Patents by Inventor Xavier Blanchon
Xavier Blanchon 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: 11195420Abstract: A method for assisting in a flight management of an aircraft calculates a local cost function CF(xi, hj) at various altitudes hj along a planned vertical reference flight trajectory over a discrete set of points P(xi, hj) which forms a two-dimensional grid in which the planned vertical reference flight trajectory varies, the local cost function CF(xi, hj) being calculated locally at each point P(xi, hj) according to aircraft data and environmental data predicted at said local point P(xi, hj). Then, for each point P(xi, hj) of the grid, the method determines a neighbourhood including the point P(xi, hj), and associates a colour K(xi, hj) therewith that is dependent on the value of the local cost function CF(xi, hj) using a predetermined bijective lookup transformation. Next, the method displays the coloured grid formed by the coloured neighbourhoods.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2018Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: THALESInventors: Xavier Blanchon, Guillaume Boyer, Guillaume Meulle, Sonia Vautier
-
Publication number: 20180366011Abstract: A method for assisting in the flight management of an aircraft calculates a local operating cost function CF(xi, hj) at various altitudes hj along a planned reference flight trajectory over a discrete set of points P(xi, hj) which forms a two-dimensional grid in which the planned vertical reference flight trajectory varies, the local cost function CF(xi, hj) being calculated locally at each point P(xi, hj) according to aircraft data and environmental data predicted at said local point P(xi, hj). Then, for each point P(xi, hj) of the grid, the method determines a neighbourhood including the point P(xi, hj), and associates a colour K(xi, hj) therewith that is dependent on the value of the local cost function CF(xi, hj) using a predetermined bijective lookup transformation. Next, the method displays the coloured grid formed by the coloured neighbourhoods.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2018Publication date: December 20, 2018Inventors: Xavier BLANCHON, Guillaume BOYER, Guillaume MEULLE, Sonia VAUTIER
-
Patent number: 9945671Abstract: A method assisting in navigation of aircraft following a flight plan subject to time constraints comprises: determining a minimum speed profile, a maximum speed profile, and minimum and maximum times of passage; determining, for each constraint of index i, a restricted interval and a required interval; the determination made by a first iterative computation, i being decremented from n?1 to 1 and comprising: determining a required interval of index i enabling the aircraft to observe a restricted interval of index i+1 by flying at a speed profile between the minimum and maximum speed profiles, the restricted interval of index i+1 determined on the preceding iteration for an iteration of index between 1 and n?2, or from the time constraint of index n for the iteration of index n?1; and determining a restricted interval of index i from the intersection of the time constraint and the required interval of index i.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2015Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: THALESInventors: Benoit Dacre-Wright, Guy Deker, Xavier Blanchon
-
Patent number: 9494945Abstract: A device and method for flight management of an aircraft along a flight plan comprises a plurality of waypoints comprising a computation of the temporal predictions determining the temporal situation of the aircraft for each waypoint of the flight plan, a temporal situation of the aircraft being defined by at least one set of information from among the group comprising the target time of transit at each waypoint the estimated minimum and maximum times of arrival at each waypoint, the estimated time of transit at the waypoint, and a formatting and display simultaneously presenting the temporal situations of the said plurality of waypoints.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2013Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: ThalesInventors: Francois Coulmeau, Guy Deker, Xavier Blanchon, Patrick Mazoyer
-
Patent number: 9440731Abstract: A method for aiding navigation is provided, implemented in a flight management system, for the construction of a vertical trajectory of an aircraft following a predetermined lateral trajectory between a departure point and an arrival point; the departure point and arrival point furthermore being characterized by predefined altitudes, respectively Hd and Ha, and predefined speeds, respectively Vd and Va. The method comprises the steps of: selection of a transition manoeuvre in terms of altitude and speed from a predetermined list of manoeuvres; determination of a manoeuvre point PM on the lateral trajectory, of altitude Hd and of speed Vd, from which the transition manoeuvre must be initiated so as to allow the aircraft to reach at the arrival point the predefined speed Va and the predefined altitude Ha.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2013Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: ThalesInventors: Francois Coulmeau, Xavier Blanchon, Christophe Pierre
-
Publication number: 20150211859Abstract: A method assisting in navigation of aircraft following a flight plan subject to time constraints comprises: determining a minimum speed profile, a maximum speed profile, and minimum and maximum times of passage; determining, for each constraint of index i, a restricted interval and a required interval; the determination made by a first iterative computation, i being decremented from n?1 to 1 and comprising: determining a required interval of index i enabling the aircraft to observe a restricted interval of index i+1 by flying at a speed profile between the minimum and maximum speed profiles, the restricted interval of index i+1 determined on the preceding iteration for an iteration of index between 1 and n?2, or from the time constraint of index n for the iteration of index n?1; and determining a restricted interval of index i from the intersection of the time constraint and the required interval of index i.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2015Publication date: July 30, 2015Inventors: Benoit DACRE-WRIGHT, Guy DEKER, Xavier BLANCHON
-
Publication number: 20140200752Abstract: The invention relates to a meteorological modelling method for calculating an aircraft flight plan, the aircraft comprising a communication means and a navigation management system. The method comprises at least the following steps: the communication means carries out the acquisition of meteorological prediction data related to waypoints in proximity to the nominal route in addition to the waypoints belonging to the nominal route, the navigation management system allocates by projection onto the current route of the aircraft the prediction data for the said waypoints not belonging to the current route, the navigation management system calculates the meteorological prediction data for the waypoints of the current route of the flight plan according to the prediction data allocated by projection onto the current route of the aircraft. The invention is a modelling method for aircraft navigation management systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2009Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicant: ThalesInventors: Antoine Lacombe, Xavier Blanchon, François Coulmeau
-
Patent number: 8718933Abstract: A method of flight management of an aircraft aimed at reaching a constrained point on a predetermined lateral trajectory assumed to be followed by the aircraft, at a required time of arrival RTA to within an absolute tolerance. The method including calculating a flight plan to be followed and a homing flight plan and when the estimated time of arrival ETA based on the homing flight plan strays from an absolute tolerance with respect to the calculation required time of arrival RTAc, calculating a new calculation required time of arrival NRTAc dependent on the calculation required time of arrival RTAc and a function f of the difference between the calculation required time of arrival RTAc and the estimated time of arrival ETA, and replacing the calculation required time of arrival RTAc with the new calculation required time of arrival NRTAc, before recalculating a flight plan to be followed.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2010Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: ThalesInventors: François Coulmeau, Xavier Blanchon, Philippe Chaix
-
Publication number: 20140012436Abstract: A method for aiding navigation is provided, implemented in a flight management system, for the construction of a vertical trajectory of an aircraft following a predetermined lateral trajectory between a departure point and an arrival point; the departure point and arrival point furthermore being characterized by predefined altitudes, respectively Hd and Ha, and predefined speeds, respectively Vd and Va. The method comprises the steps of: selection of a transition manoeuvre in terms of altitude and speed from a predetermined list of manoeuvres; determination of a manoeuvre point PM on the lateral trajectory, of altitude Hd and of speed Vd, from which the transition manoeuvre must be initiated so as to allow the aircraft to reach at the arrival point the predefined speed Va and the predefined altitude Ha.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2013Publication date: January 9, 2014Inventors: Francois COULMEAU, Xavier BLANCHON, Christophe PIERRE
-
Publication number: 20130317739Abstract: A device and method for flight management of an aircraft along a flight plan comprises a plurality of waypoints comprising a computation of the temporal predictions determining the temporal situation of the aircraft for each waypoint of the flight plan, a temporal situation of the aircraft being defined by at least one set of information from among the group comprising the target time of transit at each waypoint the estimated minimum and maximum times of arrival at each waypoint, the estimated time of transit at the waypoint, and a formatting and display simultaneously presenting the temporal situations of the said plurality of waypointsType: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2013Publication date: November 28, 2013Inventors: Francois COULMEAU, Guy DEKER, Xavier BLANCHON, Patrick MAZOYER
-
Patent number: 8594863Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 1, 2010Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: ThalesInventors: François Coulmeau, Xavier Blanchon, Christophe Caillaud
-
Patent number: 8473120Abstract: The invention relates to the field of civil aviation and, more specifically, relates to the flight management systems, more commonly known by the English acronym FMS. The method for assisting in the management of the flight of an aircraft in order to keep to a time constraint according to the present invention allows for a control of the keeping to the time constraint that presents a rapid dynamic, by avoiding as far as possible having the estimated time of arrival (ETA) at a particular point (P) able to drift relative to a required time of arrival (RTA) at said particular point (P), thanks to the use of a maneuvering margin (M) granted to the guidance module of the aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2009Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: ThalesInventors: Xavier Blanchon, Philippe Chaix, Christophe Caillaud
-
Patent number: 8437957Abstract: A method and device checks the conformity of a trajectory calculated by a flight management system of an aircraft in relation to reference data comprising a reference map. The method includes: geo-referencing of a reference map; determination of a reference trajectory from the geo-referenced reference map; detection of nonconformity in the trajectory calculated by the flight management system by comparison of the trajectory calculated by the flight management system with the reference trajectory; and emission of a warning if a nonconformity is detected.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2011Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: ThalesInventors: François Coulmeau, Nicolas Marty, Xavier Blanchon, Pierre Gamet
-
Patent number: 8386158Abstract: A method for providing for the optimized regulation of the relative spacing between aircraft is disclosed. This method can be implemented by a system whose physical architecture can rely mainly on existing computers on board most current aircraft. The method includes a main step of determining the changing trend of the relative spacing, in distance or in time, between a target aircraft (C) and a following aircraft (S).Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2009Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: ThalesInventors: Xavier Blanchon, François Coulmeau, Manuel Gutierrez-Castaneda
-
Patent number: 8386174Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for calculating a time window for a time constraint of arrival of an aircraft at a given point, the aircraft receiving wind predictions and including a sensor for measuring the wind. The method includes a calculation of a first time window, and the calculation of an overall confidence index having the determination of a first confidence index on the basis of a deviation between wind predictions and wind measurements performed by the aircraft, the calculation of a margin for the time constraint on the basis of the overall confidence index, and the calculation of a second window on the basis of the first time window and of the calculated margin.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2010Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: ThalesInventors: François Coulmeau, Antoine Lacombe, Xavier Blanchon, Fany Barailler
-
Patent number: 8352169Abstract: Method for assisting in the flight management of an aircraft aiming to reach a constraint point on a predetermined lateral trajectory that is assumed to have to be followed by the aircraft, at a required time of arrival RTA, said aircraft occupying a current position defined by a current altitude with a current horizontal speed. The method including, when it follows a rallying flight plan, calculating a new rallying flight plan following the lateral trajectory to be followed and including a new estimated speed profile different from the estimated speed profile over at least one update area, the new estimated speed profile including, over said update areas, either a value greater than that of the estimated speed profile, if the arrival time difference is positive, or a value less than that of the estimated speed profile, if the arrival time difference is negative.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2010Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: ThalesInventors: François Coulmeau, Xavier Blanchon, Philippe Chaix
-
Patent number: 8340843Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the speed of an aircraft that is subject to a time constraint. The invention consists no longer in calculating a single CAS/MACH pair during climb/descent but in adapting the speed in a continuous manner to the bounds of curves of minimum Vmin and maximum Vmax speed defining a flight envelope of the aircraft. The calculation of these speeds is carried out on the basis of constant maximum and minimum speed setpoints and of a coefficient taking into account a deviation to the time constraint.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2009Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: ThalesInventors: François Coulmeau, Manuel Gutierrez-Castaneda, Nicolas Simi, Xavier Blanchon
-
Method for continuously and adaptively generating a speed setpoint for an aircraft to observe an RTA
Patent number: 8332145Abstract: Method for generating a flight speed profile of an aircraft (100) according to an RTA constraint, characterized in that it permanently calculates, at any point of the flight plan, a speed setpoint V?(X) of the aircraft determined on the basis of reference speed profiles, comprising at least a minimum speed profile Vmin(X), and a maximum speed profile Vmax(X). The method can also take into account an optimum speed profile Vopt(X) determined, for example, on the basis of a cost or performance index.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2010Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: ThalesInventors: Benoît Dacre-Wright, Guy Deker, Xavier Blanchon -
Patent number: 8244453Abstract: A method of adjusting the trajectory of an aircraft flying a climb circuit, of substantially helical form corresponding to a succession of racetracks, denoted HOLD, the last HOLD, called the exit HOLD, having predefined geometric characteristics and comprising a lock-on point, allowing the aircraft to enter and to exit in the HOLD, the aircraft attaining the setpoint altitude of the climb circuit during the flight of the exit HOLD, comprises at least three steps, including: a step of computing the prediction of the position of the aircraft when the setpoint altitude will be attained; a step of computing the remaining distance to be traveled, between the position of the aircraft when the setpoint altitude will be attained and the lock-on point; and a step making it possible to carry out an adaptation of the form of the exit HOLD so as to minimize the remaining distance to be traveled DELTA.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2010Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: ThalesInventors: Antoine Lacombe, Xavier Blanchon, François Coulmeau
-
Publication number: 20110246053Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2010Publication date: October 6, 2011Applicant: THALESInventors: François Coulmeau, Xavier Blanchon, Christophe Caillaud