Patents by Inventor Edward Strongman

Edward Strongman has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8019495
    Abstract: An aircraft guidance system defines a main approach path and a corrected approach path, which has an extra vertical margin related to the ground over which the craft is flying as compared with a main approach path representing a category-1 precision approach. The guidance system guides the aircraft following the corrected approach path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignees: Airbus France, Airbus
    Inventors: Vincent Markiton, Edward Strongman, François Barre
  • Patent number: 8010241
    Abstract: A method and device that determine characteristic angles, each characteristic angle representing the angle by which a rectilinear segment of the flight path is seen from the aircraft. A head-up screen displays characteristic signs that are representative of the characteristic angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Airbus
    Inventors: Franck Artini, Edward Strongman
  • Patent number: 7761193
    Abstract: Method and device for ensuring the safety of a low-altitude flight of an aircraft. A device (1) for ensuring the safety of a low-altitude flight comprises information sources (5) able to determine current flight conditions, a monitoring unit (6) for realizing, with the aid of said current flight conditions, a function for global and autonomous monitoring of said low-altitude flight of the aircraft, making it possible to preserve the integrity of said aircraft during said flight, and means (13) for presenting the results of the monitoring function realized by said monitoring unit (6) to an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Airbus France
    Inventors: Franck Artini, Jean-Pierre Demortier, Christophe Bouchet, Jacques Espinasse, Edward Strongman
  • Publication number: 20080269966
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for assisting the flying of an aircraft, said method and device being used to determine an approach path and comprising a guidance system for helping to guide the aircraft along this approach path. The inventive method and device define a main approach path (AI) and a corrected approach path that has an extra vertical margin (?H) related to the ground over which the craft is flying as compared with a main approach path representing a category 1 precision approach. Said guiding system guides the aircraft following the corrected approach path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: Airbus France
    Inventors: Vincent Markiton, Edward Strongman, Francois Barre
  • Patent number: 7400951
    Abstract: A method of automatically guiding an aircraft for flight at low altitude determines an LLF (low level flight) trajectory section for following terrain to be overflown by the aircraft. The LLF trajectory section takes account of predictions of the aircraft's mass and speed and climb and descent performance. The LLF trajectory section includes an entry point and an exit point. The LLF trajectory section is integrated between a first trajectory part corresponding to a first phase of flight and a second trajectory part corresponding to a second phase of flight, by providing respectively first and second transition phases. The aircraft is automatically guided so that it successively captures, follows, and leaves the LLF trajectory section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Airbus France
    Inventors: Franck Artini, Edward Strongman
  • Publication number: 20080065280
    Abstract: Method and device for assisting in the piloting of an aircraft flying along a path with rectilinear segments. The device (1) comprises means (13) for determining characteristic angles, a characteristic angle representing the angle by which a rectilinear segment of the flight path is seen from the aircraft, and means (5) for displaying on a head-up screen (7), characteristic signs which are representative of said characteristic angles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: AIRBUS
    Inventors: Franck Artini, Edward Strongman
  • Patent number: 7330781
    Abstract: A method to determine, and guide an aircraft on, an intermediate trajectory between a first trajectory, for low-altitude flight, and a second trajectory, from which a tactical landing is carried out, may include determining a point of transition which lies on the first trajectory. The point of transition represents the start of the intermediate trajectory and corresponds to the point where the aircraft must exit the first flight trajectory so as to reach an initial point of the second flight trajectory, under predetermined flight conditions. Upon determining the point of transition, the aircraft is guided along the intermediate trajectory interconnecting the point of transition and the initial point of the second trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Airbus France
    Inventors: Franck Artini, Edward Strongman
  • Patent number: 7209052
    Abstract: A method and device for determines a safe altitude for an aircraft. The device includes a unit that determines a clear zone corresponding to a lateral area dependent on the flight of the aircraft. A unit determines the highest altitude of the ground that is located under this clear zone. A unit determines a safe altitude, by calculating the sum of the aformentioned highest altitude and a guard height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Airbus France
    Inventors: Franck Artini, Edward Strongman
  • Patent number: 7165747
    Abstract: The device (1) for guiding an aircraft at least over an intermediate trajectory between a first flight trajectory for a low-altitude flight and a second flight trajectory which starts at an initial point, and from which trajectory a parachute drop is carried out, comprises means (9) for determining a point of transition which lies on the first flight trajectory which represents the start of the intermediate trajectory, and which corresponds to the point where the aircraft must exit the first flight trajectory so as to reach the initial point under predetermined flight conditions, and means (13A, 13B) which use the point of transition to aid the guidance of the aircraft between the first and second flight trajectories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Airbus France
    Inventors: Franck Artini, Edward Strongman
  • Patent number: 7089091
    Abstract: A flight plan revision device may include a first component that determines an auxiliary flight plan corresponding to a lateral revision of the current flight plan, at least over a low altitude flight section. A second component automatically determines at least one decision point indicating the last position of the aircraft along the current flight plan where the auxiliary flight plan can still be activated, so as to allow the aircraft to overfly the terrain in complete safety by following the auxiliary flight plan under the same flight conditions as those envisaged for the current flight plan. A third component automatically presents at least the decision point to a pilot of the aircraft. And a fourth actuatable component allows a pilot to activate the auxiliary flight plan, so as to carry out the lateral revision of the current flight plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Airbus France
    Inventors: Franck Artini, Edward Strongman
  • Publication number: 20060102797
    Abstract: The device (1) for guiding an aircraft at least over an intermediate trajectory between a first flight trajectory for a low-altitude flight and a second flight trajectory which starts at an initial point, and from which trajectory a parachute drop is carried out, comprises means (9) for determining a point of transition which lies on the first flight trajectory which represents the start of the intermediate trajectory, and which corresponds to the point where the aircraft must exit the first flight trajectory so as to reach the initial point under predetermined flight conditions, and means (13A, 13B) which use the point of transition to aid the guidance of the aircraft between the first and second flight trajectories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: AIRBUS FRANCE
    Inventors: Franck Artini, Edward Strongman
  • Publication number: 20050273249
    Abstract: Method and device for automatic guidance of an aircraft, for a flight at least in part at low altitude. The device (1) for automatic guidance comprises means (7) for determining at least one LLF trajectory section corresponding to a low altitude trajectory part, which makes it possible to follow the terrain overflown, which is able to be flown by the aircraft and which takes account of predictions of mass and of speed, as well as of predictions of climb and descent performance of the aircraft, and means (2) for automatically guiding the aircraft in such a way that, successively, it captures, follows and leaves said LLF trajectory section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Applicant: AIRBUS FRANCE
    Inventors: Franck Artini, Edward Strongman
  • Publication number: 20050261811
    Abstract: Method and device for ensuring the safety of a low-altitude flight of an aircraft. A device (1) for ensuring the safety of a low-altitude flight comprises information sources (5) able to determine current flight conditions, a monitoring unit (6) for realizing, with the aid of said current flight conditions, a function for global and autonomous monitoring of said low-altitude flight of the aircraft, making it possible to preserve the integrity of said aircraft during said flight, and means (13) for presenting the results of the monitoring function realized by said monitoring unit (6) to an operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Publication date: November 24, 2005
    Inventors: Franck Artini, Jean-Pierre Demortier, Christophe Bouchet, Jacques Espinasse, Edward Strongman
  • Publication number: 20050261808
    Abstract: The device (1) comprises means (6) for determining an auxiliary flight plan corresponding to a lateral revision of the current flight plan, at least over a low altitude flight section, means (3) for automatically determining at least one decision point which indicates the last position of the aircraft along the current flight plan, where the auxiliary flight plan can still be activated, so as to allow the aircraft to overfly the terrain in complete safety by following the auxiliary flight plan, under the same flight conditions as those envisaged for the current flight plan, means (9) for automatically presenting at least the decision point to a pilot of the aircraft, and means actuatable (13), allowing a pilot to activate the auxiliary flight plan, so as to carry out the lateral revision of the current flight plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Publication date: November 24, 2005
    Applicant: AIRBUS FRANCE
    Inventors: Franck Artini, Edward Strongman
  • Publication number: 20050261812
    Abstract: Method and device for guiding an aircraft. The device (1) for guiding an aircraft at least over an intermediate trajectory between a first flight trajectory for a low-altitude flight and a second flight trajectory which starts at an initial point, and from which trajectory a tactical landing is carried out, comprises means (9) for determining a point of transition which lies on the first flight trajectory which represents the start of the intermediate trajectory, and which corresponds to the point where the aircraft must exit the first flight trajectory so as to reach the initial point under predetermined flight conditions, and the second means (13A, 13B) which use the point of transition to aid the guidance of the aircraft between the first and second flight trajectories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Publication date: November 24, 2005
    Applicant: AIRBUS FRANCE
    Inventors: Franck Artini, Edward Strongman
  • Publication number: 20050258979
    Abstract: Method and device for determining a safe altitude for an aircraft. The device (1) includes means (2) for determining a clear zone corresponding to a lateral area dependent on the flight of the aircraft, means for determining the highest altitude of the ground that is located under this clear zone, and means (8) for determining a safe altitude, by calculating the sum of said highest altitude and a guard height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Publication date: November 24, 2005
    Applicant: AIRBUS FRANCE
    Inventors: Franck Artini, Edward Strongman