US 5,153,836 A · Universal dynamic navigation, surveillance, emergency location, and collision avoidance system and method

Abstract

A craft tracking and collision avoidance system is disclosed. The system allows the positions of a plurality of craft, either on land, sea, or air, or space, to be monitored. Each craft determines its own position using an existing position determining system such as LORAN or GPS. Each craft then transmits a radio frequency signal into which position information, preferably identifying information, and other messages, have been encoded. Each craft broadcasts its position, identifying information and other messages on a regular basis without the need for any interrogation signal. The broadcast position and identification information can be received by other craft and, since each craft has determined its own position, can be used to determine the proximity and identity of other craft, and if the craft are on a collision course. Preferably, the position of all the craft within a predetermined range of a craft is represented on a display in order to give the craft operator a visual indication of traffic surrounding his craft.

Claims79

Dependent claims

A method for announcing the position of a first aircraft at a first position, the first position being within airspace containing a plurality of other aircraft, to a receiver located at a second position not farther than a predetermined range from the first position, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) determining on board the first aircraft the position of the first aircraft relative to a fixed reference;
(b) encoding an identification code, the presence or absence of any current operating communication radio frequency and the position of the first aircraft so that the identification code, the presence or absence of current operating communication radio frequency and the position of the first aircraft can be carried by a first radio frequency signal;
(c) avoiding conflicts with any radio frequency signals present in the airspace which conflict with the first radio frequency signal;
(d) transmitting from the first aircraft the first radio frequency signal carrying the identification code, the presence or absence of any current operating communication radio frequency and the position of the first aircraft;
(e) receiving the first radio frequency signal transmitted from the first aircraft at the second position;
(f) decoding the identification code, the current operating communication radio frequency if any, and the position of the first aircraft from the first radio frequency signal;
and
(g) monitoring on a visual display the identification code, the current operating communication radio frequency if any, and the position of the first aircraft within the airspace at the second position so that the position of the first aircraft within the airspace is known relative to the fixed reference, and so that communication can potentially be undertaken with the specifically identified aircraft.

5 more elements

A method of tracking the position of a first craft by monitoring receiver at a second craft, the first craft and the monitoring receiver being within a predetermined range of each other, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) determining, internally to the first craft using an external automated navigational system, the first craft's position in at least one plane of space;
(b) encoding for the first craft an identification code, the presence or absence of any current communication radio frequency and the first craft's position, all in a form which can be carried by a first radio frequency signal;
(c) determining when the first radio frequency signal should be transmitted;
(d) transmitting the first radio frequency signal;
(e) receiving the first radio frequency signal at the monitoring receiver of the second craft;
(f) decoding at the monitoring receiver of the second craft the first craft's identification code, any current communication radio frequency and the position from the first radio frequency signal;
(g) displaying the identification code, any current communication radio frequency and the position of the first craft at the monitoring receiver of the second craft;
and
(h) repeating steps (a) through (g).

6 more elements

A method of tracking the position of a first craft from on board a second craft, the first and second craft being within a predetermined range of each other, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) determining on board the first craft using an existing automated navigational system the first craft's position in at least two perpendicular planes of space which are of interest to the second craft;
(b) encoding for the first craft its identification code and the presence or absence of a current operating communication radio frequency on which voice contact can be initiated to the first craft, and encoding the first craft's position, all in a form which can be carried by a first radio frequency signal;
(c) determining whether the first radio frequency signal will conflict with any other radio frequency signals;
(d) transmitting the first radio frequency signal;
(e) receiving the first radio frequency signal at the second craft;
(f) decoding and displaying the first craft's identification code, current operating communication radio frequency if any and the first craft's position, all from the first radio frequency signal, such that the first craft can potentially be contacted by voice communication;
(g) apprising the operator of the second craft when the position of the first craft is within an advisory range;
and
(h) repeating steps (a) through (g).

6 more elements

A method of avoiding collisions between a first craft having a first identification code and at least a second craft having a second identification code, the first and second crafts coming within a predetermined range of each other, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) determining, on board to the first craft and using an existing automated navigational system, the first craft's position in at least one plane in space which is of interest to the second craft to avoid a collision with the first craft;
(b) encoding the first craft's position, identification code and the presence or absence of any current operating communication radio frequency on which voice contact with the first craft can be established, all to be carried by a first radio frequency signal;
(c) listening for any radio frequency signals present on the same frequency allocation as the first radio frequency signal;
(d) transmitting the first radio frequency signal carrying the first craft's position, identification code and the presence or absence of any current communication radio frequency on which voice contact with the first craft can be established;
(e) receiving the first radio frequency signal at the second craft;
(f) decoding from the first radio frequency the first craft's position, identification code and current communication radio frequency, if any, on which voice contact with the first craft can be established;
(g) determining the second craft's position, on board the second craft by using said existing automated navigational system, and in at least one dimension of space, which is of interest to the operator of the second craft, to avoid a collision with the first craft;
(h) displaying, on board the second craft, the position, identification code and current communication radio frequency, if any, on which voice contact to the first craft can be established, and displaying the location of the second craft so that the operator of the second craft is apprised of the location of the both the first craft and the second craft so as to avoid a collision therebetween;
and
(i) repeating steps (a) through (h). 232

7 more elements

An apparatus for announcing the position of a first aircraft at a first position within airspace containing a plurality of other aircraft, to a receiver located at a second position within a predetermined range of the first aircraft, the first aircraft being within operational range of an existing navigational system which can provide position information in at least two planes of interest, the apparatus comprising:

means for making an on board determination of the position of the first aircraft using the existing navigational system;
means for encoding the position of the first aircraft, and any identification code and the presence or absence of any current communication radio frequency on which voice contact to the first aircraft can be made, into information which can be carried by a first radio frequency signal;
means for detecting the presence of any conflicting radio frequency signal which would interfere with the first radio frequency signal and determining whether transmission of the first radio frequency should proceed;
means for transmitting the first radio frequency signal from the first aircraft such that the radio frequency signal can be received at the receiver, decoded, and such that the position, identification code and current communication radio frequency, if any, on which voice contact can be made to the first aircraft is displayed.

1 more element

An apparatus for tracking the position of a second craft from on board a first craft, the first and the second craft being within range of an existing navigational system and within a predetermined range of each other, the apparatus comprising:

means, on board the first craft, for receiving a determination of the position of the first craft using the existing navigational system, the position of the first craft being determined in at least two planes of interest to the operator of the second craft;
means for encoding the first craft's position, and any identification code and the presence or absence of any current communication radio frequency on which voice contact to the first craft can be made, in a form which can be carried by a first radio frequency signal;
means for transmitting the first radio frequency signal;
means for receiving a second radio frequency signal carrying the second craft's position an identification code for the second craft and the presence or absence of any current communication radio frequency on which the second craft can contacted by voice;
means for decoding the second craft's position, identification code and current communication radio frequency, if any, from the second radio frequency signal;
means for displaying, on board the first craft, the second craft's position, identification code and current communication radio frequency, if any, decoded from the second radio frequency signal so that the operator of the first craft is apprised of the position, identification code and current communication radio frequency, if any, of the second craft.

3 more elements

An apparatus for avoiding collisions between a first craft having a first identification code and at least a second craft having a second identification code, the first craft being within range of an existing navigational system and the first and the second craft being within a predetermined range of each other, the apparatus comprising:

means for determining, on board the first craft and using the existing navigational system, the first craft's position in at least one plane in space which is of interest to the second craft to avoid a collision with the first craft;
means for encoding the first craft's position, the first identification code and the presence or absence of any current communication radio frequency on which the first craft can be contacted by voice, such that the encoded information is carried by a first radio frequency signal;
means for detecting the presence of any conflicting radio frequency signal and determining whether transmission of the first radio frequency should proceed;
means for transmitting the first radio signal;
means for receiving, on board the first craft, a second radio frequency signal transmitted from the second craft, the second radio frequency signal carrying the position of the second craft, the second identification code and the presence or absence of any current communication radio frequency on which the second craft can be contacted by voice;
means for decoding, on board the first craft, the second craft's position, the second identification code and the presence or absence of any current communication radio frequency on which the second craft can be contacted by voice;
means for simultaneously displaying the first craft's position and the second craft's position on board the first craft so that the operator of the first craft is apprised of the position of the second craft, the second identification code and the presence or absence of any current communication radio frequency on which the second craft can be contacted by voice so as to avoid a collision therebetween.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Universal dynamic navigation, surveillance, emergency location, and collision avoidance system and method

Life of this patent

Universal dynamic navigation, surveillance, emergency location, and collision avoidance system and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims79