Aircraft Preflight Route Search Patents (Class 701/528)
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Patent number: 12223698Abstract: A method for searching a path by using a 3D reconstructed map includes: receiving 3D point-cloud map information and 3D material map information; clustering the 3D point-cloud map information with a clustering algorithm to obtain clustering information, and identifying material attributes of objects in the 3D point-cloud map information with a material neural network model to obtain material attribute information; fusing the those map information based on their coordinate information, thereby outputting fused map information; identifying obstacle areas and non-obstacle areas in the fused map information based on an obstacle neural network model, the clustering information, and the material attribute information; and generating 3D path information according to the non-obstacle areas. Since the 3D path information is generated based on those map information, the obstacle areas and flight spaces are effectively determined to generate an accurate flight path.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2022Date of Patent: February 11, 2025Assignee: National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityInventors: Mang Ou-Yang, Yung-Jhe Yan, Ming-Da Jiang, Ta-Fu Hsu, Shao-Chun Yeh, Kun-Hsiang Chen, Tzung-Cheng Chen
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Patent number: 12148309Abstract: Systems and techniques to facilitate intelligent unmanned aerial vehicle traffic management via an infrastructure network are presented. In an example, a traffic management system can include a data collection component, a flight path component, and a communication component. The data collection component receives navigation data and parameter data associated with an unmanned aerial vehicle. The navigation data is associated with a starting point and destination for the unmanned aerial vehicle. The parameter data is indicative of information associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle. The flight path component generates flight path data for the unmanned aerial vehicle based on the navigation data, the parameter data and infrastructure network data received from an intelligent sensor node network. The communication component transmits the flight path data to the unmanned aerial vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2022Date of Patent: November 19, 2024Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLCInventors: Biju Nanukuttan, Avichandra Yallapalli, Vigneshwaran Venugopalan
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Patent number: 12123743Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and non-transitory computer-readable media for detecting wind shear conditions in an urban airspace. For instance, the method may include obtaining aircraft information related to an aircraft in the urban airspace, accessing three-dimensional building information corresponding to the airspace, obtaining wind speed and direction data from a plurality of sensors provided about the airspace, and detecting wind shear conditions in at least a portion of the airspace based on the obtained wind speed and direction data. The method may further include determining real-time flight safety parameters in the portion of the airspace based on the wind shear conditions detected in at least the portion of the airspace, analyzing the determined real-time flight safety parameters along a designated flight path through the portion of the airspace to determine whether an unsafe flight condition exists, and transmitting the analysis to the aircraft or a remote operating station.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2021Date of Patent: October 22, 2024Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Haifeng Wang, Mingquan Liu
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Patent number: 12033521Abstract: Systems and methods for managing the flight of an aircraft, include the steps of receiving data from recordings of the flight of an aircraft; the data comprising data from sensors and/or data from the onboard avionics; determining the aircraft state at a point N on the basis of the received data; determining the state of the aircraft at the point N+1 on the basis of the state of the aircraft at point N by applying a model learnt by means of machine learning. Developments describe the use of the flight parameters SEP, FF and N1; offline and/or online unsupervised machine learning, according to a variety of algorithms and neural networks. Software aspects are described.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2019Date of Patent: July 9, 2024Assignee: THALESInventors: Christophe Pierre, Dorian Martinez, Bastien Crete
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Patent number: 11675348Abstract: A computer architecture includes an application program interface (API). The API does not include a user interface. The computer architecture asynchronously receives into the API data relating to mission plan domains from clients. The data include an identification of vehicles, goals of the vehicles, and threats to the vehicles. The mission plan domains include an air domain, a sea or ocean domain, and a land domain. The computer architecture uses a parallel processing scheme to process the mission plan domains from the clients for determining goal priorities for each of the plurality of vehicles, processing the data using a genetic algorithm and physics models associated with the plurality of vehicles, and transmitting to the vehicles path commands based on the processing of the genetic algorithm.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2019Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Michael P. Sica, Michael C. Xu
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Patent number: 11640765Abstract: A system and method are disclosed. The system includes a computer readable medium having non-transitory computer readable program code embodied therein for risk-aware contingency flight re-planning. The computer readable instructions include instructions, which when executed by a computer device or processors, perform and direct the step of receiving a preplanned route, receiving a risk tolerance level from a decision maker, receiving input from a database, receiving an indication of an en route risk to the vehicle, determining an association of an exposure cost with at least one of a plurality of 4-D paths, ranking the plurality of 4-D paths based on the association of the exposure cost, and displaying a portion of the plurality of 4-D paths to the decision maker.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2020Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.Inventor: Keith M. Allen
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Patent number: 11594140Abstract: Computer-implemented methods, systems, and program products are provided that assist in aspects of aerial surveying, including selective display of planned flight path segments, marking of ground conditions, monitoring coverage of a planned flight path, and providing guidance information for aircraft navigation, including speed and turns.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2020Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: ARKIDAN SYSTEMS INC.Inventor: Noah Aklilu
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Patent number: 11488089Abstract: Wait location information acquisition means of a logistics system acquires wait location information on a wait location of each of a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles. Remaining amount information acquisition means acquires remaining amount information on a remaining amount of a battery or fuel of each of the unmanned aerial vehicles. Package information acquisition means acquires package information on a collection destination and delivery destination of a package. Search means searches for an unmanned aerial vehicle with a remaining amount of the battery or fuel for delivering the package collected at the collection destination to the delivery destination based on the wait location information and remaining amount information on each of the unmanned aerial vehicles and the package information. Instruction means instincts the unmanned aerial vehicle retrieved by the search means to collect and deliver the package.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: RAKUTEN GROUP, INC.Inventor: Masayuki Chatani
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Patent number: 11472563Abstract: A method for detecting icing conditions for an aircraft including a measurement of the parameters of embedded systems, with the exception of probes dedicated to the detection of ice, a transformation of the measurements of the symptomatic parameters to obtain P-tuples of values of explanatory variables which explain icing conditions, a classification of the measurements by classifiers on the basis of the P-tuples of values thus obtained, the classifiers having been previously trained in a supervised manner, each classifier providing a prediction of membership in a class of icing conditions, the predictions of the various classifiers being consolidated to provide a consolidated prediction of icing conditions.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2019Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)Inventors: Alice Calmels, Jean Pasquie
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Patent number: 11410559Abstract: Systems and techniques to facilitate intelligent unmanned aerial vehicle traffic management via an infrastructure network are presented. In an example, a traffic management system can include a data collection component, a flight path component, and a communication component. The data collection component receives navigation data and parameter data associated with an unmanned aerial vehicle. The navigation data is associated with a starting point and destination for the unmanned aerial vehicle. The parameter data is indicative of information associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle. The flight path component generates flight path data for the unmanned aerial vehicle based on the navigation data, the parameter data and infrastructure network data received from an intelligent sensor node network. The communication component transmits the flight path data to the unmanned aerial vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2019Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLCInventors: Biju Nanukuttan, Avichandra Yallapalli, Vigneshwaran Venugopalan
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Patent number: 11365971Abstract: An Energy State Awareness System that alerts the pilot of an aircraft during the climb, cruise and descent phases of a flight of low airspeed conditions, and during the Approach/Landing and Go-Around phases of flight when airspeed has deviated from a pre-determined reference airspeed that is considered “Stable” for the flight conditions. In order to determine the degree of deviation, the system monitors some of various readily available signals representative of flight parameters and of the aircraft's configuration such as true airspeed, weight, flap position, center of gravity and normal load factor—nz. Some signals are used directly, others are used as inputs to internal algorithms that compute the data necessary to determine the magnitude of the deviations.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2017Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: Tiger Century Aircraft, Inc.Inventors: Andrew M. Skow, Peter T. Reynolds
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Patent number: 11353888Abstract: A system for an aircraft includes a user interface device and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a present location of the aircraft, a present location of one or more wind vortices, a strength of the one or more wind vortices, and a desired ending point of the aircraft. The desired ending point of the aircraft is received from the user interface device. The controller is configured to define an optimization problem, and determine a solution to the optimization problem. The solution to the optimization problem includes a flight path and steering angle values to achieve the flight path. The flight path results in a minimum time to reach the desired ending point. The controller is configured to cause the user interface device to display a map including the flight path.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2019Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.Inventor: Narayan R. Iyer
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Patent number: 11320823Abstract: The disclosed subject matter includes a method and system for navigating an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), that include: generating, based on the scanning output data, a first map comprising a first group of cells and characterized by a first size; generating, based on the scanning output data, a second map representing an area smaller than that of the first map comprising a second group of cells, which are characterized by a second size being smaller than the first size; wherein each cell in the first group of cells and the second group of cells is classified to a class selected from at least two classes, comprising traversable and non-traversable, wherein the second part at least partly overlaps the first part; navigating the UGV based on data deduced from crossing between cells in the first map and second map.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2018Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: ELTA SYSTEMS LTD.Inventors: Ofir Cohen, Dina Appelman, Arnon Degani
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Patent number: 11262900Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for displaying information for an aircraft on a display device in a flight deck of the aircraft. Aircraft information is received for a current flight of the aircraft. An interactive strip is displayed in a graphical user interface on the display device in the flight deck of the aircraft. The aircraft information and controls are displayed within regions in the interactive strip, enabling a pilot to operate the aircraft using the interactive strip.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2019Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Paul D. Burkhead, Alireza Majd, John Wiedemann
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Patent number: 11250711Abstract: A system and method for correlating hazard data includes defining flight corridors according to hazard thresholds based on criticality weightings derived from multiple sources, and incorporating multiple hazard types. The flight corridors are render in a visually distinct way according to the corresponding hazard threshold. An autonomous aircraft determines an executable flight path within a flight corridor having a maximum allowable hazard threshold.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2020Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.Inventors: Jacob Teague, Venkata Sishtla
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Patent number: 11195421Abstract: Techniques to increase accuracy of estimating fuel for an aircraft. A statistical analysis is performed on data for multiple past instances of flights between a departure airport and an arrival airport for multiple aircraft to determine one or more predicted real-world limitations more stringent than what is imposed by a set of regulations. A calibration flight plan is generated based on an operator flight plan and the one or more predicted real-world limitations. The calibration flight plan includes an airborne operating parameter that conforms to the one or more predicted real-world limitations. Based on the calibration flight plan, a first fuel load is calculated for the aircraft travelling from the departure airport to the arrival airport.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2020Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Michael E. Irrgang, Charles E. Kaul, Andrew E. Hall, Andrea De Klerk, Elham Boozarjomehri
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Patent number: 11014236Abstract: A combined robot and a cruise path generating method thereof includes providing or generating a working map of a self-moving robot and marking a target point on the working map. A planned path is generated according to the location of the target point in the working map. The combined robot begins to walk according to the planned path and it is determined whether an obstacle is encountered during walking. If an obstacle is encountered, a different path adjustment mode is selected according to a relative location when the obstacle is encountered and the planned path is updated according to a walking path to form an actual path. Otherwise, the robot walks directly to form the actual path. The actual path is saved as a cruise path of the combined robot.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2017Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: ECOVACS ROBOTICS CO., LTD.Inventor: Jinju Tang
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Patent number: 10977951Abstract: A computer implemented method of distributing noise exposures to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over a neighborhood includes: accessing a noise exposure map stored in a database and generating a new flight path over the neighborhood for a first UAV of the UAVs based at least in part on the noise exposure map. The noise exposure map includes noise exposure values indexed to locations within the neighborhood. Each of the noise exposure values quantifies a cumulative noise exposure of a corresponding one of the locations due at least in part to historical flight paths of the UAVs over the neighborhood.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2019Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: Wing Aviation LLCInventors: Martin Kubie, Adam Woodworth, Jesse Blake, Reinaldo Negron, James Burgess, André Prager, Stephen Lacy, Giulia Pantalone
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Patent number: 10956988Abstract: Disclosed embodiments provide techniques for determining a taxability status for a vehicular asset, such as an aircraft. The techniques include obtaining traffic control system information for the vehicular asset, detecting gaps in traffic control system information for the vehicular asset, and recording the gaps, computing a primary location for the vehicular asset based on the traffic control system information, and creating a vehicular asset taxability status report for the vehicular asset, where the report includes the primary location and gap information.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2017Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Inventor: Scott Beale
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Patent number: 10897343Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a multilayered obstructed brokered network routing and data repackaging system, sometimes referred to as a MOB HUB. The MOB HUB is configured to communicate with a mission computer on a vehicle. At least one mobile computer is configured to communicate with the MOB HUB.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2019Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Jonathan L. Surmi, Alvin L. Quintana, Mark Miliano, Anthony R. Kunkel
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Patent number: 10885794Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electronic system for providing access to a useable, tailored database of selectable items for a user, e.g., user selectable routes entered by pilot users to utilize for flight planning and aircraft route guidance, and other related information from a remote processing center to a local unit over wireless, wire line, or telecommunications network or combination thereof. The disclosure more particularly relates, for example, to an electronic system including one or more remote processing centers and a plurality of local units, e.g., a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, cellular device, or mobile telephone unit, for providing to a pilot's local unit information of other pilot users from one or more databases, in particular, a pilot user's route with FAA identifiers (such as airports, VORs, NDBs, waypoints, reporting points, airways, etc.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2019Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Inventor: Rhett R. Dennerline
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Patent number: 10852453Abstract: A method for providing an aviation weather chart and an apparatus using the same. An aviation weather chart apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention may compromise: a communication unit which is connected to a weather server and an flight path server so as to acquire aviation weather information from the weather server, acquire flight path information from the flight path server, and acquire flight identification information from a network; and a control unit which acquires the flight path information corresponding to the flight identification information, acquires the aviation weather information corresponding to the flight path information, and acquires an aviation weather chart such that the flight path information and the weather information are displayed at one time on the basis of a flight information region through which a flight corresponding to the flight information passes and the weather information corresponding to the flight information region.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2016Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: IPS INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY LAW FIRMInventors: Wan Sik Won, Chang Bae Lee, Yong Phil Joh
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Patent number: 10796586Abstract: A method of providing a simplified practice for dealing with aviation turbulence and other weather hazards that allows the end users to better communicate turbulence as a state of the atmosphere metric and the additional weather threats affecting the flight is described. The method provides an Atmospheric State Index (ASI) that allows all the users to work with a standardized metric that describes the turbulence as the state of the atmosphere and a similar scale for other weather risks to the flight. This system makes the correlation between the forecast and aircraft reports for turbulence easier to interpret for the end users. This approach concentrates on turbulence as a weather hazard with a more objective and easier to use metric. This configuration provides a transition for moving from a system based on turbulence Pilot Reports (PIREPS) to a more objective data driven process in the air traffic environment.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2015Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: Delta Air Lines, Inc.Inventor: William Henry Watts
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Patent number: 10777085Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for generating efficient flight profiles in a variety of aircraft are disclosed. A method includes receiving required time of arrival (RTA) constraints for the aerial vehicle. The RTA constraints include a required time of arrival for a waypoint. The method also includes inputting the RTA constraints into a problem configured to generate flight plans based on the required time of arrival for the waypoint of the RTA constraints. The problem includes an altitude variable and a speed variable. The method also includes generating, as a solution to the problem, a flight plan by varying the altitude variable and the speed variable in order to reduce operating cost of the aerial vehicle based at least in part on the RTA constraints, and providing the flight plan to at least one computing system of the aerial vehicle. The flight plan includes a route traversing the waypoint.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2018Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: GE Aviation Sytems LLCInventors: David Michael Lax, Reza Ghaemi, Mark Lawrence Darnell, Nicholas Race Visser
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Patent number: 10718616Abstract: A patrol route setting apparatus includes a cell divider, a probability distribution setter, a random number generator, a destination setter, a route setter, and a probability distribution updating unit. The cell divider divides map information into cells. The probability distribution setter sets, for each cell, a probability distribution of a presence probability of a capturing target in the cell. The destination setter that sets, as a destination, any, of the cells, that has a greatest first value, of the presence probability, corresponding to a random number generated by the random number generator, on the basis of the probability distributions. The probability distribution updating unit updates, on the basis of presence information of the capturing target acquired by an information acquiring unit, the probability distributions of the presence probability of the capturing target, when the movable body travels along the traveling route to the destination set by the route setter.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2018Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATIONInventors: Naoaki Itabashi, Satoshi Okada, Tsunahiro Sato, Satoshi Hoshino, Takeshi Katsumoto
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Patent number: 10713961Abstract: An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) includes flight components attached or disposed to a base; one or more cameras; radar; one or more wireless interfaces; a processing device communicatively coupled to the flight components, the one or more cameras, the radar, and the wireless interfaces; and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processing device to monitor proximate airspace with one or more of the one or more cameras and the radar; detect an obstruction based on the monitor; identify characteristics of the obstruction; alter a flight plan, through the flight components, if required based on the characteristics; and communicate the obstruction to an air traffic control system via the one or more wireless interfaces.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2016Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: ETAK Systems, LLCInventor: Lee Priest
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Patent number: 10671092Abstract: An example method includes: receiving information indicative of a desired aircraft cruise insertion point comprising achieving a desired cruise altitude for an aircraft within: a predetermined period of time from departure, or within a predetermined distance from departure; receiving information indicative of an estimated weight of the aircraft upon the aircraft reaching the desired cruise altitude; determining a desired airspeed for the aircraft based on the information indicative of the estimated weight of the aircraft; prior to a flight of the aircraft, determining, based on the desired airspeed and the desired aircraft cruise insertion point, a climb trajectory for the aircraft; and during a climb flight phase of the aircraft, varying climb thrust of an engine of the aircraft to follow the climb trajectory and achieve the desired aircraft cruise insertion point.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2017Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Joseph M. DiRusso, Keith D. Parsons
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Patent number: 10665114Abstract: Method and system for providing optimal, achievable flight plans for a flight of an aircraft and for providing accurate fuel load calculations. The method and system can check for and correct inaccurate assumptions in a flight plan. The method and system can also perform statistical analysis to recognize and account for real-world limitations on flight plans. The method and system can also perform statistical analysis to determine actual aircraft wear that can affect aircraft performance and account for such wear when calculating fuel load.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2014Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Michael E. Irrgang, Charles E. Kaul, Andrew E. Hall, Andrea De Klerk, Elham Boozarjomehri
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Patent number: 10586103Abstract: Aspects described herein apply machine learning techniques for image recognition and classification to the processing of topographic imagery, in order to permit more accurate and detailed topographic representations of an area to be obtained. In particular, in one embodiment a machine learning system is trained with existing topographic imagery and corresponding topographic data relating to a particular area, so that the machine learning system is then able to relate actual physical topographical features to their topographic representations in existing data. Having been so trained, the machine learning system may then be used to process topographic imagery data of the same area to determine new topographic details thereof for incorporation into the topographic data.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2018Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignee: Ordnance Survey LimitedInventors: Isabel Sargent, Jonathon Hare
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Patent number: 10565883Abstract: A practice airspace management system includes a control unit configured to receive user inputs from a first user and to generate a first training plan based on the user inputs. The control unit is further configured to generate display commands representing the first training plan on a navigation map. The practice airspace management system further includes a display device coupled to receive the display commands from the control unit and configured to display a navigation map view that includes the navigation map and a first training plan symbol representing the first training plan on the navigation map.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2017Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Aaron Gannon, Jary Engels, Chris Hamblin
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Patent number: 10529242Abstract: A method for obtaining, analyzing, and using pilot report (PIREP) data onboard an aircraft is provided. The method detects information relevant to one or more PIREPs associated with a current flight path of the aircraft, based on aircraft state data and avionics data obtained from a plurality of avionics systems, by at least one processor onboard the aircraft, wherein the one or more PIREPs includes at least one of instrumental PIREPs and pilot experience PIREPs; automatically completes a set of incomplete PIREPs associated with the current flight path using the information relevant to the one or more PIREPs, by the at least one processor, to generate complete PIREPs; and presents the complete PIREPs via a display device onboard the aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2017Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Raghu Shamasundar, Mahesh Sivaratri, Soumitri Swain, Sivakumar Kanagarajan
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Patent number: 10490087Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electronic system for providing access to a useable, tailored database of selectable items for a user, e.g., user selectable routes entered by pilot users to utilize for flight planning and aircraft route guidance, and other related information from a remote processing center to a local unit over wireless, wire line, or telecommunications network or combination thereof. The disclosure more particularly relates, for example, to an electronic system including one or more remote processing centers and a plurality of local units, e.g., a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, cellular device, or mobile telephone unit, for providing to a pilot's local unit information of other pilot users from one or more databases, in particular, a pilot user's route with FAA identifiers (such as airports, VORs, NDBs, waypoints, reporting points, airways, etc.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2017Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Inventor: Rhett R. Dennerline
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Patent number: 10380900Abstract: A device receives, from a user device, a request for a flight path for a UAV to travel in a geographical region, and determines a suggested component/software for the UAV based on capability information associated with the UAV. The device provides, to the user device, information associated with the suggested component/software, and calculates the flight path based on the capability information, real time information, and non-real time information associated with the geographical region. The device generates flight path instructions for the flight path, and provides the flight path instructions to the UAV to permit the UAV to travel in the geographical region via the flight path.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2014Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.Inventors: Hani Batla, Ashok N. Srivastava, Douglas M. Pasko, Igor Kantor, Gurpreet Ubhi
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Patent number: 10354537Abstract: An approach is provided for routing an aerial drone while preserving privacy. The approach involves processing model data depicting at least one structure to determine one or more privacy-sensitive features of the at least one structure. The approach also involves calculating line-of-sight data between a route of an aerial drone and the one or more privacy-sensitive features. The approach further involves configuring a routing of the aerial drone based on the line-of sight data when the aerial drone is traveling near the at least one structure.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2018Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: HERE Global B.V.Inventors: Jerome Beaurepaire, Marko Tuukkanen
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Patent number: 10102758Abstract: An approach is provided for routing an aerial drone while preserving privacy. The approach involves processing model data depicting at least one structure to determine one or more privacy-sensitive features of the at least one structure. The approach also involves calculating line-of-sight data between a route of an aerial drone and the one or more privacy-sensitive features. The approach further involves configuring a routing of the aerial drone based on the line-of sight data when the aerial drone is traveling near the at least one structure.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2017Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: HERE Global B.V.Inventors: Jerome Beaurepaire, Marko Tuukkanen
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Patent number: 10068488Abstract: Systems and methods of providing a data update to an aircraft including requesting a data update related to a route to be flown by the aircraft, receiving flight procedure data in a data update into a component of the aircraft from a ground station in response to the request and updating the route to be flown utilizing the flight procedure data in the data update.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2015Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLCInventors: Russell Allen Ramaker, Joachim Karl Ulf Hochwarth
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Patent number: 10032383Abstract: Methods and systems for autonomous generation of shortest lateral paths for unmanned aerial systems are described. An example method includes defining an area between a source point and a target point; identifying a first no flight zone within the area; identifying a second no flight zone outside of the area; estimating a first computation time to determine a first lateral path between the source point and the target point, the estimating to consider the first no flight zone, the estimating not to consider the second no flight zone; comparing the first computation time to a reference computation time; in response to the first computation time not satisfying a threshold of the reference computation time, modifying the first no flight zone to be a third no flight zone; and estimating a second computation time to determine a second lateral path between the source point and the target point, the estimating to consider the third no flight zone.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2016Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Ernesto Valls Hernández, Francisco A. Navarro Félix, David Sánchez Tamargo, Carlos Querejeta Masaveu, Jesús Cuadrado Sánchez
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Patent number: 10024665Abstract: The different advantageous embodiments provide a system and method for suggesting significant environmental waypoints along a trajectory to improve the efficiency of a flight plan. Desired information is identified, wherein the desired information is information needed to perform at least one of completing a flight plan and updating a flight plan. It is determined whether to identify environmental information points.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2015Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Louis J. Bailey, Ryan D. Hale
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Patent number: 10003919Abstract: A method and system of establishing a fence network is provided. The fence network comprises a plurality of fence nodes in communication with each other and a plurality of fence vertices defining a geographic fence. The method comprises configuring the plurality of fence nodes, setting up a coordinate system to determine a position of each fence node of the plurality of fence nodes, and, for each fence vertex, setting a location marker at a position of the fence vertex and using the location marker to register the position of the fence vertex. At least one fence vertex may be located at a position other than a position of a fence node. The plurality of fence vertices may be registered in sequential order and connected in order of registration.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2015Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenneth L. Stanwood, David Gell, Erik Colban
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Patent number: 9959771Abstract: Weather data is used to create and/or update a flight plan prior to and/or during flight by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The weather data may be received using sensors onboard the UAV and/or the weather data may be received from other sources, such as weather aggregators, other UAVs, other vehicles, and/or local weather stations. In some embodiments, a UAV may be prematurely grounded after initiating flight toward a destination in response to some weather conditions identified in near real-time weather data, such as heavy winds and/or heavy precipitation. In various embodiments, the UAVs may leverage air stream information included in the weather data to cause flight along with an air stream, and thereby reduce power resources used to fly to a destination.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2015Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Ty Loren Carlson
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Patent number: 9921066Abstract: A system for analyzing the use of a mobile resource, such as a vehicle, includes a central processing unit adapted to receive a plurality of geographic locations and create an optimal travel route between the geographic locations, and an analyzer device incorporating global positioning satellite (GPS) technology being positionable with a mobile resource for comparing an actual route traveled by the mobile resource with the optimal travel route created by the central processing unit. The central processing unit includes mobile resource management software stored therein adapted to use pre-selected criteria for creating the optimal travel route. The pre-selected criteria may include time, distance, cost, load parameters, territory, and customer requirements.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2016Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Telogis, Inc.Inventor: Steven T. Brown
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Patent number: 9858823Abstract: An interactive record keeping system includes a display system, a user input device, an input-output interface and a controller. The controller is configured to receive user input data indicative of a user display preference and a known waypoint location from the user input device, receive aircraft data indicative of a current aircraft operating parameter and receive environmental data indicative of a current environmental condition, both correlating with the known waypoint location. The controller is further configured to calculate an aircraft performance parameter based on the received aircraft data; generate display data based on the calculated aircraft performance parameter, the received environmental data, and the user display preference; provide the display data to the display system; and store the calculated aircraft performance parameter and the environmental data in a memory.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2015Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Lynn, Shimon Weichbrod
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Patent number: 9828087Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying ground effect ceiling limit values associated with an operation of a mobile platform on a display are provided. The method includes receiving a preference for the display of the ground effect ceiling limit values, and determining a gross weight of the mobile platform. The method includes based on the preference, determining, with a processor, an air temperature associated with the operation of the mobile platform. The method also includes based on the gross weight and the air temperature, determining with the processor, an in ground effect limit value and an out of ground effect limit value. The method includes displaying the determined in ground effect limit value and the determined out of ground effect limit value on the display.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2016Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Sriram PR, Pushpa Basavapura Veerabhadra Reddy, Shashidhara Veerabhadraiah, Subash Samuthirapandian, Swetha Balasa
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Patent number: 9779630Abstract: This method for computing a conjugated airport navigation graph, from an initial airport navigation graph, is implemented by a computer. This method involves acquiring the initial graph including a plurality of navigation arcs, each including two end nodes, having at least one authorized navigation direction and being identified by its two end nodes. This method further involves determining a conjugated node for each navigation arc and for each authorized navigation direction of the arc, each conjugated node corresponding to a single authorized direction and representing the arc of the initial graph associated with the authorized direction. The conjugated graph is computed by connecting the conjugated nodes as a function of the connections between the arcs of the initial graph and the authorized directions. Two conjugated nodes connect to one another corresponding to two successive arcs of the initial graph and to a same authorized direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2015Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: ThalesInventors: Rémy Auletto, Johann Dreo
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Patent number: 9741254Abstract: The method of the present invention comprises acquiring input data of both aircraft performance characteristics and atmospheric data, and defining trajectory parameters to which the aircraft trajectory must be subjected, the method further comprising defining aircraft trajectory parameters; acquiring a plurality of atmospheric forecast ensembles; calculating a predicted trajectory from each atmospheric forecast of an atmospheric forecast ensemble, said predicted trajectory having associated information regarding a certain figure of merit of the aircraft trajectory, wherein an ensemble of predicted trajectories is obtained from each atmospheric forecast ensemble, each predicted trajectory of the ensemble of predicted trajectories having an associated probability derived from the probability of each atmospheric forecast within an atmospheric forecast ensemble; the system of the present disclosure comprising all the necessary equipment to carry out the method of the present disclosure.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2014Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Francisco Navarro, Ernesto Hernandez Valls, Miguel Vilaplana, Piero Chessa, Carlos Querejeta Massaveu
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Patent number: 9728090Abstract: The management system plots the route to be flown in a flight plan, at least partially, by a chaining of published navigation procedures accessible from a NavDB navigation database and constituted of sequences of waypoints and/or turn points associated with specific flight constraints. It comprises a mirror memory storing the latest versions of the published navigation procedures, modified by the crew of the aircraft during the progress of the flight plan and means of substituting these latest versions stored in the mirror memory for the published versions of the navigation procedures during a change in the route predicted in the flight plan obtained by a new chaining of navigation procedures, some of which are taken from the preceding chaining. This makes it possible, during a change of navigation procedure, to take account of specific flight constraints already entered during the progress of the flight but not appearing in the published navigation procedures.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2006Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: THALESInventors: Elias Bitar, Stephane Leriche, Christophe Caillaud
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Patent number: 9715832Abstract: A navigation aid method for an aircraft flying a reference trajectory between a point of departure and a point of arrival subject to a field of wind vectors comprises: decomposing the reference trajectory into a plurality of discrete waypoints Pi, loading meteorological data comprising the field of wind vectors, iterating the following steps N times, to generate an improved trajectory: for each waypoint Pi named current point, determining a reference plane, determining an orthonormal reference frame, determining a wind curl ((?W)Pi), determining a sign of the projection of the wind curl on axis zi ((?W)zi Pi), determining a direction of displacement from the current point Pi to a new current waypoint Pi?, determining a line of displacement, determining a displacement distance, determining the new current waypoint, determining a new trajectory, assigning the new waypoints Pi? determined in the preceding iteration to the waypoints Pi for the next iteration.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2016Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: ThalesInventors: Christophe Pierre, Rémy Auletto, Benoit Dacre-Wright
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Patent number: 9437107Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for to creating an avoidance zone spatially proximate a venue, where the avoidance zone is created based upon identifying road segments where increased traffic congestion is expected due to an event at the venue. Information pertaining to the avoidance zone, such as a description of road segments to avoid and/or expected travel delays, may be provided to a route planner configured to develop vehicle routes. In this way, the route planner can take into consideration the impact of events on one or more road segments when planning a route.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: Inrix, Inc.Inventors: Christopher L. Scofield, Mark Daymond
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Patent number: 9424542Abstract: A system for communicating between a commercial aircraft and the base of the airline that chartered the same when the aircraft is itself located on the ground during the flight preparation phases and before unloading the commercial freight or passengers. A method implements such a communication system by the commercial flight staff and/or the aircraft captain to prepare a flight and the commercial freight unloading phase.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2009Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: AIRBUS CORPORATIONInventors: Frederic Saugnac, Valerie Renauldon-Dumain
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Patent number: 9349296Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing dynamic information. Routing data for a vehicle is integrated with weather data for an area to generate contextual weather information. The contextual weather information is presented with respect to a predetermined route of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2011Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Thorsten Wiesemann, Theo Hankers, Cindy Dorfmann, Andreas Sindlinger