Abstract: Provided are enhanced flight guidance systems and methods for an aircraft. The method includes recognizing when the aircraft is in manual operation and an active flight path is different than the planned flight path. An interrupt is received and categorized as one of (i) obstacle, (ii) equipment/fuel, or (iii) pilot health monitor. A managed mode begins, including identifying a rejoining leg of the planned flight path at which to rejoin and a location on the rejoining leg at which to rejoin. A recapture path strategy is selected from (i) lateral, (ii) vertical, and (iii) mixed lateral and vertical. A recapture path to the location on the rejoining leg is computed. The computed recapture path includes speed targets and configuration requirements at dedicated points along the recapture path. Aircraft state data along the recapture path is predicted and guidance controls for the aircraft along the recapture path are generated.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for guiding or otherwise assisting a stabilized approach to a destination by presenting an energy state associated with an aircraft with respect to a target energy state for the stabilized approach. One method involves providing a graphical indication of a targeted energy state at a first position, a second graphical indication of a current energy state at a second position, and a third graphical indication of a configuration change at a third position. The distance with respect to a reference axis between the first position and the second position corresponds to a difference between a target parameter value associated with the targeted energy state and a current parameter value associated with the current energy state, and while a second distance between the first position and the third position with respect to the reference axis corresponds to an estimated amount of time before the configuration change.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for guiding or otherwise assisting operation of a vehicle to intersect a stabilized approach to a destination. One exemplary method of assisting an aircraft for landing at an airport involves obtaining, from a system onboard the aircraft, a current position of the aircraft and a current velocity of the aircraft, determining a descent strategy for the aircraft from the current position to an initialization point for a stable approach to the airport based at least in part on the current position and the current velocity, and providing indication of the descent strategy on a display device. The descent strategy is determined based on one or more validation criteria associated with the initialization point so that one or more predicted values for one or more characteristics of the aircraft satisfy the one or more validation criteria at the initialization point.

Abstract: Provided are enhanced flight guidance systems and methods for an aircraft. The method includes recognizing when the aircraft is in manual operation and an active flight path is different than the planned flight path. An interrupt is received and categorized as one of (i) obstacle, (ii) equipment/fuel, or (iii) pilot health monitor. A managed mode begins, including identifying a rejoining leg of the planned flight path at which to rejoin and a location on the rejoining leg at which to rejoin. A recapture path strategy is selected from (i) lateral, (ii) vertical, and (iii) mixed lateral and vertical. A recapture path to the location on the rejoining leg is computed. The computed recapture path includes speed targets and configuration requirements at dedicated points along the recapture path. Aircraft state data along the recapture path is predicted and guidance controls for the aircraft along the recapture path are generated.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for segmenting a planned route of travel for indicating suggested or recommended diversion destinations with respect to those segments. One exemplary method of presenting diversion airports involves identifying a segmentation criterion for a flight plan, determining one or more diversion suitability distributions along a flight path defined by the flight plan, transforming the one or more diversion suitability distributions from a true distance scale to an effective distance scale based at least in part on meteorological conditions, and identifying a location for a segment boundary along the flight path based on an extrema of the one or more diversion suitability distributions within a portion of the flight path defined by the segmentation criterion on the effective distance scale. The method continues by providing graphical indicia of the flight path segment defined by the segment boundary and a diversion airport associated therewith.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for guiding or otherwise assisting a stabilized approach to a destination by presenting an energy state associated with an aircraft with respect to a target energy state for the stabilized approach. One method involves providing a graphical indication of a targeted energy state at a first position, a second graphical indication of a current energy state at a second position, and a third graphical indication of a configuration change at a third position. The distance with respect to a reference axis between the first position and the second position corresponds to a difference between a target parameter value associated with the targeted energy state and a current parameter value associated with the current energy state, and while a second distance between the first position and the third position with respect to the reference axis corresponds to an estimated amount of time before the configuration change.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for measuring the cognitive state of an individual by combining analysis of 2 independent quantities derived from a single sensor. The method comprises placing an array of electrocardiogram (ECG) sensors in contact with the individual. The sensors continually measure the ECG voltages and signal-to-noise ratios from each ECG. A distance to sensor and pressure applied to sensor our calculated for each ECG sensor that corresponds to the ECG voltage and signal-to-noise ratio measurements from each respective ECG sensor. Next, a graphical distance and pressure map is generated based on the combined signal-to-noise ratios of the ECG sensors and continually analyzed to determine the cognitive state of the individual.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for guiding or otherwise assisting operation of a vehicle to intersect a stabilized approach to a destination. One exemplary method of assisting an aircraft for landing at an airport involves obtaining, from a system onboard the aircraft, a current position of the aircraft and a current velocity of the aircraft, determining a descent strategy for the aircraft from the current position to an initialization point for a stable approach to the airport based at least in part on the current position and the current velocity, and providing indication of the descent strategy on a display device. The descent strategy is determined based on one or more validation criteria associated with the initialization point so that one or more predicted values for one or more characteristics of the aircraft satisfy the one or more validation criteria at the initialization point.

Abstract: Methods and systems for classifying a subject's cognitive state are provided. The method receives and stores sensor signals comprising a first sensor signal (SS_1) from a first sensor configured to sense a first aspect of the subject, and a second sensor signal (SS_2) from a second sensor configured to sense a second aspect of the subject. The validity of SS_1 and SS_2 are determined using a binary signal validity methodology and a weighted signal validity methodology. SS_1 and SS_2 are analyzed to identify patterns therein, and the patterns are defined as either an objective marker or a subjective marker. A subject profile is referenced and updated through multiple iterations. The subject's cognitive state is subsequently classified based on both adjusted subjective and objective markers.

Abstract: A system and method for an improved aircraft information display is provided. The provided embodiments integrate and analyze relevant data from on-board and external sources to render airport availability and suitability information on the aircraft information display. The airport availability and suitability information displayed on the aircraft information display incorporates links between related information, is intuitively arranged on the aircraft information display, and dynamically updates responsive to changes in data and to user interaction.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating a route that facilitates navigating a vehicle to a diversion destination while satisfying applicable safety thresholds or other constraints, such as a maximum landing weight. One exemplary method of facilitating an aircraft landing at a diversion airport involves obtaining a current position of the aircraft, identifying a landing threshold influenced by a characteristic of the aircraft, obtaining one or more constraints associating with diverting to the diversion airport, and determining a route from the current position to the diversion airport based at least in part on the landing threshold and the one or more constraints. The route satisfies the constraints and results in a predicted value for the aircraft, e.g., a predicted aircraft landing weight, that satisfies the landing threshold. A graphical representation of the route is displayed on a display device onboard the aircraft.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for measuring the cognitive state of an individual by combining analysis of 2 independent quantities derived from a single sensor. The method comprises placing an array of electrocardiogram (ECG) sensors in contact with the individual. The sensors continually measure the ECG voltages and signal-to-noise ratios from each ECG. A distance to sensor and pressure applied to sensor our calculated for each ECG sensor that corresponds to the ECG voltage and signal-to-noise ratio measurements from each respective ECG sensor. Next, a graphical distance and pressure map is generated based on the combined signal-to-noise ratios of the ECG sensors and continually analyzed to determine the cognitive state of the individual.

Abstract: A computer-implemented flight display system including a computer processor that is capable of determining a current energy situation of an aircraft, an electronic display device, and a graphical user interface (GUI) provided on the electronic display device. The GUI includes a current aircraft position symbol, an optimal aircraft position symbol, and at least one symbol indicating a position for changing aircraft configuration. Relative positioning on the GUI of the optimal aircraft position system and the at least one symbol indicating a position for changing aircraft configuration is based at least in part on the determined current energy situation of the aircraft.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for guiding or otherwise assisting operation of a vehicle to intersect a stabilized approach to a destination. One exemplary method of assisting an aircraft for landing at an airport involves obtaining, from a system onboard the aircraft, a current position of the aircraft and a current velocity of the aircraft, determining a descent strategy for the aircraft from the current position to an initialization point for a stable approach to the airport based at least in part on the current position and the current velocity, and providing indication of the descent strategy on a display device. The descent strategy is determined based on one or more validation criteria associated with the initialization point so that one or more predicted values for one or more characteristics of the aircraft satisfy the one or more validation criteria at the initialization point.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for indicating suggested or recommended diversion destinations with respect to segments of a planned route of travel. One exemplary method of presenting potential diversion airports for an aircraft involves identifying a flight path segment of a plurality of flight path segments between a departure location and a destination location based on a flight plan from the departure location to the destination location and identifying a subset of airports satisfying one or more filtering criteria with respect to the flight path segment. From among that subset, a recommended diversion airport is identified based on a viability ranking of the subset of airports with respect to the flight path segment and indication of the recommended diversion airport for the flight path segment is provided to a pilot or other user.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for presenting a list of potential diversion destinations. One exemplary method involves obtaining status information associated with the vehicle, obtaining status information associated with respective ones of a plurality of destinations, and classifying the plurality of destinations into a plurality of viability groups based at least in part on the status information associated with the vehicle and the respective status information associated with each respective destination. Each of the viability groups contains a subset of the plurality of destinations. The method continues by displaying a list of the plurality of destinations on a display device associated with the vehicle, with the plurality of destinations being ordered in the list based at least in part on their respective viability group classifications. In this regard, destinations classified into higher viability groups may be preferentially displayed over destinations classified into lower viability groups.

Abstract: A method for presenting an alert onboard an aircraft, by a computing device comprising at least system memory, a processor, and a plurality of sensors, is provided. The method identifies a status of the aircraft, by the processor, from a plurality of avionics communicatively coupled to the computing device via a wireless data connection; determines that attention of a flight crew member is required by one of the plurality of avionics, based on the status; determines that the computing device is in a state of current use, based on user input data received by the plurality of sensors; and presents an alert associated with the status and the one of the plurality of avionics, via a display device communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the alert comprises an indication to direct the attention toward the one of the plurality of avionics and details associated with the status.

Abstract: A method for presenting an alert onboard an aircraft, by a computing device comprising at least system memory, a processor, and a plurality of sensors, is provided. The method identifies a status of the aircraft, by the processor, from a plurality of avionics communicatively coupled to the computing device via a wireless data connection; determines that attention of a flight crew member is required by one of the plurality of avionics, based on the status; determines that the computing device is in a state of current use, based on user input data received by the plurality of sensors; and presents an alert associated with the status and the one of the plurality of avionics, via a display device communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the alert comprises an indication to direct the attention toward the one of the plurality of avionics and details associated with the status.

Abstract: A system and method for alerting an on-duty operator of the need to transfer operational control to an off-duty operator includes processing first and second physiological and activity data from the on-duty operator and the off-duty operator, respectively. The processor compares the fatigue state of the on-duty operator to a predetermined fatigue state threshold, and the rest state of the off-duty operator to a predetermined rest state threshold. The processor will generate an alert signal indicating that the on-duty operator should transfer operational control to the off-duty operator when (i) the fatigue state of the on-duty operator exceeds the predetermined fatigue state threshold or (ii) the rest state of the off-duty operator exceeds the predetermined rest state threshold.

Abstract: A system and method for alerting an on-duty operator of the need to transfer operational control to an off-duty operator includes processing first and second physiological and activity data from the on-duty operator and the off-duty operator, respectively. The processor compares the fatigue state of the on-duty operator to a predetermined fatigue state threshold, and the rest state of the off-duty operator to a predetermined rest state threshold. The processor will generate an alert signal indicating that the on-duty operator should transfer operational control to the off-duty operator when (i) the fatigue state of the on-duty operator exceeds the predetermined fatigue state threshold or (ii) the rest state of the off-duty operator exceeds the predetermined rest state threshold.