Abstract: An on-board computer system includes a first neural network trained to receive a video stream of a landing approach, runway data, and aircraft state data and identify environmental landmarks corresponding to components of the runway and environmental obstacles that might interfere with autonomous landing. The on-board computer system also includes a second neural network that receives a flight path vector and a flight director corresponding to vectors based on the aircraft energy state and a desired aircraft flight path respectively. The second neural network determines flight control inputs to bring the flight path vector into conformity with the flight director.

Abstract: A flight phase stability indicator system and method for generating and presenting stability indicator(s) are disclosed. A processor receives flight phase data representative of an identification of a current operational flight phase; receives navigation data comprised of aircraft position, a planned flight trajectory, and runway data if runway data is needed for the current operational flight phase; determines stability data representative of a stability of the current operational flight phase based upon at least the navigation data; generates presentation data responsive to the determination and representative of the flight phase stability indicator and/or presentation(s) of flight phase stability; and presents the indicator represented in the presentation data on or through a presentation unit comprised of a visual display, aural advisory unit, and/or tactile advisory unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing content-based localized brightness control are disclosed. A system may include a display panel configured to support independently controllable brightness levels for a plurality of pixel groups within the display panel. The system may also include a processor in communication with the display panel. The processor may be configured to identify a specific pixel group of the display panel based on content being displayed in the specific pixel group, and the processor may be further configured to set a brightness level of the specific pixel group differently from another pixel group of the display panel.

Abstract: Present novel and non-trivial methods for electronically recording a taxi clearance on a display unit are disclosed. In one method, an interactive surface map is displayed from which selections of an assigned takeoff runway and taxiway(s) stated in a taxi clearance may be made electronically through advanced gesturing techniques. These selections highlight the surfaces stated in the taxi clearance. The selections may be made through a series of touch screen taps and/or by the grabbing, dragging, and releasing of a “rubber band” which snaps into place over the selected surface. In another method, an auto-route generating algorithm may be employed to create a preliminary taxi clearance after a presumed runway for takeoff has been selected by the pilot. Then, as the taxi clearance is being received, changes may be made through the pilot's interaction with the graphical user interfaces commensurate with the actual taxi clearance.

Abstract: Present novel and non-trivial methods for electronically recording a taxi clearance on a display unit are disclosed. In one method, an interactive surface map is displayed from which selections of an assigned takeoff runway and taxiway(s) stated in a taxi clearance may be made electronically through advanced gesturing techniques. These selections highlight the surfaces stated in the taxi clearance. The selections may be made through a series of touch screen taps and/or by the grabbing, dragging, and releasing of a “rubber band” which snaps into place over the selected surface. In another method, an auto-route generating algorithm may be employed to create a preliminary taxi clearance after a presumed runway for takeoff has been selected by the pilot. Then, as the taxi clearance is being received, changes may be made through the pilot's interaction with the graphical user interfaces commensurate with the actual taxi clearance.

Abstract: Present novel and non-trivial system, apparatus, and method for generating at least one airport surface incursion alert in a runway awareness and warning system are disclosed. A navigation data source and an airport surface data source provide navigation data and airport surface data to a surface alert generator (“SAG”). The SAG constructs a reference line based upon the airport surface data (e.g., landing threshold points, taxiway hold short lines, etc. . . . ), constructs a ground track line, determines at least one alert distance to an alert point along the ground track line if there is a reference line converging on and intersecting with the ground track line to form an alert point, and generates surface alert data if an alert time to the alert point meets an alert threshold time. The surface alert data is provided to a presentation system in which a visual alert, aural alert, and/or tactile alert is presented.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an aviation display is provided. The apparatus includes processing electronics configured to cause the aviation display to switch, in response to a user input, a first format for aviation data and a second format for aviation data. The first format includes a full format image of live data and the second format includes a scaled representation of the live data.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an aviation display is provided. The apparatus includes processing electronics configured to cause a first representation of a first aviation data to be shown in a first format of the first aviation data, and to cause, in response to a first user input in relation to the first format, a second representation of the first aviation data to be shown in a second format of the first aviation data, the second format of the first aviation data comprising a first predefined location on a first region of a display.

Abstract: A system for automatically preselecting an aircraft voice radio communication frequency when operating on or near the airport surface. An extension of this invention can also be used in flight. A sensor input module receives aircraft state information and flight management system (FMS) airport identification data. An airport map database (AMDB) data receiving module receives AMDB data, including AMDB voice radio frequency data. A pre-select communication frequency processing module utilizes the aircraft state information, the FMS airport identification data and the AMDB data, for determining the next pre-select frequency. An output module provides an output signal representing the next pre-select communication frequency to a pre-select communication frequency display.

Abstract: Present novel and non-trivial methods for presenting traffic information are disclosed. In a first method, data representative of ownship position, first traffic, and second traffic are received by a traffic symbology generator (“TSG”). The traffic is divided into zones and a correlation between the targets of the traffic is determined. A traffic symbology data set is generated by the TSG based upon the results of the correlation(s). In a second method, data representative of ownship position and first traffic, runway references, and a selectable display range are received by the TSG. The traffic is divided into zones, and a traffic symbology data set is generated by the TSG thereafter. In a third method, data representative of ownship position and first traffic are received by the TSG. The traffic is divided into zones, and a traffic symbology data set is generated by the TSG thereafter.

Abstract: Present novel and non-trivial system, apparatus, and method for generating a lateral meteorological profile are disclosed. The system is comprised of a source for providing hazard data and a lateral profile generator (“LPG”), where the source could be comprised of an aircraft weather system and/or a datalink system through which hazard weather data is received. The apparatus is comprised of the LPG configured to perform the method comprised of receiving hazard data, determining profile location data, and generating profile image data. The hazard data represents location information of each hazard located outside the aircraft, the profile location data is representative of a plurality of locations of maximum vertical sector height within a vertical sector, and the profile image data is representative of a lateral meteorological profile comprised of a plurality of points, each point corresponding to one location of the maximum vertical sector height.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an aviation display is provided. The apparatus includes processing electronics configured to cause a first representation of aviation data to be shown in a first format and to cause, in response to a user input relative to the first format, a second representation of the aviation data to be shown in a second format, in a predefined location on a region of an aircraft display.

Abstract: An operational flight phase determination, indication and configuration system for an aircraft includes input/output circuitry for receiving an operational flight phase selector output signal, aircraft sensor signals, and on-board automation system output signals including configuration status information. A processor is coupled to the input/output circuitry. A flight phase data table is coupled to the processor. The flight phase data table includes a list of the defined operational flight phases for the aircraft. A flight phase transition rules set is coupled to the processor. The flight phase transition rules set includes flight rules for defining flight phase transitions. An aircraft system configuration data table is coupled to the processor. The aircraft system configuration data table includes a list of the defined configurations for each operational flight phase and the aircraft system configuration settings for each configuration. Program memory and working memory are coupled to the processor.

Abstract: A present novel and non-trivial system, module, and method for presenting surface symbology on an aircraft display unit are disclosed. Symbology image data representative of an image depicting a runway highlighter adjacent to the assigned runway is generated by a symbology generator based upon assigned runway information and airport surface information provided by a flight management data source and the navigation reference data source, respectively. Such runway highlighter comprises a plurality of runway edge highlighters and a plurality of chevrons pointing in the direction of the assigned runway. The image could include one or more directional runway identifiers. Additionally, the generated image could include the depiction of township location, a line-up distance docking indicator, and/or a groundspeed indicator based upon information provided by a navigation data source. Additionally, the generated image could include the depiction of a wind barb based upon information provided by a weather data source.

Abstract: A hold line awareness system for alerting an occupant of an aircraft that the aircraft is approaching a hold line at an airport. In one broad aspect the invention includes an airport database located on an aircraft. The airport database is configured to store location information for a plurality of hold lines at the airport. A positioning system is located on the aircraft. The positioning system is configured to determine the aircraft location. A processor is located on the aircraft and is operatively connected to the airport database and the positioning system. The processor is configured to calculate the distance between the aircraft location and a hold line and provide a processor alerting output signal if the distance is less than a predetermined value. A sensory effector is located on the aircraft and operatively connected to the processor for receiving the processor alerting output signal and providing a tactile alert to an occupant in response thereto.

Abstract: An operational flight phase determination and indication system for an aircraft includes input/output circuitry for receiving an operational flight phase selector output signal and aircraft sensor signals. A processor is coupled to the input/output circuitry. A flight phase data table is coupled to the processor. The flight phase data table includes a list of the defined operational flight phases for the aircraft. A flight phase transition rules set is coupled to the processor. The flight phase transition rules set includes flight rules for defining flight phase transitions. Program memory and working memory are coupled to the processor. The processor uses input from the input/output circuitry, the flight phase data table, the flight phase transition rules set, the program memory and the working memory to provide an operational mode signal indicating the operational mode of the aircraft.

Abstract: A present novel and non-trivial system, module, and method for presenting runway advisory information are disclosed. A runway reference may be established using data received from a source of navigation reference data, where such data could represent runway information, runway awareness zone information, landing awareness zone information, and/or runway threshold line information. Navigation data representative of at least aircraft location and input factor data may be received from a source. Phase of flight may be determined using input factor data, and a runway advisory data set may be generated as a function of phase of flight and the positional relationship between aircraft location and the runway reference. Runway advisory data set may be representative of advisory information comprised of visual runway advisory information, aural runway advisory information, tactile advisory information, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting incursions for an aircraft and surface vehicles includes an incursion processor receiving ownship position from an ownship navigation processor, traffic information from a traffic surveillance processor, and obstacle information from an obstacle detector and generating alert information. The apparatus also includes a display processor receiving airport chart information and providing display information for displaying the alert information and airport chart information.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided which warn a pilot or flight crew to prevent navigation of an aircraft into an unapproved region of operation. A boundary of an approved region of operation for the aircraft is identified. A position of the aircraft relative to the boundary of the approved region of operation is determined. Then, a warning is generated if the determined position of the aircraft relative to the boundary of the approved region of operation satisfies a predetermined criteria.

Abstract: A current path display indicator for a display device of a vehicle. The current path display indicator includes a flight path indicator (FPI) and a visual cue associated with the FPI to indicate relative direction from the vehicle's current path to a desired path. The visual cue may be embodied in possibly a number of different ways. For example, it may be embodied as an arrow extending from a circular portion of the FPI; a highlighted segment superimposed on the circular portion of the FPI; a triangle extending from the circular portion; or, a pie-shaped marker contained within the circular portion.