# US 9,434,479 B2 · Aircraft tire and runway interface friction map consolidation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,434,479 B2 - Document ID: US9434479B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/084,298 - Filed: 2013-11-19 - Published: 2015-05-21 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-11-19 - Assignees: Goodrich Corporation - Applicants: Goodrich Corporation - Inventors: Richard Paul Metzger, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9434479B2 ## CPC - B64D 45/00: Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for - B60T 8/1703: {for aircrafts} - B60T 8/172: Determining control parameters used in the regulation, e.g. by calculations involving measured or detected parameters {(B60T8/17551 takes precedence)} - B64C 25/426: {Braking devices providing an automatic sequence of braking} - G01N 19/02: Measuring coefficient of friction between materials {(testing of tyres G01M17/02; determinations of friction coefficient used in vehicle braking or traction control systems B60T8/172)} - G08G 5/21: located onboard the aircraft - G08G 5/25: Transmission of traffic-related information between aircraft - G08G 5/51: for control when on the ground, e.g. taxiing or rolling - B60T 2210/12: Friction - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - B60T: VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL (electrodynamic brake systems for vehicle, in general B60L; brakes per se, i.e. devices where braking effect occurs, including ultimate brake actuators, F16D); ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93}) ## Abstract In various embodiments, a method associating received coefficient of friction data to runway friction estimation map elements. Also, the method may include aggregating the received determined coefficient of friction data into a friction estimation map. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a tangible, non-transitory memory communicating with a central processor configured to aggregate coefficient of friction data, the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the central processor, cause the central processor to perform operations comprising: receiving, by the central processor, determined coefficient of friction data for a first series of locations along a runway from a first aircraft of a plurality of aircraft; associating, by the central processor, the coefficient of friction data to runway friction estimation map elements; receiving, by the central processor, determined coefficient of friction data for a second series of locations along the runway from a second aircraft of the plurality of aircraft; and aggregating, by the central processor, the received determined coefficient of friction data for the first series of locations along the runway from the first aircraft and the coefficient of friction data for the second series of locations along the runway from the second aircraft into a friction estimation map for the runway; and performing, by the central processor, temporal calculations to form the friction estimation map, wherein the temporal calculations comprise weighting current data heavier than not current data for overlapping runway friction estimation map elements and updating the not current data with the current data for the overlapping runway friction estimation map elements to reflect a condition change on the runway over time. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising performing, by the central processor, spatial calculations to form the friction estimation map. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the spatial calculations comprise extrapolating a wheel position from a first aircraft position based on at least one of an aircraft type and a geometric setup of landing gear of the first aircraft. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the spatial calculations comprise estimating unknown runway friction estimation map elements based on nearest neighbor known runway friction estimation map elements. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the central processor, environmental data related to the condition change on the runway. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the condition change reflected by the weighting comprises at least one of a decrease or an increase in air temperature. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the decrease in air temperature reflects the presence of at least one of ice, snow, or water on the runway. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the increase in air temperature reflects at least one of melting of ice, melting of snow, or evaporation of water from the runway. ### Claim 9 A method comprising: receiving, by a computing device comprising a central processor and a tangible, non-transitory memory, coefficient of friction data of a first series of locations along a runway from a first aircraft; receiving, by the central processor, coefficient of friction data for a second series of locations along the runway from a second aircraft; associating, by the central processor, the coefficient of friction data to runway friction estimation map elements; aggregating, by the central processor, the received determined coefficient of friction data for the first series of locations along the runway from the first aircraft and the determined coefficient of friction data for the second series of locations along the runway from the second aircraft into a friction estimation map for the runway; and performing, by the central processor, temporal calculations to form the friction estimation map, wherein the temporal calculations comprise weighting current data heavier than not current data for overlapping runway friction estimation map elements and updating the not current data with the current data for the overlapping runway friction estimation map elements to reflect a condition change on the runway over time. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising performing, by the central processor, spatial calculations to form the friction estimation map. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the spatial calculations comprise extrapolating a wheel position from a first aircraft position based on at least one of an aircraft type and a geometric setup of landing gear of the first aircraft. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the spatial calculations comprise estimating unknown runway friction estimation map elements based on nearest neighbor known runway friction estimation map elements. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein a length of an individual friction element is substantially equal to a product of a period corresponding to a fastest antiskid cycling frequency and an equivalent translational wheel speed, and a width of the individual friction element is substantially equal to a width of an aircraft wheel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving, by the central processor, environmental data related to the condition change on the runway. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting, by the central processor, the friction estimation map for the runway to a third aircraft for exploitation. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising associating a time stamp with at least one of the received coefficient of friction data for the first series of locations along the runway from the first aircraft and the received coefficient of friction data for the second series of locations along the runway from the second aircraft. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the condition change reflected by the weighting comprises at least one of a decrease or an increase in air temperature around the runway. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the decrease in air temperature reflects the presence of at least one of ice, snow, or water on the runway. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the increase in air temperature reflects at least one of melting of ice, melting of snow, or evaporation of water from the runway.