System and method for simplified aircraft brake distance estimation
AssigneeHydro-Aire, Inc., Subsidiary of Crane Co.
InventorAndrew Brett Slatkin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A braking system and method utilizing a simplified estimate of a distance between two locations on the earth based on spherical geometry. A braking system utilizing the aforementioned simplified estimate does not require computationally intensive calculations and is more efficient and better equipped to handle real-time generation of distance estimates for braking needs and variable conditions. In the present invention, geodesics evaluations are not used; rather, a modified Haversine formula that simplifies computations is used, including a one-time computation of the cosine of latitude coordinate.
Claims23
A braking system for reducing a speed of an aircraft on a runway, comprising:
- a processor including a memory for storing a program to calculate braking parameters;
- a braking actuator responsive to commands from the processor;
- and
- an aircraft navigation system adapted to provide current aircraft position data and position data for a selected location on said runway to the processor;
- wherein the processor uses a Haversine formula small angle simplification to estimate the distance between a current aircraft position and the selected location on said runway;
- and
- wherein the processor commands the braking actuator to reduce the speed of the aircraft based on the estimate of the distance between the current aircraft position and the selected location on said runway.
A method for adjusting instantaneous deceleration of an aircraft to minimize an occupancy of an aircraft on a runway, comprising:
- obtaining a current aircraft position after touchdown using geodetic data;
- generating a deceleration profile for the aircraft to travel from touchdown to a selected location on said runway with a selected exit taxi speed;
- determining a distance from a current aircraft location to a selected location on said runway from the geodetic data using a Haversine formula small angle derivation for a distance estimation;
- generating a deceleration profile using the distance estimation and current aircraft speed and current aircraft position;
- and
- commanding a brake actuator to decelerate the aircraft based on the generated deceleration profile.
A braking system for reducing a speed of an aircraft on a runway, comprising:
- a processor including a memory for storing a program to calculate braking parameters;
- a braking actuator responsive to commands from the processor;
- and
- an aircraft navigation system adapted to provide current aircraft position data and position data for a selected location on said runway to the processor;
- wherein the processor uses a Haversine formula small angle simplification to estimate the distance between a current aircraft position and the selected location on said runway;
- and
- wherein the processor generates a deceleration profile and issues a warning signal if there is potential for the aircraft to overrun the selected location based on the deceleration profile.
A method for adjusting instantaneous deceleration of an aircraft to minimize an occupancy of an aircraft on a runway, comprising:
- obtaining a current aircraft position after touchdown using geodetic data;
- generating a deceleration profile for the aircraft to travel from touchdown to a selected location on said runway with a selected exit taxi speed;
- determining a distance from a current aircraft location to a selected location on said runway from the geodetic data using a Haversine formula small angle derivation for a distance estimation;
- generating a deceleration profile using the distance estimation and current aircraft speed and current aircraft position;
- and
- generating a deceleration profile and issuing a warning signal to a cockpit of the aircraft if there is potential for the aircraft to overrun the selected location on the runway.
A braking system for reducing a speed of an aircraft, comprising:
- a processor including a memory for storing a program to calculate braking parameters;
- a braking actuator responsive to commands from the processor;
- and
- an aircraft navigation system adapted to provide current aircraft position data and position data for a selected location on said runway to the processor;
- wherein the processor uses a Haversine formula small angle simplification to estimate the distance between a current aircraft position and the selected location on said runway;
- and
- wherein the processor commands the braking actuator to initiate maximum braking force when the processor determines that the aircraft will overrun the selected location on said runway.
A method for reducing a speed of an aircraft, comprising:
- providing a processor including memory for storing a program for calculating braking parameters;
- providing a braking actuator responsive to commands from the processor;
- incorporating an aircraft navigation system that provides current aircraft position data and position data for a selected location on a runway to the processor;
- using a Haversine formula small angle simplification to estimate a distance between the current aircraft position and the selected location on the runway;
- and
- commanding the braking actuator to initiate maximum a braking force when the processor determines that the aircraft will overrun the selected location on the runway.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.