Aircraft Preflight Route Search Patents (Class 701/528)
  • Patent number: 11675348
    Abstract: A computer architecture includes an application program interface (API). The API does not include a user interface. The computer architecture asynchronously receives into the API data relating to mission plan domains from clients. The data include an identification of vehicles, goals of the vehicles, and threats to the vehicles. The mission plan domains include an air domain, a sea or ocean domain, and a land domain. The computer architecture uses a parallel processing scheme to process the mission plan domains from the clients for determining goal priorities for each of the plurality of vehicles, processing the data using a genetic algorithm and physics models associated with the plurality of vehicles, and transmitting to the vehicles path commands based on the processing of the genetic algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Michael P. Sica, Michael C. Xu
  • Patent number: 11640765
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed. The system includes a computer readable medium having non-transitory computer readable program code embodied therein for risk-aware contingency flight re-planning. The computer readable instructions include instructions, which when executed by a computer device or processors, perform and direct the step of receiving a preplanned route, receiving a risk tolerance level from a decision maker, receiving input from a database, receiving an indication of an en route risk to the vehicle, determining an association of an exposure cost with at least one of a plurality of 4-D paths, ranking the plurality of 4-D paths based on the association of the exposure cost, and displaying a portion of the plurality of 4-D paths to the decision maker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith M. Allen
  • Patent number: 11594140
    Abstract: Computer-implemented methods, systems, and program products are provided that assist in aspects of aerial surveying, including selective display of planned flight path segments, marking of ground conditions, monitoring coverage of a planned flight path, and providing guidance information for aircraft navigation, including speed and turns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: ARKIDAN SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventor: Noah Aklilu
  • Patent number: 11488089
    Abstract: Wait location information acquisition means of a logistics system acquires wait location information on a wait location of each of a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles. Remaining amount information acquisition means acquires remaining amount information on a remaining amount of a battery or fuel of each of the unmanned aerial vehicles. Package information acquisition means acquires package information on a collection destination and delivery destination of a package. Search means searches for an unmanned aerial vehicle with a remaining amount of the battery or fuel for delivering the package collected at the collection destination to the delivery destination based on the wait location information and remaining amount information on each of the unmanned aerial vehicles and the package information. Instruction means instincts the unmanned aerial vehicle retrieved by the search means to collect and deliver the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: RAKUTEN GROUP, INC.
    Inventor: Masayuki Chatani
  • Patent number: 11472563
    Abstract: A method for detecting icing conditions for an aircraft including a measurement of the parameters of embedded systems, with the exception of probes dedicated to the detection of ice, a transformation of the measurements of the symptomatic parameters to obtain P-tuples of values of explanatory variables which explain icing conditions, a classification of the measurements by classifiers on the basis of the P-tuples of values thus obtained, the classifiers having been previously trained in a supervised manner, each classifier providing a prediction of membership in a class of icing conditions, the predictions of the various classifiers being consolidated to provide a consolidated prediction of icing conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Alice Calmels, Jean Pasquie
  • Patent number: 11410559
    Abstract: Systems and techniques to facilitate intelligent unmanned aerial vehicle traffic management via an infrastructure network are presented. In an example, a traffic management system can include a data collection component, a flight path component, and a communication component. The data collection component receives navigation data and parameter data associated with an unmanned aerial vehicle. The navigation data is associated with a starting point and destination for the unmanned aerial vehicle. The parameter data is indicative of information associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle. The flight path component generates flight path data for the unmanned aerial vehicle based on the navigation data, the parameter data and infrastructure network data received from an intelligent sensor node network. The communication component transmits the flight path data to the unmanned aerial vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC
    Inventors: Biju Nanukuttan, Avichandra Yallapalli, Vigneshwaran Venugopalan
  • Patent number: 11365971
    Abstract: An Energy State Awareness System that alerts the pilot of an aircraft during the climb, cruise and descent phases of a flight of low airspeed conditions, and during the Approach/Landing and Go-Around phases of flight when airspeed has deviated from a pre-determined reference airspeed that is considered “Stable” for the flight conditions. In order to determine the degree of deviation, the system monitors some of various readily available signals representative of flight parameters and of the aircraft's configuration such as true airspeed, weight, flap position, center of gravity and normal load factor—nz. Some signals are used directly, others are used as inputs to internal algorithms that compute the data necessary to determine the magnitude of the deviations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Tiger Century Aircraft, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Skow, Peter T. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 11353888
    Abstract: A system for an aircraft includes a user interface device and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a present location of the aircraft, a present location of one or more wind vortices, a strength of the one or more wind vortices, and a desired ending point of the aircraft. The desired ending point of the aircraft is received from the user interface device. The controller is configured to define an optimization problem, and determine a solution to the optimization problem. The solution to the optimization problem includes a flight path and steering angle values to achieve the flight path. The flight path results in a minimum time to reach the desired ending point. The controller is configured to cause the user interface device to display a map including the flight path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Narayan R. Iyer
  • Patent number: 11320823
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter includes a method and system for navigating an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), that include: generating, based on the scanning output data, a first map comprising a first group of cells and characterized by a first size; generating, based on the scanning output data, a second map representing an area smaller than that of the first map comprising a second group of cells, which are characterized by a second size being smaller than the first size; wherein each cell in the first group of cells and the second group of cells is classified to a class selected from at least two classes, comprising traversable and non-traversable, wherein the second part at least partly overlaps the first part; navigating the UGV based on data deduced from crossing between cells in the first map and second map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: ELTA SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventors: Ofir Cohen, Dina Appelman, Arnon Degani
  • Patent number: 11262900
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for displaying information for an aircraft on a display device in a flight deck of the aircraft. Aircraft information is received for a current flight of the aircraft. An interactive strip is displayed in a graphical user interface on the display device in the flight deck of the aircraft. The aircraft information and controls are displayed within regions in the interactive strip, enabling a pilot to operate the aircraft using the interactive strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Paul D. Burkhead, Alireza Majd, John Wiedemann
  • Patent number: 11250711
    Abstract: A system and method for correlating hazard data includes defining flight corridors according to hazard thresholds based on criticality weightings derived from multiple sources, and incorporating multiple hazard types. The flight corridors are render in a visually distinct way according to the corresponding hazard threshold. An autonomous aircraft determines an executable flight path within a flight corridor having a maximum allowable hazard threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob Teague, Venkata Sishtla
  • Patent number: 11195421
    Abstract: Techniques to increase accuracy of estimating fuel for an aircraft. A statistical analysis is performed on data for multiple past instances of flights between a departure airport and an arrival airport for multiple aircraft to determine one or more predicted real-world limitations more stringent than what is imposed by a set of regulations. A calibration flight plan is generated based on an operator flight plan and the one or more predicted real-world limitations. The calibration flight plan includes an airborne operating parameter that conforms to the one or more predicted real-world limitations. Based on the calibration flight plan, a first fuel load is calculated for the aircraft travelling from the departure airport to the arrival airport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael E. Irrgang, Charles E. Kaul, Andrew E. Hall, Andrea De Klerk, Elham Boozarjomehri
  • Patent number: 11014236
    Abstract: A combined robot and a cruise path generating method thereof includes providing or generating a working map of a self-moving robot and marking a target point on the working map. A planned path is generated according to the location of the target point in the working map. The combined robot begins to walk according to the planned path and it is determined whether an obstacle is encountered during walking. If an obstacle is encountered, a different path adjustment mode is selected according to a relative location when the obstacle is encountered and the planned path is updated according to a walking path to form an actual path. Otherwise, the robot walks directly to form the actual path. The actual path is saved as a cruise path of the combined robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: ECOVACS ROBOTICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jinju Tang
  • Patent number: 10977951
    Abstract: A computer implemented method of distributing noise exposures to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over a neighborhood includes: accessing a noise exposure map stored in a database and generating a new flight path over the neighborhood for a first UAV of the UAVs based at least in part on the noise exposure map. The noise exposure map includes noise exposure values indexed to locations within the neighborhood. Each of the noise exposure values quantifies a cumulative noise exposure of a corresponding one of the locations due at least in part to historical flight paths of the UAVs over the neighborhood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Wing Aviation LLC
    Inventors: Martin Kubie, Adam Woodworth, Jesse Blake, Reinaldo Negron, James Burgess, André Prager, Stephen Lacy, Giulia Pantalone
  • Patent number: 10956988
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments provide techniques for determining a taxability status for a vehicular asset, such as an aircraft. The techniques include obtaining traffic control system information for the vehicular asset, detecting gaps in traffic control system information for the vehicular asset, and recording the gaps, computing a primary location for the vehicular asset based on the traffic control system information, and creating a vehicular asset taxability status report for the vehicular asset, where the report includes the primary location and gap information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Inventor: Scott Beale
  • Patent number: 10897343
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a multilayered obstructed brokered network routing and data repackaging system, sometimes referred to as a MOB HUB. The MOB HUB is configured to communicate with a mission computer on a vehicle. At least one mobile computer is configured to communicate with the MOB HUB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Surmi, Alvin L. Quintana, Mark Miliano, Anthony R. Kunkel
  • Patent number: 10885794
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electronic system for providing access to a useable, tailored database of selectable items for a user, e.g., user selectable routes entered by pilot users to utilize for flight planning and aircraft route guidance, and other related information from a remote processing center to a local unit over wireless, wire line, or telecommunications network or combination thereof. The disclosure more particularly relates, for example, to an electronic system including one or more remote processing centers and a plurality of local units, e.g., a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, cellular device, or mobile telephone unit, for providing to a pilot's local unit information of other pilot users from one or more databases, in particular, a pilot user's route with FAA identifiers (such as airports, VORs, NDBs, waypoints, reporting points, airways, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Inventor: Rhett R. Dennerline
  • Patent number: 10852453
    Abstract: A method for providing an aviation weather chart and an apparatus using the same. An aviation weather chart apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention may compromise: a communication unit which is connected to a weather server and an flight path server so as to acquire aviation weather information from the weather server, acquire flight path information from the flight path server, and acquire flight identification information from a network; and a control unit which acquires the flight path information corresponding to the flight identification information, acquires the aviation weather information corresponding to the flight path information, and acquires an aviation weather chart such that the flight path information and the weather information are displayed at one time on the basis of a flight information region through which a flight corresponding to the flight information passes and the weather information corresponding to the flight information region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: IPS INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY LAW FIRM
    Inventors: Wan Sik Won, Chang Bae Lee, Yong Phil Joh
  • Patent number: 10796586
    Abstract: A method of providing a simplified practice for dealing with aviation turbulence and other weather hazards that allows the end users to better communicate turbulence as a state of the atmosphere metric and the additional weather threats affecting the flight is described. The method provides an Atmospheric State Index (ASI) that allows all the users to work with a standardized metric that describes the turbulence as the state of the atmosphere and a similar scale for other weather risks to the flight. This system makes the correlation between the forecast and aircraft reports for turbulence easier to interpret for the end users. This approach concentrates on turbulence as a weather hazard with a more objective and easier to use metric. This configuration provides a transition for moving from a system based on turbulence Pilot Reports (PIREPS) to a more objective data driven process in the air traffic environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Delta Air Lines, Inc.
    Inventor: William Henry Watts
  • Patent number: 10777085
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for generating efficient flight profiles in a variety of aircraft are disclosed. A method includes receiving required time of arrival (RTA) constraints for the aerial vehicle. The RTA constraints include a required time of arrival for a waypoint. The method also includes inputting the RTA constraints into a problem configured to generate flight plans based on the required time of arrival for the waypoint of the RTA constraints. The problem includes an altitude variable and a speed variable. The method also includes generating, as a solution to the problem, a flight plan by varying the altitude variable and the speed variable in order to reduce operating cost of the aerial vehicle based at least in part on the RTA constraints, and providing the flight plan to at least one computing system of the aerial vehicle. The flight plan includes a route traversing the waypoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: GE Aviation Sytems LLC
    Inventors: David Michael Lax, Reza Ghaemi, Mark Lawrence Darnell, Nicholas Race Visser
  • Patent number: 10718616
    Abstract: A patrol route setting apparatus includes a cell divider, a probability distribution setter, a random number generator, a destination setter, a route setter, and a probability distribution updating unit. The cell divider divides map information into cells. The probability distribution setter sets, for each cell, a probability distribution of a presence probability of a capturing target in the cell. The destination setter that sets, as a destination, any, of the cells, that has a greatest first value, of the presence probability, corresponding to a random number generated by the random number generator, on the basis of the probability distributions. The probability distribution updating unit updates, on the basis of presence information of the capturing target acquired by an information acquiring unit, the probability distributions of the presence probability of the capturing target, when the movable body travels along the traveling route to the destination set by the route setter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoaki Itabashi, Satoshi Okada, Tsunahiro Sato, Satoshi Hoshino, Takeshi Katsumoto
  • Patent number: 10713961
    Abstract: An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) includes flight components attached or disposed to a base; one or more cameras; radar; one or more wireless interfaces; a processing device communicatively coupled to the flight components, the one or more cameras, the radar, and the wireless interfaces; and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processing device to monitor proximate airspace with one or more of the one or more cameras and the radar; detect an obstruction based on the monitor; identify characteristics of the obstruction; alter a flight plan, through the flight components, if required based on the characteristics; and communicate the obstruction to an air traffic control system via the one or more wireless interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: ETAK Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Lee Priest
  • Patent number: 10671092
    Abstract: An example method includes: receiving information indicative of a desired aircraft cruise insertion point comprising achieving a desired cruise altitude for an aircraft within: a predetermined period of time from departure, or within a predetermined distance from departure; receiving information indicative of an estimated weight of the aircraft upon the aircraft reaching the desired cruise altitude; determining a desired airspeed for the aircraft based on the information indicative of the estimated weight of the aircraft; prior to a flight of the aircraft, determining, based on the desired airspeed and the desired aircraft cruise insertion point, a climb trajectory for the aircraft; and during a climb flight phase of the aircraft, varying climb thrust of an engine of the aircraft to follow the climb trajectory and achieve the desired aircraft cruise insertion point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Joseph M. DiRusso, Keith D. Parsons
  • Patent number: 10665114
    Abstract: Method and system for providing optimal, achievable flight plans for a flight of an aircraft and for providing accurate fuel load calculations. The method and system can check for and correct inaccurate assumptions in a flight plan. The method and system can also perform statistical analysis to recognize and account for real-world limitations on flight plans. The method and system can also perform statistical analysis to determine actual aircraft wear that can affect aircraft performance and account for such wear when calculating fuel load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael E. Irrgang, Charles E. Kaul, Andrew E. Hall, Andrea De Klerk, Elham Boozarjomehri
  • Patent number: 10586103
    Abstract: Aspects described herein apply machine learning techniques for image recognition and classification to the processing of topographic imagery, in order to permit more accurate and detailed topographic representations of an area to be obtained. In particular, in one embodiment a machine learning system is trained with existing topographic imagery and corresponding topographic data relating to a particular area, so that the machine learning system is then able to relate actual physical topographical features to their topographic representations in existing data. Having been so trained, the machine learning system may then be used to process topographic imagery data of the same area to determine new topographic details thereof for incorporation into the topographic data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Ordnance Survey Limited
    Inventors: Isabel Sargent, Jonathon Hare
  • Patent number: 10565883
    Abstract: A practice airspace management system includes a control unit configured to receive user inputs from a first user and to generate a first training plan based on the user inputs. The control unit is further configured to generate display commands representing the first training plan on a navigation map. The practice airspace management system further includes a display device coupled to receive the display commands from the control unit and configured to display a navigation map view that includes the navigation map and a first training plan symbol representing the first training plan on the navigation map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Gannon, Jary Engels, Chris Hamblin
  • Patent number: 10529242
    Abstract: A method for obtaining, analyzing, and using pilot report (PIREP) data onboard an aircraft is provided. The method detects information relevant to one or more PIREPs associated with a current flight path of the aircraft, based on aircraft state data and avionics data obtained from a plurality of avionics systems, by at least one processor onboard the aircraft, wherein the one or more PIREPs includes at least one of instrumental PIREPs and pilot experience PIREPs; automatically completes a set of incomplete PIREPs associated with the current flight path using the information relevant to the one or more PIREPs, by the at least one processor, to generate complete PIREPs; and presents the complete PIREPs via a display device onboard the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Raghu Shamasundar, Mahesh Sivaratri, Soumitri Swain, Sivakumar Kanagarajan
  • Patent number: 10490087
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electronic system for providing access to a useable, tailored database of selectable items for a user, e.g., user selectable routes entered by pilot users to utilize for flight planning and aircraft route guidance, and other related information from a remote processing center to a local unit over wireless, wire line, or telecommunications network or combination thereof. The disclosure more particularly relates, for example, to an electronic system including one or more remote processing centers and a plurality of local units, e.g., a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, cellular device, or mobile telephone unit, for providing to a pilot's local unit information of other pilot users from one or more databases, in particular, a pilot user's route with FAA identifiers (such as airports, VORs, NDBs, waypoints, reporting points, airways, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Inventor: Rhett R. Dennerline
  • Patent number: 10380900
    Abstract: A device receives, from a user device, a request for a flight path for a UAV to travel in a geographical region, and determines a suggested component/software for the UAV based on capability information associated with the UAV. The device provides, to the user device, information associated with the suggested component/software, and calculates the flight path based on the capability information, real time information, and non-real time information associated with the geographical region. The device generates flight path instructions for the flight path, and provides the flight path instructions to the UAV to permit the UAV to travel in the geographical region via the flight path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Hani Batla, Ashok N. Srivastava, Douglas M. Pasko, Igor Kantor, Gurpreet Ubhi
  • Patent number: 10354537
    Abstract: An approach is provided for routing an aerial drone while preserving privacy. The approach involves processing model data depicting at least one structure to determine one or more privacy-sensitive features of the at least one structure. The approach also involves calculating line-of-sight data between a route of an aerial drone and the one or more privacy-sensitive features. The approach further involves configuring a routing of the aerial drone based on the line-of sight data when the aerial drone is traveling near the at least one structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Jerome Beaurepaire, Marko Tuukkanen
  • Patent number: 10102758
    Abstract: An approach is provided for routing an aerial drone while preserving privacy. The approach involves processing model data depicting at least one structure to determine one or more privacy-sensitive features of the at least one structure. The approach also involves calculating line-of-sight data between a route of an aerial drone and the one or more privacy-sensitive features. The approach further involves configuring a routing of the aerial drone based on the line-of sight data when the aerial drone is traveling near the at least one structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Jerome Beaurepaire, Marko Tuukkanen
  • Patent number: 10068488
    Abstract: Systems and methods of providing a data update to an aircraft including requesting a data update related to a route to be flown by the aircraft, receiving flight procedure data in a data update into a component of the aircraft from a ground station in response to the request and updating the route to be flown utilizing the flight procedure data in the data update.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC
    Inventors: Russell Allen Ramaker, Joachim Karl Ulf Hochwarth
  • Patent number: 10032383
    Abstract: Methods and systems for autonomous generation of shortest lateral paths for unmanned aerial systems are described. An example method includes defining an area between a source point and a target point; identifying a first no flight zone within the area; identifying a second no flight zone outside of the area; estimating a first computation time to determine a first lateral path between the source point and the target point, the estimating to consider the first no flight zone, the estimating not to consider the second no flight zone; comparing the first computation time to a reference computation time; in response to the first computation time not satisfying a threshold of the reference computation time, modifying the first no flight zone to be a third no flight zone; and estimating a second computation time to determine a second lateral path between the source point and the target point, the estimating to consider the third no flight zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Ernesto Valls Hernández, Francisco A. Navarro Félix, David Sánchez Tamargo, Carlos Querejeta Masaveu, Jesús Cuadrado Sánchez
  • Patent number: 10024665
    Abstract: The different advantageous embodiments provide a system and method for suggesting significant environmental waypoints along a trajectory to improve the efficiency of a flight plan. Desired information is identified, wherein the desired information is information needed to perform at least one of completing a flight plan and updating a flight plan. It is determined whether to identify environmental information points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Louis J. Bailey, Ryan D. Hale
  • Patent number: 10003919
    Abstract: A method and system of establishing a fence network is provided. The fence network comprises a plurality of fence nodes in communication with each other and a plurality of fence vertices defining a geographic fence. The method comprises configuring the plurality of fence nodes, setting up a coordinate system to determine a position of each fence node of the plurality of fence nodes, and, for each fence vertex, setting a location marker at a position of the fence vertex and using the location marker to register the position of the fence vertex. At least one fence vertex may be located at a position other than a position of a fence node. The plurality of fence vertices may be registered in sequential order and connected in order of registration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Stanwood, David Gell, Erik Colban
  • Patent number: 9959771
    Abstract: Weather data is used to create and/or update a flight plan prior to and/or during flight by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The weather data may be received using sensors onboard the UAV and/or the weather data may be received from other sources, such as weather aggregators, other UAVs, other vehicles, and/or local weather stations. In some embodiments, a UAV may be prematurely grounded after initiating flight toward a destination in response to some weather conditions identified in near real-time weather data, such as heavy winds and/or heavy precipitation. In various embodiments, the UAVs may leverage air stream information included in the weather data to cause flight along with an air stream, and thereby reduce power resources used to fly to a destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ty Loren Carlson
  • Patent number: 9921066
    Abstract: A system for analyzing the use of a mobile resource, such as a vehicle, includes a central processing unit adapted to receive a plurality of geographic locations and create an optimal travel route between the geographic locations, and an analyzer device incorporating global positioning satellite (GPS) technology being positionable with a mobile resource for comparing an actual route traveled by the mobile resource with the optimal travel route created by the central processing unit. The central processing unit includes mobile resource management software stored therein adapted to use pre-selected criteria for creating the optimal travel route. The pre-selected criteria may include time, distance, cost, load parameters, territory, and customer requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Telogis, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven T. Brown
  • Patent number: 9858823
    Abstract: An interactive record keeping system includes a display system, a user input device, an input-output interface and a controller. The controller is configured to receive user input data indicative of a user display preference and a known waypoint location from the user input device, receive aircraft data indicative of a current aircraft operating parameter and receive environmental data indicative of a current environmental condition, both correlating with the known waypoint location. The controller is further configured to calculate an aircraft performance parameter based on the received aircraft data; generate display data based on the calculated aircraft performance parameter, the received environmental data, and the user display preference; provide the display data to the display system; and store the calculated aircraft performance parameter and the environmental data in a memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Lynn, Shimon Weichbrod
  • Patent number: 9828087
    Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying ground effect ceiling limit values associated with an operation of a mobile platform on a display are provided. The method includes receiving a preference for the display of the ground effect ceiling limit values, and determining a gross weight of the mobile platform. The method includes based on the preference, determining, with a processor, an air temperature associated with the operation of the mobile platform. The method also includes based on the gross weight and the air temperature, determining with the processor, an in ground effect limit value and an out of ground effect limit value. The method includes displaying the determined in ground effect limit value and the determined out of ground effect limit value on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Sriram PR, Pushpa Basavapura Veerabhadra Reddy, Shashidhara Veerabhadraiah, Subash Samuthirapandian, Swetha Balasa
  • Patent number: 9779630
    Abstract: This method for computing a conjugated airport navigation graph, from an initial airport navigation graph, is implemented by a computer. This method involves acquiring the initial graph including a plurality of navigation arcs, each including two end nodes, having at least one authorized navigation direction and being identified by its two end nodes. This method further involves determining a conjugated node for each navigation arc and for each authorized navigation direction of the arc, each conjugated node corresponding to a single authorized direction and representing the arc of the initial graph associated with the authorized direction. The conjugated graph is computed by connecting the conjugated nodes as a function of the connections between the arcs of the initial graph and the authorized directions. Two conjugated nodes connect to one another corresponding to two successive arcs of the initial graph and to a same authorized direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Rémy Auletto, Johann Dreo
  • Patent number: 9741254
    Abstract: The method of the present invention comprises acquiring input data of both aircraft performance characteristics and atmospheric data, and defining trajectory parameters to which the aircraft trajectory must be subjected, the method further comprising defining aircraft trajectory parameters; acquiring a plurality of atmospheric forecast ensembles; calculating a predicted trajectory from each atmospheric forecast of an atmospheric forecast ensemble, said predicted trajectory having associated information regarding a certain figure of merit of the aircraft trajectory, wherein an ensemble of predicted trajectories is obtained from each atmospheric forecast ensemble, each predicted trajectory of the ensemble of predicted trajectories having an associated probability derived from the probability of each atmospheric forecast within an atmospheric forecast ensemble; the system of the present disclosure comprising all the necessary equipment to carry out the method of the present disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Francisco Navarro, Ernesto Hernandez Valls, Miguel Vilaplana, Piero Chessa, Carlos Querejeta Massaveu
  • Patent number: 9728090
    Abstract: The management system plots the route to be flown in a flight plan, at least partially, by a chaining of published navigation procedures accessible from a NavDB navigation database and constituted of sequences of waypoints and/or turn points associated with specific flight constraints. It comprises a mirror memory storing the latest versions of the published navigation procedures, modified by the crew of the aircraft during the progress of the flight plan and means of substituting these latest versions stored in the mirror memory for the published versions of the navigation procedures during a change in the route predicted in the flight plan obtained by a new chaining of navigation procedures, some of which are taken from the preceding chaining. This makes it possible, during a change of navigation procedure, to take account of specific flight constraints already entered during the progress of the flight but not appearing in the published navigation procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Elias Bitar, Stephane Leriche, Christophe Caillaud
  • Patent number: 9715832
    Abstract: A navigation aid method for an aircraft flying a reference trajectory between a point of departure and a point of arrival subject to a field of wind vectors comprises: decomposing the reference trajectory into a plurality of discrete waypoints Pi, loading meteorological data comprising the field of wind vectors, iterating the following steps N times, to generate an improved trajectory: for each waypoint Pi named current point, determining a reference plane, determining an orthonormal reference frame, determining a wind curl ((?W)Pi), determining a sign of the projection of the wind curl on axis zi ((?W)zi Pi), determining a direction of displacement from the current point Pi to a new current waypoint Pi?, determining a line of displacement, determining a displacement distance, determining the new current waypoint, determining a new trajectory, assigning the new waypoints Pi? determined in the preceding iteration to the waypoints Pi for the next iteration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Christophe Pierre, Rémy Auletto, Benoit Dacre-Wright
  • Patent number: 9437107
    Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for to creating an avoidance zone spatially proximate a venue, where the avoidance zone is created based upon identifying road segments where increased traffic congestion is expected due to an event at the venue. Information pertaining to the avoidance zone, such as a description of road segments to avoid and/or expected travel delays, may be provided to a route planner configured to develop vehicle routes. In this way, the route planner can take into consideration the impact of events on one or more road segments when planning a route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Inrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher L. Scofield, Mark Daymond
  • Patent number: 9424542
    Abstract: A system for communicating between a commercial aircraft and the base of the airline that chartered the same when the aircraft is itself located on the ground during the flight preparation phases and before unloading the commercial freight or passengers. A method implements such a communication system by the commercial flight staff and/or the aircraft captain to prepare a flight and the commercial freight unloading phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: AIRBUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frederic Saugnac, Valerie Renauldon-Dumain
  • Patent number: 9349296
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing dynamic information. Routing data for a vehicle is integrated with weather data for an area to generate contextual weather information. The contextual weather information is presented with respect to a predetermined route of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Thorsten Wiesemann, Theo Hankers, Cindy Dorfmann, Andreas Sindlinger
  • Patent number: 9285221
    Abstract: A method, system and computer readable media for route re-planning including generating enemy force movement predictions to be used during mission planning. During a mission, enemy force movements can be compared to the predictions. By using enemy force movement predictions for an initial comparison, the enemy force movements may only need to be compared to the own force mission plan if the enemy forces deviate from the predictions. When enemy force movement deviates from the predictions, new enemy force movement predictions can be generated. The new enemy force movement predictions can then be compared to the own force mission plan to determine if a route re-plan is needed. The route can be re-planned to determine a route that reduces or eliminates the chance of a lethal encounter with an enemy or threat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: James C. Rosswog, Carl R. Herman
  • Patent number: 9234982
    Abstract: A display system for an aircraft is provided. The system includes a processing unit configured to receive weather information associated with a flight path of a flight plan and to generate display commands based on the weather information. The flight plan includes a first waypoint associated with a first altitude. The system further includes a display device coupled with the processing unit and configured to receive the display commands and to display symbology representing the weather information. The weather information includes first weather information for the first altitude and second weather information at a second altitude, different from the first altitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Vinoda Ramaiah, Kiran Gopala Krishna
  • Patent number: 9208457
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for flight planning. Routes from a start point to an end point are identified for a flight of an aircraft from a database of routes. A plurality of different types of routes is present in the database of routes. A number of characteristics of the aircraft are applied to the routes to identify a performance of the aircraft for the routes using a number of weather conditions for the flight. The routes are ranked based on the performance of the aircraft on the routes in meeting a number of goals for the flight to form ranked routes. A portion of the ranked routes are displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Rajat Agrawal, Robert A. Petrie, Jr., Jason J. Long
  • Patent number: 9171473
    Abstract: A dynamic weather route system automatically analyzes routes for in-flight aircraft flying in convective weather regions and attempts to find more time and fuel efficient reroutes around current and predicted weather cells. The dynamic weather route system continuously analyzes all flights and provides reroute advisories that are dynamically updated in real time while the aircraft are in flight. The dynamic weather route system includes a graphical user interface that allows users to visualize, evaluate, modify if necessary, and implement proposed reroutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA)
    Inventors: B. David McNally, Heinz Erzberger, Kapil Sheth