Aircraft collision avoidance method and device

Abstract

A broadcast device (10) for wirelessly broadcasting information pertaining to a first aircraft (1) comprises a positioning device (11) configured to determine a position (PI) of the broadcast device (10). The position comprises a latitude, a longitude, and an altitude. A control unit (12) of the broadcast device (10) is configured to receive this position (PI) via an internal bus. Further, the broadcast devices (10) maintains a list of maximum supported foreign protocol versions (VER2_MAX, VER3 MAX) of nearby foreign broadcast devices (20, 30). The control unit (12) then determines a packet protocol version (VER1) of a data packet (D1) which is dynamically depending on these maximum supported foreign protocol versions (VER2_MAX, VER3_MAX). The data packet (D1) is then broadcasted by means of a radio transmitter (13) of the broadcast device (10). Thus, even older foreign broadcast devices can understand at least some of the broadcasted data packets (D1). This way, an efficient but compatible collision avoidance system for aircraft can be implemented. Further, protocol updates are facilitated.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.