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US 9,870,712 B1Granted
Time and spatial based flight selection system and method
AssigneeRockwell Collins, Inc.
InventorShimon Weichbrod
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method may provide a real time alternative flight selection based on threat mitigation along a currently planned path at a specific time. The system and method may receive threat information associated with a specific path and compare the threat information to each leg of the path to determine if a threat may exist during that specific leg. Should a threat exist, the method may propose an alternate estimated time of departure (ETD) to mitigate the future threat. Should the alternate ETD be insufficient to mitigate the threat, the method may further propose an alternate lateral and vertical path at the original or modified ETD to successfully mitigate the threat.
Claims21
A system for alternate threat based path selection, comprising:
- at least one processor;
- a non-transitory processor-readable memory operatively connected with the at least one processor and storing processor-executable code;
- a Flight Management System (FMS) interface operatively connected with the at least one processor and configured for receiving an alternate path selection from the at least one processor and configuring the alternate path selection to be recognizable by a FMS;
- wherein the at least one processor is configured for:
- receiving threat information associated with a planned path at a specific time, the threat information including at least one threat, the at least one threat including a threat time and a threat boundary for the at least one threat;
- receiving the planned path including one or more legs, the planned path from a departure to a destination for a vehicle, each leg of the one or more legs associated with at least two waypoints on the planned path, the planned path further including a planned altitude for each leg, the planned path being part of a filed flight plan which is effective for one half hour prior to planned time of departure and two hours after planned time of departure;
- determining an estimated time of arrival (ETA) for each waypoint of the at least two waypoints of each leg on the planned path;
- comparing the threat time to the ETA, and comparing the threat boundary to each leg of the one or more legs;
- analyzing departure times in five minute increments beginning one half hour prior to planned time of departure and two hours after planned time of departure along with altitudes in one thousand feet increments beginning with 10,000 feet below a cruise altitude through 10,000 feet above the cruise altitude;
- determining at least one alternate path for at least one leg of the one or more legs based on the comparing and analyzing, the at least one alternate path including a same path as the planned path with an alternate ETA outside the threat boundary and the threat time for at least one waypoint of the at least two waypoints of each leg and another same path as the planned path with an alternative altitude outside the threat boundary and the threat time for at least one waypoint of the at least two waypoints of each leg;
- displaying the at least one alternate path to an operator of the vehicle on a display;
- receiving an alternate path selection from the operator;
- and
- transmitting the alternate path selection to the FMS interface.
11 more elements
A method for alternate threat based path selection, comprising:
- receiving threat information within a threat information module, the threat information associated with a planned path at a specific time, the threat information including at least one threat, the at least one threat including a threat time and a threat boundary for the at least one threat, the threat information module associated with:
- at least one processor, a non-transitory processor-readable memory operatively connected with the at least one processor and storing processor-executable code, and a Flight Management System (FMS) interface;
- receiving the planned path for a vehicle including one or more legs, the planned path from a departure to a destination for the vehicle, each leg of the one or more legs associated with at least two waypoints on the planned path, the planned path further including a planned altitude for each leg, the planned path being part of a filed flight plan which is effective for one half hour prior to planned time of departure and two hours after planned time of departure;
- determining an estimated time of arrival (ETA) for each waypoint on the planned path;
- comparing the threat time to the ETA, and comparing the threat boundary to each leg of the one or more legs;
- analyzing departure times in five minute increments beginning one half hour prior to planned time of departure and two hours after planned time of departure along with altitudes in one thousand feet increments beginning with 10,000 feet below a cruise altitude through 10,000 feet above the cruise altitude;
- determining at least one alternate path for at least one leg of the one or more legs based on the comparing and analyzing, the determining via an alternate path selection module, the at least one alternate path including a same path as the planned path with an alternate ETA outside the threat boundary and the threat time for at least one waypoint of the at least two waypoints of each leg and another same path as the planned path with an alternative altitude outside the threat boundary and the threat time for at least one waypoint of the at least two waypoints of each leg;
- displaying the at least one alternate path to an operator of the vehicle on a display;
- receiving an alternate path selection from the operator;
- configuring the alternate path selection to be recognizable by a FMS via the FMS interface;
- and
- transmitting the alternate path selection to a FMS onboard the vehicle.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.