Method and apparatus for developing a flight path
AssigneeSpatial Information Systems Research Limited
InventorsTroy Bruggemann, Jason Ford
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of developing a flight path for precision flying over an area of interest, the method including, in an electronic processing device, determining coordinate and elevation data relating to an area of interest, using the coordinate and elevation data to determine a flight path including precision paths corresponding to precision flying trajectories and non-precision paths interconnecting at least some of the precision paths, and generating path data at least partially indicative of the flight path, the path data being useable in generating control signals for at least partially controlling operation of the aircraft, in use.
Claims19
A method of developing a flight path for precision flying over an area of interest, the method including, in an electronic processing device:
- a) determining coordinate and elevation data relating to an area of interest;
- b) using the coordinate and elevation data to determine a flight path including:
- i) precision paths corresponding to precision flying trajectories;
- and,
- ii) non-precision paths interconnecting at least some of the precision paths, wherein the method includes:
- (1) iteratively determining a plurality of best candidate flight paths by:
- (a) determining a plurality of candidate precision path sets;
- (b) for each candidate precision path set, determining a candidate flight path;
- and,
- (c) selecting a best candidate flight path from the candidate flight paths;
- (2) selecting one of the plurality of best candidate flight paths as a best flight path;
- and,
- c) generating path data at least partially indicative of the best flight path, the path data being useable in generating control signals for at least partially controlling operation of the aircraft, in use.
Apparatus for developing a flight path for precision flying over an area of interest, the apparatus including an electronic processing device that:
- a) determines coordinate and elevation data relating to an area of interest;
- b) uses the coordinate and elevation data to determine a flight path including:
- i) precision paths corresponding to precision flying trajectories;
- and,
- ii) non-precision paths interconnecting at least some of the precision paths, wherein the method includes:
- (1) iteratively determining a plurality of best candidate flight paths by:
- (a) determining a plurality of candidate precision path sets;
- (b) for each candidate precision path set, determining a candidate flight path, and,
- (c) selecting a best candidate flight path from the candidate flight paths;
- (2) selecting one of the plurality of best candidate flight paths as a best flight path;
- and,
- c) generates path data at least partially indicative of the best flight path, the path data being useable in generating control signals for at least partially controlling operation of the aircraft, in use.
A method of developing a flight path for precision flying over an area of interest, the method including, in an electronic processing device:
- a) determining a flight path by optimising a combination of precision paths corresponding to precision flying trajectories and non-precision paths interconnecting at least some of the precision paths by:
- i) iteratively determining a plurality of best candidate flight paths by:
- (1) determining a plurality of candidate precision path sets;
- (2) for each candidate precision path set, determining a candidate flight path;
- and,
- (3) selecting a best candidate flight path from the candidate flight paths;
- ii) selecting one of the plurality of best candidate flight paths as a best flight path;
- and,
- b) generating path data at least partially indicative of the best flight path, the path data being useable in generating control signals for at least partially controlling operation of the aircraft, in use.
Apparatus for developing a flight path for precision flying over an area of interest, the apparatus including an electronic processing device that:
- a) determines a flight path by optimising a combination of precision paths corresponding to precision flying trajectories and non-precision paths interconnecting at least some of the precision paths by:
- i) iteratively determining a plurality of best candidate flight paths by:
- (1) determining a plurality of candidate precision path sets,
- (2) for each candidate precision path set, determining a candidate flight path;
- and,
- (3) selecting a best candidate flight path from the candidate flight paths;
- ii) selecting one of the plurality of best candidate flight paths as a best flight path;
- and,
- b) generates path data at least partially indicative of the best flight path, the path data being useable in generating control signals for at least partially controlling operation of the aircraft, in use.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.