Aircraft terrain closure warning system with descent rate based envelope modification
AssigneeSundstrand Data Control, Inc.
InventorMichael M. Grove
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A ground proximity warning system especially adapted for a tactical aircraft provides the pilot with a warning in the event that the closure rate is excessive for the altitude above ground at which the aircraft is flying. The descent rate of the aircraft is monitored and used to bias the closure rate warning signal to reduce nuisance warnings when the excessive closure rate is part of an intentional maneuver such as a dive during a tactical mission.
Claims26
A ground proximity warning system for a tactical aircraft comprising:
- means responsive to a signal representative of the altitude of the aircraft above ground and to a signal representative of the terrain closure rate of the aircraft for generating a closure rate warning when the terrain closure rate is excessive according to a predetermined relationship for the altitude at which the aircraft is flying;
- means responsive to the descent rate of the aircraft for providing a signal representative of the descent rate of the aircraft;
- and
- means responsive to said descent rate signal for reducing the possibility of nuisance closure rate warnings by altering said predetermined relationship as a function of the descent rate to increase the closure rate at which a warning is given as the descent rate increases.
A ground proximity warning system as recited in claim 26 wherein A is 2000.
A ground proximity warning system for a tactical aircraft comprising:
- means for receiving altitude signals representative of the altitude of the aircraft above ground;
- means for receiving a descent rate signal representative of the descent rate of the aircraft;
- means for providing a terrain closure rate signal representative of the terrain closure rate of the aircraft;
- means responsive to the altitude signal receiving means and to the terrain closure rate signal providing means for generating a warning if the terrain closure rate is excessive according to a predetermined relationship for the altitude at which the aircraft is flying;
- means responsive to said descent rate signal receiving means for reducing the possibility of generating nuisance warnings by altering said predetermined relationship as a predetermined function of the descent rate of the aircraft, wherein said predetermined relationship is altered to make the terrain closure rate generating means less responsive to closure rate when the aircraft is descending;
- and wherein said means for reducing the possibility of generating nuisance warnings includes means for altering said predetermined relationship as a first function of the descent rate when landing gear of the aircraft is retracted and as a second function of the descent rate when a landing gear of the aircraft is retracted and as a second function of the descent rate when the landing gear is extended and wherein said first function is operative to alter said peedetermined relationship at a greater rate than said second function.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.