Multi-dimensional route optimizer
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsRobert L. Schultz, Donald A. Shaner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method of optimizing a multi-dimensional route, such as an aircraft flight path, using a lateral path optimizer and a vertical path optimizer. The lateral path is determined by searching for a path among nodes that minimizes a cost function. The vertical path is determined by reference to pre-determined data generated as a function of aircraft parameters and wind speed. The optimized route is filtered as it is being generated. The optimized route is not limited by pre-determined waypoints.
Claims76
A method of determining a route between an origin and a destination comprising:
- beginning at the origin, determining multiple feasible segments from the origin to a node at the end of each feasible segment wherein at least one segment is not directed toward the destination;
- iteratively determining further segments from the nodes to create multiple segment paths between the origin and the destination;
- and
- determining the segment path between the origin and destination having the least cost.
A method of selecting a flight path from an origin to a destination, the method comprising:
- defining a plurality of nodes in a lateral plane, wherein the plurality of nodes comprises the origin and destination;
- generating a plurality of possible lateral flight paths from the origin to the destination, wherein the plurality of possible lateral flight paths comprise segments, further wherein each of the segments connects two of the plurality of nodes;
- generating an optimized lateral flight path, wherein the optimized lateral flight path is one flight path of the plurality of possible lateral flight paths that satisfies a desired optimization criteria, further wherein the desired optimization criteria comprises at least one criteria selected from the group consisting of wind-optimization, region avoidance, over-flight fee minimization and required time of arrival;
- and
- filtering the optimized lateral flight path while it is being generated.
A computer-implemented method of selecting an optimized flight path from an origin location to a destination location, such that the selected flight path satisfies specified optimization criteria, the method comprising:
- defining a grid that encompasses the location of origin and the location of destination, wherein the grid comprises a plurality of nodes of which the origin and destination are nodes therein;
- generating a lateral flight path by selecting a set of nodes, such that the selected set of nodes satisfies the optimization criteria;
- generating a vertical flight path within the grid as a function of wind speed, weight of an aircraft operated on the flight path and a cost index;
- adjusting the lateral flight path while generating the lateral flight path to reduce the length of the lateral flight path;
- and
- selecting the adjusted lateral flight path and the vertical flight path as the flight path.
A flight path optimizing system for selecting an optimal flight path, that satisfies specified criteria, from an origin location to a destination location, the system comprising:
- a location database, wherein the contents of the location database corresponds to locations of origin and destination;
- a data file, wherein the contents of the data file comprises data corresponding to the location database and the contents of the data file corresponds to data selected from the group consisting of atmospheric data, wind field data, restricted airspace data and over-flight fee data;
- a vehicle model file, wherein the contents of the vehicle model file corresponds to data representative of fuel flow rates and vehicle performance;
- a lateral path solver, wherein the lateral path solver includes programming to cause the system to search a lateral region for a lateral path that satisfies the specified criteria;
- a vertical path solver, wherein the vertical path solver includes stored data representative of fuel flow rate, altitude and vehicle speed as a function of vehicle weight, wind speed and cost index;
- and
- a display member to display the lateral path and vertical path.
A method of determining a route, comprising:
- receiving an origin node;
- receiving a destination node, the destination node located a distance from the origin node;
- creating a grid comprising the origin node, the destination node, and a plurality of en route nodes;
- determining the cost to transition to the destination node and each of the plurality of en route nodes including transitions to nodes not directed toward the destination node;
- and
- selecting a subset of nodes from the plurality of en route nodes, the subset of nodes having the least total cost to transition from the origin node to the destination node.
A method of determining a route, comprising:
- receiving an origin node;
- receiving a destination node, the destination node remote from the origin node;
- selecting a plurality of intermediate nodes;
- each of the plurality of intermediate nodes remote from the origin node and the destination node, and each of the plurality of nodes lying on one or more non directed routes between the origin node and the destination node;
- determining a transition cost for each of the plurality of intermediate nodes and the destination node;
- and
- selecting a route from the one or more routes, the route selected having the lowest transition cost.
A method of selecting a lateral route, comprising:
- receiving an origin node;
- receiving a destination node, the destination node remote from the origin node;
- defining a plurality of paths, each path originating at the origin node and terminating at the destination node and traversing one or more intermediate nodes, wherein at least a portion of the non directed path is not directed toward the destination;
- determining the cost associated with traversing each of the plurality of paths;
- and
- selecting the path that satisfies a predetermined cost function.
A method of determining a route between an origin and a destination for a vehicle taking into account variables as it moves along the route, the method comprising:
- establishing a plurality of nodes in a grid encompassing the origin and destination;
- beginning at the origin node, determining costs of moving the vehicle to multiple nodes in a non directed manner proximate to the origin node;
- from each of the multiple nodes, determining transition costs of moving to further multiple nodes as a function of the variables;
- and
- repeatedly determining further costs from the nodes to create multiple routes between the origin and the destination.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.