Method and apparatus for fitting global landing systems on aircraft
AssigneeRockwell Collins, Inc.
InventorsDaryl L. McCall, Donald A. Stratton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A global landing system (GLS) for retrofitting an aircraft having ILS systems, as well as autopilot or flight control computers. The GLS using horizontal and vertical guidance control points (GCPs) which are co-extensive with glideslope and localizer antenna locations, and correction lever arms representing the separation of such GCPs with on-board GPS antennas. A method of measuring such lever arm with an additional GPS receiver is also included.
Claims19
An apparatus comprising:
- a first positioning system receiver, on an aircraft for generating positioning system position signals representative of positional characteristics of said aircraft;
- a first positioning system antenna at a first positioning system antenna location on said aircraft;
- a landing system receiver for generating deviation signals representative of a deviation of said aircraft with respect to a predetermined landing system vector;
- a landing system antenna having a phase center at a first landing system antenna location;
- and,
- means for generating enhanced position signals which are representative of a deviation of said first landing system antenna location on said aircraft with respect to said predetermined landing system vector, wherein said enhanced position signals are further representative of said positioning system position signals and a vector representative of a separation characteristic between said first positioning system antenna location and said first landing system antenna location.
A method of providing signals representative of a deviation from a predetermined flight path, comprising the steps of:
- providing a three dimensional geo-referenced positioning system having an antenna at a first location on an aircraft,
- using said positioning system to generate a deviation signal representative of a deviation of a second location on said aircraft with respect to a predetermined flight path.
An apparatus comprising:
- first means for providing a first signal representative of a three dimensional geo-based position of a first location in a frame of reference of an aircraft;
- second means for providing a second signal representative of a three dimensional geo-based position of a second location in said frame of reference of an aircraft;
- means for determining a location separation distance between said first location and said second location;
- means for generating a deviation signal of said second location with respect to a predetermined aircraft flight path vector, wherein said deviation signal is a function of said first signal and said location separation distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.