The method includes outputting, by the one or more processors, the new parameter on the output device. The method includes receiving, by the one or more processors, a third signal from a third input device, wherein the aerial vehicle is controlled by the flight director based on the third signal, and wherein the second input device is mechanically coupled to the first input device and the third input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC
    Inventors: Michael Eric Figard, Norman Leonard Ovens, Sharon Ann Green, Jennifer Cooper, So Young Kim, Mark Lawrence Darnell, George R. Henderson
  • Patent number: 10082802
    Abstract: A system for continued navigation of unmanned aerial vehicles beyond restricted boundaries. The system comprises a monitoring device to track a geolocation corresponding to an unmanned aerial vehicle and to compare the geolocation corresponding to the unmanned aerial vehicle with a geolocation corresponding to a restricted boundary to determine a location of the unmanned aerial vehicle with respect to a restricted environment, and a route generator to generate an alternative navigation method to navigate the restricted environment when the unmanned aerial vehicle is located within a predetermined distance of the restricted environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas D. Erickson, Clifford A. Pickover, Maja Vukovic
  • Patent number: 9846039
    Abstract: A method of computing an aircraft trajectory, between a departure point and an arrival point, comprises: loading the departure point and a departure angle; determining two waypoints; loading the arrival point and an arrival angle; determining two departure circles of respectively left and right type, which are tangent to the oriented departure straight line respectively on the left and on the right, and passing respectively through the waypoint of left type and through waypoint of right type; determining two arrival circles of respectively left and right type which are tangent to the oriented arrival straight line respectively on its left and on its right and passing through the arrival point; determining a plurality of continuous geometric lateral trajectories comprising an initial portion comprising a portion of a departure circle, a final portion equal to a portion of an arrival circle, and an intermediate portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Vincent Savarit, Emmanuel Dewas, Yohann Combes
  • Patent number: 9558671
    Abstract: Method and device for aiding the guidance of an aircraft having to comply with at least one time constraint. The device can determine and present on a screen of the flight deck an offset in distance (?D) between the aircraft (AC) and a reference aircraft (Aref) which is defined to fly along the flight plan (TV) at an optimal speed to comply with the time constraint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Stephane Bostetter, Maxime Wachenheim, Boris Kozlow
  • Patent number: 9037321
    Abstract: A taxiway approach advisory system. The system may include a computer-readable memory containing runway information and a processor in data communication with the memory. The processor may include a component for ascertaining the altitude of an aircraft, a component for ascertaining the location of the aircraft, a component for accessing runway information from the memory and determining if the aircraft is within a pre-determined runway envelope based on the altitude and location, and a component for issuing an indication if the aircraft is not within the pre-determined runway envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Kevin J Conner, Ratan Khatwa
  • Patent number: 9026275
    Abstract: A on-aircraft computer device predicts aircraft states (e.g., altitude, speed, flight path angle, and fuel consumption) at any given time, while utilizing a Deterministic Genetic Algorithm to search 4-D flight path candidates that can comply with all path constraints to produce a feasible 4-D path candidate as a final OPD flight path to arrive at a metering waypoint in a specified time window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Inventors: Shih-Yih Young, Kristen M. Jerome
  • Patent number: 9002628
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a memory and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to receive holding instructions for an aircraft, wherein the holding instructions comprise a holding fix, a holding direction, and an inbound leg course, obtain an airspeed for the aircraft, obtain a wind speed and a wind direction affecting the aircraft, calculate a holding pattern for the aircraft using the holding instructions, the wind speed, the wind direction, an inbound leg duration, and the airspeed, obtain Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) protected airspace limits associated with the holding fix, and present the holding pattern and the FAA protected airspace limits to a flight crew member on the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Epoch Flight Systems LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Gary Wilder, Otto Charles Wilke
  • Publication number: 20150081198
    Abstract: Example systems and methods for controlling aircraft arrivals at a waypoint are disclosed. An example method for controlling aircraft arrivals at a merging waypoint includes defining a tie waypoint at a first distance from the merging waypoint and generating a first parameter set of flight instructions for aircraft arriving at the tie waypoint. The first parameter set includes an aircraft speed instruction for a target separation between a first aircraft arriving at a target waypoint downstream of the tie waypoint and a second aircraft arriving at the target waypoint. The example method includes defining a diversionary flight path at a second distance from the merging waypoint. The second distance is less than the first distance. The method also includes generating a second parameter set of flight instructions for the aircraft arriving at the diversionary flight path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: David Garrido-Lopez, Ramon Gomez Ledesma
  • Patent number: 8983760
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for controlling air traffic. The method and system utilizes aircraft performance data, provided either by an FMS of a capable aircraft or generated by a model based on knowledge of the aircraft, to provide an accurate prediction of aircraft intent so that an accurate estimated time of arrival can be generated. The estimated time of arrival is then used to provide a required time of arrival (RTA) for the aircraft. The RTAs for the aircraft are provided for the aircraft to arrive at a destination, such as an Outer Fix Point, in a desired sequence. The desired sequence is arranged to provide intervals between the aircraft such that they may be able to land at the destination airport without requiring holding and vectoring from top of descent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Airservices, Australia
    Inventor: Greg McDonald
  • Patent number: 8965679
    Abstract: Systems and methods are operable maintain a proscribed Self Separation distance between an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) and an object. In an example system, consecutive intruder aircraft locations relative to corresponding locations of a self aircraft are determined, wherein the determining is based on current velocities of the intruder aircraft and the self aircraft, and wherein the determining is based on current flight paths of the intruder aircraft and the self aircraft. At least one evasive maneuver for the self aircraft is computed using a processing system based on the determined consecutive intruder aircraft locations relative to the corresponding locations of the self aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Euteneuer, Michael Ray Elgersma
  • Patent number: 8954264
    Abstract: The different advantageous embodiments provide a system comprising an environmental waypoint insertion process and a processor unit. The processor unit is configured to run the environmental waypoint insertion process. The environmental waypoint insertion process is configured to receive information. The environmental waypoint insertion process determines whether and how to suggest additional waypoints for insertion into a flight plan to a subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Louis J. Bailey, Ryan D. Hale
  • Patent number: 8954260
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for assessing a target proximate a vehicle. A location and a velocity of the target are obtained. The location and the velocity of the target are mapped onto a polar coordinate system via a processor. A likelihood that the vehicle and the target will collide is determined using the mapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Gandhi, Chad T. Zagorski
  • Patent number: 8954262
    Abstract: Disclosed are algorithms and agent-based structures for a system and technique for analyzing and managing the airspace. The technique includes managing bulk properties of large numbers of heterogeneous multidimensional aircraft trajectories in an airspace, for the purpose of maintaining or increasing system safety, and to identify possible phase transition structures to predict when an airspace will approach the limits of its capacity. The paths of the multidimensional aircraft trajectories are continuously recalculated in the presence of changing conditions (traffic, exclusionary airspace, weather, for example) while optimizing performance measures and performing trajectory conflict detection and resolution. Such trajectories are represented as extended objects endowed with pseudo-potential, maintaining objectives for time, acceleration limits, and fuel-efficient paths by bending just enough to accommodate separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: NextGen AeroSciences, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce K. Sawhill, James W. Herriot, Bruce J. Holmes
  • Patent number: 8914227
    Abstract: A method of generating a flight plan including a number N-1 of segments SGi, i being an integer number between 2 and N. Segment SGilinks an auxiliary departure position to an auxiliary arrival position according to a route. The route is a straight line defined by a list of auxiliary route positions. Each route is stored in a database onboard the aircraft. The method includes a coupled determination of an auxiliary arrival position that is part of the auxiliary positions of at least one of the routes and of a route followed by the segment SGi+1. The coupled determination is produced from an auxiliary departure position and a route Ri, followed by the segment SGi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: François Coulmeau, Olivier Friedmann, Jean-Christophe Jaillant
  • Publication number: 20140343833
    Abstract: The present invention takes the form of a computer program, method and/or system to allow an airline, aviation authority or other aviation entity to temporally manage, coordinate and allocate aircraft arrival/departure Slot Times during a specified period for the flow of a plurality of aircraft at a specified fix point, based upon specified data comprised of the aircraft, the fix point, associated system resources, business/operational goals, airline Requested Slot Times, Preferred Movement and aviation system specified criteria, some of which is temporally varying.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Rade Michael Baiada, Lonnie Howard Bowlin
  • Patent number: 8892349
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving, in a computer-based airspace monitoring system, airspace information from a plurality of different sources via a plurality of different communication networks, receiving, in the computer-based airspace monitoring system, a first flightpath parameter from a first aircraft at a first point in time, wherein the first flightpath parameter comprises at least one of a three-dimensional position parameter, a flight trajectory parameter, or a speed parameter, establishing, in the computer-based airspace monitoring system, a first defined airspace in a region proximate the first aircraft, processing, in the computer-based airspace monitoring system, the airspace information for the first defined airspace based on the first position parameter received from the first aircraft to define a first data set of airspace information relevant to the first aircraft, and transmitting the first dataset of airspace information from the computer-based airspace monitoring system to the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Regina I. Estkowski, Ted D. Whitley, Richard Baumeister, Neale Leslie Fulton
  • Patent number: 8886446
    Abstract: The present invention takes the form of a computer program, method and/or system to allow an airline, aviation authority or other aviation entity to temporally manage, coordinate and allocate aircraft arrival/departure Slot Times during a specified period for the flow of a plurality of aircraft at a specified fix point, based upon specified data comprised of the aircraft, the fix point, associated system resources, business/operational goals, airline Requested Slot Times, Preferred Movement and aviation system specified criteria, some of which is temporally varying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Inventors: Rade Michael Baiada, Lonnie Howard Bowlin
  • Publication number: 20140309916
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing vehicle-centric collision avoidance are disclosed. An example method includes determining a first flight trajectory for a first aircraft, determining a second flight trajectory for a second aircraft, predicting a distance between the first aircraft and the second aircraft at a predicted closest point of approach based on the first and second flight trajectories, comparing the distance to a separation perimeter layer, the separation perimeter layer configured to provide a minimum separation distance from the first aircraft to the second aircraft, and altering the first flight trajectory when the distance breaches the separation perimeter layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Glenn S. Bushnell
  • Patent number: 8843303
    Abstract: A method and related system is disclosed for risk-aware contingency flight re-planning of a vehicle's pre-planned route. The system receives a desired Risk Tolerance Level (RTL) for the pre-planned route from a decision maker. As a mission time progresses, changing threats pose an unknown level of risk to the vehicle and crew. The system receives an unplanned threat to mission success of the vehicle and qualifies the received unplanned threat with a Risk Type (RT). The system generates and evaluates possible 4-D re-routes based on the RTL and RT coupled with physical attributes of the possible 4-D re-route. Additionally, the re-planner associates a cost to each of the possible 4-D re-routes and presents ranked possibilities to the decision maker for selection and activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Shih-Yih Young, Kristen M. Jerome
  • Patent number: 8788187
    Abstract: A method and system for providing taxiway navigational information to a crewmember of an airplane taxiing at an airport. An airport taxiway navigation system (“ATNS”) that executes on an onboard computer system that displays a map of the taxiways of an airport, receives the name of each taxiway of the taxi route specified by the taxi clearance, and highlights the taxiways on a displayed map to provide a visual indication of the cleared taxi route for the crewmembers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Reagan Doose, Richard W. Ellerbrock, Glade L. Hulet, John M. Jauglias, Matthew T. Majka
  • Publication number: 20140188378
    Abstract: Disclosed are algorithms and agent-based structures for a system and technique for analyzing and managing the airspace. The technique includes managing bulk properties of large numbers of heterogeneous multidimensional aircraft trajectories in an airspace, for the purpose of maintaining or increasing system safety, and to identify possible phase transition structures to predict when an airspace will approach the limits of its capacity. The paths of the multidimensional aircraft trajectories are continuously recalculated in the presence of changing conditions (traffic, exclusionary airspace, weather, for example) while optimizing performance measures and performing trajectory conflict detection and resolution. Such trajectories are represented as extended objects endowed with pseudo-potential, maintaining objectives for time, acceleration limits, and fuel-efficient paths by bending just enough to accommodate separation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Inventors: Bruce K. Sawhill, James W. Herriot, Bruce J. Holmes
  • Patent number: 8744738
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing separation between vehicles. A closest point of approach between a first vehicle traveling along a first path and a second vehicle traveling along a second path is predicted. A number of compensation commands for altering the first path of the first vehicle are generated using the closest point of approach and a desired level of separation between the first vehicle and the second vehicle. The number of compensation commands is integrated with a number of control commands for the first vehicle to form a final number of control commands configured to maneuver the first vehicle to substantially maintain the desired level of separation between the first vehicle and the second vehicle. A response of the first vehicle to the final number of control commands is a desired response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Glenn Scott Bushnell
  • Patent number: 8731812
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing vehicle-centric collision avoidance are disclosed. An example method includes determining a first flight trajectory for a first aircraft, determining a second flight trajectory for a second aircraft, determining a predicted first distance between the first aircraft and the second aircraft at a first closest point of approach based on the first and second flight trajectories, comparing the predicted first distance to a first separation perimeter layer, the first separation perimeter layer defining a first three-dimensional perimeter based on the first aircraft, determining a first adjustment having a first magnitude from the first flight trajectory when the predicted first distance is within a first perimeter, determining a second adjustment having a second magnitude from the first flight trajectory when the predicted first distance is within a second perimeter different from the first perimeter, and altering the first flight trajectory based on the first or second adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Glenn S. Bushnell
  • Patent number: 8712744
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for simulating effects of threats to aircraft communications. A simulation of an aircraft environment is run with the aircraft communications in an aircraft communications network in the aircraft environment. A number of conditions is introduced. The number of conditions comprises a threat configured to affect the aircraft communications in the aircraft communications network in an undesired manner. A change in traffic flow of aircraft in an airspace in the aircraft environment is identified in response to the number of conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Radhakrishna G. Sampigethaya, Radha Poovendran
  • Patent number: 8700231
    Abstract: A device at an airborne vehicle including a flight control system configured to control the behavior of the airborne vehicle based on acceleration commands, a first control unit configured to provide the acceleration commands to the flight control system, and a collision avoidance unit. The collision avoidance unit includes a detection unit arranged to detect whether the airborne vehicle is on a collision course and a second control unit arranged to feed forced acceleration commands to the flight control system upon detection that the airborne vehicle is on a collision course. A method for collision avoidance in an airborne vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: SAAB AB
    Inventor: Erik Skarman
  • Patent number: 8700317
    Abstract: A method of calculating Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published or FAA Air Traffic Control assigned aeronautical holding patterns, comprising the steps of: defining navigational way points using their latitude and longitude coordinates; displaying the latitude and longitude that define the point for an inbound turn; defining four posts of a holding pattern; and showing the actual holding space dimensions along with the non-protected airspace. The method may be performed by a stand-alone electronic device or an electronic device having other functions. The latitude and longitude that define the point for an inbound turn can be displayed as a bearing, and/or as a distance along a radial. The inbound turning point can be calculated using a global positioning or flight management system. A turn may be commanded using an automatic flight control system or flight director.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Epoch Flight Systems LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Gary Wilder, Otto Charles Wilke
  • Patent number: 8676403
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of controlling the flight path of an aircraft to follow as closely as possible a predetermined four-dimensional flight path, such as when flying continuous descent approaches. A method of controlling an aircraft to follow a predetermined four-dimensional flight path is provided that comprises monitoring an actual along-track position and an actual vertical position of the aircraft relative to corresponding desired positions on the predetermined flight path. Throttle commands are generated based on deviations of the actual vertical position of the aircraft from the desired vertical position. Elevator commands are generated based on the deviation of the actual along-track position from the desired along-track position and on the deviation of the actual vertical position from the desired vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David Garrido-Lopez, Ramon Gomez Ledesma
  • Patent number: 8676481
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for assisting in the choice of a diversion airport for an aircraft piloted by a crew (200), said aircraft comprising a flight management system including location means (207) calculating the position of the aircraft, said device comprising a navigation database (202) and a performance database (203) of the aircraft, said device being characterized in that it comprises a company database (201) comprising airports and characteristics of said airports, means (205) of calculating a list of airports, called candidate airports, from the airports in the company database, from the navigation database and from the selected characteristics by the crew, means (204) for calculating remaining flight time and fuel consumption predictions for each of the candidate airports from the position of the aircraft, from weather conditions and from the performance database, and an interface giving the favored airports for diversion according to pre-established criteria or determined in real time usi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: François Coulmeau, Christophe Caillaud, Jérôme Sacle
  • Patent number: 8660753
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a control method of a wheel alignment apparatus using an MDPS, which determines whether or not to cancel center alignment control due to a trouble or error is preferentially determined prior to each control step and then performs control when wheels of a vehicle having an MDPS mounted therein are aligned, such that the trouble or error is preferentially considered in the control priority, thereby increasing driver's convenience and improving safety performance for protecting the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeong Ku Kim
  • Publication number: 20140019034
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing vehicle-centric collision avoidance are disclosed. An example method includes determining a first flight trajectory for a first aircraft, determining a second flight trajectory for a second aircraft, determining a predicted first distance between the first aircraft and the second aircraft at a first closest point of approach based on the first and second flight trajectories, comparing the predicted first distance to a first separation perimeter layer, the first separation perimeter layer defining a first three-dimensional perimeter based on the first aircraft, determining a first adjustment having a first magnitude from the first flight trajectory when the predicted first distance is within a first perimeter, determining a second adjustment having a second magnitude from the first flight trajectory when the predicted first distance is within a second perimeter different from the first perimeter, and altering the first flight trajectory based on the first or second adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: THE BOEING COMPANY
  • Patent number: 8626429
    Abstract: A method includes receiving flight leg data and dispatcher position data for a planning horizon and identifying cycle flight legs and extraordinary flight legs based on the flight leg data. The method includes allocating each cycle flight leg to at least one dispatcher position while minimizing workload deviations between the dispatcher positions. The method includes allocating, after allocating each cycle flight leg, each extraordinary flight leg to at least one dispatcher position while minimizing workload deviations between the dispatcher positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Cipriano A Santos, Ivan Adrian Lopez Sanchez, Xin Zhang, Glenn W Herrick, Mark D Raper
  • Publication number: 20130338910
    Abstract: A method of detecting conflicts between aircraft passing through managed airspace, and resolving the detected conflicts strategically. The method may include obtaining intended trajectories of aircraft through the airspace, detecting conflicts in the intended trajectories, forming a set of the conflicted aircraft, calculating one or more revised trajectories for the conflicted aircraft such that the conflicts are resolved, and advising the conflicted aircraft subject to revised trajectories of the revised trajectories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Miguel Angel Vilaplana, Ernesto Valls Hernandez, Francisco Garcia de Blanes, Isabel del Pozo de Poza
  • Patent number: 8606491
    Abstract: Methods and systems suitable for negotiating air traffic trajectory modification requests received from multiple aircraft that each has trajectory parameters. The methods include transmitting from at least a first aircraft a first trajectory modification request to alter the altitude, speed and/or lateral route thereof. A first conflict assessment is then performed to determine if the first trajectory modification request poses a conflict with the altitudes, speeds and lateral routes of other aircraft. If a conflict is not identified, the first trajectory modification request is granted and the first aircraft is notified of the first trajectory modification request being granted. Alternatively, if a conflict is identified, the first trajectory modification request is not granted and the first aircraft is notified thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rajesh Venkat Subbu, Feng Xue, Mauricio Castillo-Effen, Joel Kenneth Klooster, Joachim Karl Hochwarth, Sergio Torres, Weiwei Chen
  • Patent number: 8594917
    Abstract: Disclosed are algorithms and agent-based structures for a system and technique for analyzing and managing the airspace. The technique includes managing bulk properties of large numbers of heterogeneous multidimensional aircraft trajectories in an airspace, for the purpose of maintaining or increasing system safety, and to identify possible phase transition structures to predict when an airspace will approach the limits of its capacity. The paths of the multidimensional aircraft trajectories are continuously recalculated in the presence of changing conditions (traffic, exclusionary airspace, weather, for example) while optimizing performance measures and performing trajectory conflict detection and resolution. Such trajectories are represented as extended objects endowed with pseudo-potential, maintaining objectives for time, acceleration limits, and fuel-efficient paths by bending just enough to accommodate separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Nextgen Aerosciences, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce K. Sawhill, James W. Herriot, Bruce J. Holmes
  • Patent number: 8594863
    Abstract: A method for aiding the management of an aircraft flight according to an active flight plan receiving a control clearance transmitted at a current time includes a step of computing a reception flight plan based on the said control clearance, a step of storing the said reception flight plan in a memory space dedicated to the said reception flight plan. The method also includes, prior to the step of computing a reception flight plan: a step of determining the time, called the recognition time, assumed to have to elapse between the current time and a time at which the said control clearance is assumed to be recognized; a step of attribution, to the said control clearance, of a destination flight plan as a function of the recognition time, the said destination flight plan being the temporary flight plan when the recognition time is included in a first time slot and the destination flight plan being a secondary flight plan when the recognition time is included in a second time slot longer than the first time slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: François Coulmeau, Xavier Blanchon, Christophe Caillaud