Abstract: Offline task-based feature processing for aerial vehicles is provided. A system can extract features from a world model generated using sensor information captured by sensors mounted on an aerial vehicle. The system generates a label for each of the features and identifies identify processing levels based on the features. The system selects a processing level for each feature of a subset of features based on a task performed by the aerial vehicle and the label associated with the feature. The system generates one or more processed features by applying the processing level to a respective feature of the subset of the plurality of features. The system presents the one or more processed features on a display device of the aerial vehicle.

Abstract: According to an aspect, a computer-implemented method for water volume estimation includes detecting water based at least in part on sensor-based data; determining a volume of water based at least in part on the sensor-based data; determining a location at the water for an aircraft to retrieve water via a water retrieving apparatus; and translating the location of the water into pilot inputs to guide the aircraft to the water.

Abstract: A technique relates to interactive aircraft operation. An interactive electronic checklist is selected from a plurality of interactive electronic checklists, the interactive electronic checklists each comprising checklist tasks. It is perceived that one or more of the checklist tasks in the interactive electronic checklist is executable by an autonomous system. The one or more of the checklist tasks is performed using the autonomous system, an operator being designated to perform any other ones of the checklist tasks.

Abstract: A landing assembly and method of landing an aircraft. The landing assembly includes a landing gear, a charging circuit, a sampling circuit and a processor. The charging circuit applies a charge to the landing gear and the sampling circuit measures a discharge rate of the electrical charge from the landing gear. The processor determines a contact between the landing gear and a surface from the discharge rate.

Abstract: A technique relates to interactive aircraft operation. An interactive electronic checklist is selected from a plurality of interactive electronic checklists, the interactive electronic checklists each comprising checklist tasks. It is perceived that one or more of the checklist tasks in the interactive electronic checklist is executable by an autonomous system. The one or more of the checklist tasks is performed using the autonomous system, an operator being designated to perform any other ones of the checklist tasks.

Abstract: According to an aspect, a computer-implemented method for water volume estimation includes detecting water based at least in part on sensor-based data; determining a volume of water based at least in part on the sensor-based data; determining a location at the water for an aircraft to retrieve water via a water retrieving apparatus; and translating the location of the water into pilot inputs to guide the aircraft to the water.

Abstract: A technique relates to adaptive flight display. The technique includes rendering a first flight instrument display during autonomous flight operation of an aircraft, the first flight instrument display comprising autonomous mode information; determining, by a processor, that a trigger is met to transition from the first flight instrument display for the autonomous flight operation to a second flight instrument display for providing an increased perception of aircraft operating parameters for at least one of increased human awareness and human operation of the aircraft, the trigger being associated with a requirement for human intervention; and in response to the trigger being met, rendering the second flight instrument display for the human operation of the aircraft, the second flight instrument display comprising additional information.

Abstract: A technique relates to autonomous obstacle avoidance. A vehicle is controlled on a route to a destination, the route being a three-dimensional route. An obstruction is determined on the global route. A local route including alternate points to avoid the obstruction is autonomously determined. The local route is autonomously converged back to the global route in response to avoiding the obstruction.

Abstract: A system and method of landing an aircraft. The system includes a human machine interface responsive to an input from an operator, and a processor. A region of interest for the aircraft is selected. A representation of a potential landing zone associated with the region of interest is presented at a human machine interface. A suitability of the potential landing zone for landing is evaluated to obtain an evaluation score. The evaluation score for the potential landing zone is presented at the human machine interface. An input is received at the human machine interface to select the potential landing zone. The aircraft is landed at the selected landing zone.

Abstract: A technique relates to adaptive flight display. The technique includes rendering a first flight instrument display during autonomous flight operation of an aircraft, the first flight instrument display comprising autonomous mode information; determining, by a processor, that a trigger is met to transition from the first flight instrument display for the autonomous flight operation to a second flight instrument display for providing an increased perception of aircraft operating parameters for at least one of increased human awareness and human operation of the aircraft, the trigger being associated with a requirement for human intervention; and in response to the trigger being met, rendering the second flight instrument display for the human operation of the aircraft, the second flight instrument display comprising additional information.

Abstract: A method of trajectory control for a vehicle includes obtaining an initial trajectory; presenting the initial trajectory as a current trajectory on an I/O device, the current trajectory presented overlaying terrain; initiating travel of the vehicle along the current trajectory; updating the current trajectory and the terrain in real time as the vehicle travels along the current trajectory; determining if change in the current trajectory is required; changing the current trajectory to an altered trajectory in response to determining change in the current trajectory is required; and presenting the altered trajectory on the I/O device, the altered trajectory presented overlaying the terrain.

Abstract: A method of retrofitting a mechanically controlled aircraft with a fly-by-wire system includes removing a mechanical links between mechanical pilot inputs and actuators operable to drive flight surfaces. Electromechanical actuators are coupled between a plurality of vehicle management computers and the actuators. Each of the electromechanical actuators is operable to receive commands from the vehicle management computers and output a mechanical force to an input linkage of one of the actuators. Electromechanical pilot input modules are coupled to the mechanical pilot inputs. Each of the electromechanical pilot input modules is operable to convert a pilot-driven input force of an instance of the mechanical pilot inputs into an electronic signal indicative of the pilot-driven input force. At least one high performance computer is coupled to at least one of the vehicle management computers.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a method of optimal safe landing area determination for an aircraft includes accessing a probabilistic safe landing area map that includes a plurality of probabilistic indicators of safe landing areas for the aircraft. A processing subsystem that includes one or more processing resources generates a list of candidate safe landing areas based on the probabilistic safe landing area map and one or more constraints. At least two of the candidate safe landing areas are provided to a path planner. The list of candidate safe landing areas is ranked based on results from the path planner indicating an estimated cost to reach each of the candidate safe landing areas. Based on the ranking, an indicator of an optimal safe landing area is output as a desired landing location for the aircraft.

Abstract: A system for registering a target includes a first sensor, a second sensor, and a processor. The first sensor measures a plurality of ranges from a source to a target, and the second sensor obtains a plurality of location measurements of the source. The system further includes a processor configured for determining one or more weighting criteria associated with each one of the plurality of location measurements based on an estimated reliability of each one of the plurality of location measurements. The processor calculates a plurality of target location values based on the plurality of ranges measured by the first sensor and the plurality of locations measured by the second sensor and calculates an estimated target location value based on the plurality of target location values weighted according to the weighting criteria.

Abstract: According to an aspect, an apparatus is provided. A computing system is provided. A user interface is configured to receive an input from a user related to one or more changes to flight path and transmit the input to an autonomous flight system. The input to the autonomous flight system does not cause the autonomous flight system to disengage.

Abstract: A device and method for flying an aircraft is disclosed. A housing that is removably installable in a cockpit of the aircraft is installed in the cockpit. The housing includes a processor. The processor receives a flight measurement from the aircraft, determines a flight control parameter for flying the aircraft from the flight measurement, and operates a flight control device of the aircraft to implement the flight control parameter to fly the aircraft.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a method of flight initiation proximity warning for an autonomous vehicle is provided. A flight initiation request is detected at a processing system of the autonomous vehicle. A preflight proximity scan is performed for any obstacles within a predetermined distance from the autonomous vehicle based on the flight initiation request. An alert is sent to a control station based on detecting at least one obstacle within the predetermined distance. Flight initiation of the autonomous vehicle is inhibited until an acknowledgement of the alert is received at the processing system of the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: An example computer-implemented method for natural language mission planning includes: responsive to receiving a request to initiate mission planning for a selected mission type from a plurality of mission types, constructing, by a processing system, a mission narrative that describes a mission intent based on the selected mission type, the mission narrative comprising a plurality of fields; populating, by the processing system, the plurality of fields in the mission narrative from an autonomous mission manager based on the selected mission type with options to be selected by a mission planner; responsive to presenting the populated plurality of fields to the mission planner, filling, by the processing system, the mission narrative with the received selected options; creating, by the processing system, an optimized mission plan based on the mission narrative; and controlling, by the processing system, a vehicle based on the optimized mission plan.

Abstract: According to an aspect, an apparatus is provided. A computing system is provided. An adaptable user interface is configured to be fixable to an aircraft, and the adaptable user interface is coupled to the computing system to replicate at least a portion of controls of the aircraft. The adaptable user interface is configured with adjustable positional arrangements. The adjustable positional arrangements include a first position associated with replicating a first functionality of the aircraft controls and a second position associated with replicating a second functionality of the aircraft controls.

Abstract: A method for augmenting a synthetic vision system of a vehicle includes receiving, with a processor, signals indicative of real-time sensor data of a terrain for the vehicle via one or more acquisition devices; creating, with the processor, a terrain mesh of the terrain in response to the receiving of the sensor data; correlating, with the processor, the terrain mesh with preloaded terrain data of the terrain; creating, with the processor, a multispectral image of the terrain in response to the correlating the terrain mesh with the preloaded data; and texturing, with the processor, the terrain mesh for display on a display device.