专利汇可以提供Vertical path profile generating system, device, and method专利检索,专利查询,专利分析的服务。并且Present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for generating a vertical path profile are disclosed. The vertical path profile generating system is comprised of a source of navigation data, a source of performance factors data, a vertical path generator (“VPG”) and a presentation system. The VPG may be configured to receive the navigation data representative of takeoff runway information; receive the performance data may be representative of aircraft performance factors; determine a first vertical path and/or second vertical path as a function of criteria employing the navigation data and the performance data; generate presentation data responsive to the determination; and provide the presentation data to one or more presentation devices comprised of, in part, a visual display unit configured to display a first takeoff path profile and/or a second takeoff path profile.,下面是Vertical path profile generating system, device, and method专利的具体信息内容。
What is claimed is:
Field of the Invention
This invention pertains generally to the field of aircraft display units that present information to the pilot of an aircraft.
Description of the Related Art
Aviation governing authorities such as the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) of the Unites States have developed constraints on aircraft climb performance. In the United States, the FAA has published these constraints in Part 25 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. Constraints on aircraft climb performance include minimum climb gradients with one or more engines inoperative during a plurality of take-off (“T/O”) segments along with defined aircraft configurations corresponding to the T/O: a ground roll segment, a first segment defining first climb performance criteria, a second segment defining second climb performance criteria, a third segment defining acceleration criteria, and a fourth segment defining third climb performance criteria.
The FAA defines minimum climb gradients in terms of percentages. Although minimum climb gradients are specified as percentages by regulation, pilots often use rates of climb (e.g., feet per minute) or climbs speeds. Manufacturers of aircraft translate minimum climb gradients into tables showing T/O distances as functions of aircraft performance factors such as, for example, temperature, altitude, and weight. By knowing the current temperature at the airport, altitude of the airport, and weight of the aircraft, a pilot may look up various T/O distances during his or her preflight duties and determine whether the aircraft is safe for T/O. Although these duties are routine, mistakes could be made by the pilot.
The embodiments disclosed herein present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for generating a vertical path profile that is presentable to a pilot. The vertical path profile could be used to enhance situational awareness of a pilot by informing him or her whether takeoff or climb limitations exist for one or more segments of a takeoff path.
In one aspect, embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed to a system for generating a vertical path profile. The system may include a source of navigation data, a source of performance data, a vertical path generator (“VPG”), and a presentation system. In some embodiments, the presentation system may include a visual display unit, an aural advisory unit, and/or a tactile advisory unit.
In another aspect, embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed to a device for generating a vertical path profile. The device may include the VPG and may be configured (or programmed) to perform a method of generating a vertical path profile presentable to a viewer.
In a further aspect, embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed to a method for generating a vertical path profile. When properly configured, the VPG may retrieve navigation data, receive performance data, determine a first vertical path as a function of first design criteria, and generate presentation data responsive to the determination. The navigation data may be representative of takeoff runway information, and the performance data may be representative of aircraft performance factors, where the first design criteria could employ both the takeoff runway information and the aircraft performance factors in the determination of the first vertical path. The VPG may further determine a second vertical path as a function of second design criteria employing the navigation data and the aircraft performance data. The VPG may be further configured to provide the presentation data to the presentation system for a subsequent presentation of visual, aural, and/or tactile information and/or stimuli from which the pilot may be informed and made aware of the situation of the aircraft for takeoff and climb.
In the following description, several specific details are presented to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or in combination with other components, etc. In other instances, well-known implementations or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of various embodiments of the invention.
The navigation data source 110 could include any source(s) which provides navigation data information in an aircraft. The navigation data source 110 may include, but is not limited to, an air/data system, an attitude heading reference system, an inertial guidance system (or inertial reference system), and a global navigation satellite system (or satellite navigation system), all of which are known to those skilled in the art. The navigation data source 110 could provide navigation data including, but not limited to, geographic position, altitude, heading, attitude, ground speed, air speed, and/or time. Aircraft position may be comprised of geographic position (e.g., latitude and longitude coordinates) and altitude, and ground track may be derived from either geographic position, aircraft position, or both. Aircraft orientation may be comprised of pitch, roll, and/or yaw information related to the attitude of the aircraft.
The navigation data source 110 could further include a flight management system (“FMS”) which could perform a variety of functions to help the crew in the management of the flight. These functions could include receiving a flight plan (i.e., planned trajectory) and constructing a lateral and vertical flight plan (i.e., planned lateral and vertical trajectories) from the flight plan. The flight plan could be comprised of a series of waypoints, where each waypoint could include an altitude constraint associated with it. A pilot could create a flight plan by entering waypoints stored in a database or select a flight plan stored in a database of the FMS. In some embodiments, the flight plan could be received and loaded into the FMS automatically through a data link system.
In the performance of its many functions, the FMS could compute a variety of distances and/or surface lengths. Further, distances and/or lengths could be computed by the pilot and entered into the FMS in some embodiments. The FMS may perform a variety of functions to help the crew in the management of the flight. In the performance of its many functions, the FMS may receive navigation data from the navigation data source 110 such as those discussed above.
It should be noted that, in some embodiments for any source or system in an aircraft including the navigation data source 110, data could be comprised of any analog or digital signal, either discrete or continuous, which could contain information or be indicative of information. In some embodiments, aircraft could mean any vehicle which is able to fly through the air or atmosphere including, but not limited to, lighter than air vehicles and heavier than air vehicles, wherein the latter may include manned or unmanned fixed-wing and rotary-wing vehicles.
Typically, an FMS is comprised of a navigation database that stores data associated with a flight plan such as, but not limited to, published instrument approach procedures, ground-based navigational aids, waypoints, holding patterns, airways, airports, heliports, instrument departure procedures, instrument arrival procedures, runways, precision approach aids, company routes, airport communications, localizer and airway markers, special use airspace, airport sector altitudes, enroute airways restrictions, enroute communications, preferred routes, controlled airspace, geographical references, arrival and/or departure flight planning, path point records, and global navigation satellite system landing systems. With respect to runway data, non-exhaustive list of runway information such as the location and elevation of a runway's landing threshold point, runway length, and runway width may be stored. The navigation database employed by the FMS could be a database described in the following document published by Aeronautical Radio, Incorporated (“ARINC”): ARINC Specification 424 entitled “Navigations Systems Data Base” (“ARINC 424”), an aviation industry standard known to those skilled in the art and which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Those skilled in the art appreciate that aviation standards may be changed with future amendments or revisions, that additional content may be incorporated in future revisions, and/or that other standards related to the subject matter may be adopted. The embodiments disclosed herein are applicable to such future aviation standards changes and/or adoptions.
The performance factors source 120 could be comprised of any source or combination of sources that could provide aircraft performance factors which may be employed to define aircraft performance and determine a plurality of vertical paths and/or vertical path profiles as discussed herein. For example, the performance factors source 120 could be comprised of one or more aircraft systems or components thereof. The performance factors source 120 could include real-time system or sensor data, signal input from a plurality of aircraft systems or sensors, and information from any database or source. Detailed discussions of the aircraft performance factors and the employment thereof have been disclosed (and discussed as input factors) by Wichgers et al in U.S. Pat. No. 8,234,020 entitled “System and Methods for Generating Alert Signals in a Terrain Awareness Warning System” and by Young et al in U.S. Pat. No. 8,234,068 entitled “System, Module, and Method for Constructing a Flight Path used by an Avionics System,” both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In some embodiments, the performance factors source 120 could be configured to provide aircraft performance factors data to the VPG 130 for subsequent processing as discussed herein.
The VPG 130 may be comprised of any electronic data processing unit which executes software or computer instruction code that could be stored, permanently or temporarily, in a digital memory storage device or a non-transitory computer-readable media including, but not limited to, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), compact disc (CD), hard disk drive, diskette, solid-state memory, Personal Computer Memory Card International Association card (PCMCIA card), secure digital cards, and compact flash cards. The VPG 130 may be driven by the execution of software or computer instruction code containing algorithms developed for the specific functions embodied herein. The VPG 130 may be an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) customized for the embodiments disclosed herein. Common examples of electronic data processing units are microprocessors, Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), Programmable Gate Arrays (PGAs), and signal generators; however, for the embodiments herein, the term “processor” is not limited to such processing units and its meaning is not intended to be construed narrowly. For instance, the VPG 130 could also consist of more than one electronic data processing unit. In some embodiments, the VPG 130 could be a processor(s) used by or in conjunction with any other system of the aircraft including, but not limited to, the navigation data source 110, the performance factors source 120, and the presentation system 140.
In some embodiments, the terms “programmed” and “configured” are synonymous. The VPG 130 may be electronically coupled to systems and/or sources to facilitate the receipt of input data. In some embodiments, operatively coupled may be considered as interchangeable with electronically coupled. It is not necessary that a direct connection be made; instead, such receipt of input data and the providing of output data could be provided through a data bus, through a wireless network, or as a signal received and/or transmitted by the VPG 130 via a physical or a virtual computer port. The VPG 130 may be programmed or configured to execute the method discussed in detail below. The VPG 130 may be programmed or configured to provide output data to various systems and/or units including, but not limited to, the presentation system 140.
The presentation system 140 could be comprised of any unit of which visual, aural, and/or tactile indications may be presented to the pilot including, but not limited to, a visual display unit(s) 142, an aural advisory unit 144, and/or a tactile advisory unit 146. The visual display unit 142 could be comprised of any unit of which information may be presented visually to the pilot. The visual display unit 142 could be part of an Electronic Flight Information System (“EFIS”) and could be comprised of, but is not limited to, a Primary Flight Display (“PFD”), Navigation Display (“ND”), Head-Up Display (“HUD”), Head-Down Display (“HDD”), Multi-Purpose Control Display Unit, Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System, Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor, Multi-Function Display, Side Displays, Electronic Flight Bags, Portable Electronic Devices (e.g., laptops, smartphones, tablets, and/or user-wearable devices such as head mounted devices).
The visual display unit 142 could be capable of projecting and/or presenting a vertical path profile(s) together with a horizontal axis and a vertical axis as disclosed below. In addition, visual advisories may be presented graphically and/or textually with each attainable T/O path profile segment as disclosed below. Generally, advisory information may include alerts and/or non-alert(s). Alerts may be based on level of threat or conditions requiring immediate crew awareness or attention. Caution alerts may be alerts requiring immediate crew awareness in which subsequent corrective action will normally be necessary. Warning alerts may be alerts requiring immediate crew action. In some embodiments, both caution and warning alerts may be presented in combination with or simultaneous to aural advisories and/or tactile advisories. Non-alerts may be any other information not requiring immediate crew attention or awareness. Alerts may be presented visually by depicting one or more colors and may be presented on a display unit indicating one or more levels of threat. For the purpose of illustration and not limitation, amber or yellow may indicate a caution alert, red may indicate a warning alert, and green or cyan may indicate a non-alert.
The aural advisory unit 144 may be any unit capable of producing aural advisories. Aural advisories may be discrete sounds, tones, and/or verbal statements used to annunciate a condition, situation, or event. Examples of aural advisories are provided below. In some embodiments, both aural advisories could be presented in combination with or simultaneous to visual alerts and/or tactile advisories.
The tactile advisory unit 146 may be any unit capable of producing tactile advisories. Tactile advisories may be any tactile stimulus to present a condition, situation, or event to the pilot such as, but not limited to, a warning alert and/or a caution alert. Examples of tactile stimuli include a “stick shaker” and a vibrating seat (e.g., a pilot's seat outfitted with a vibrating device). Moreover, tactile advisories could be presented in combination with or simultaneous to visual alerts and/or aural advisories. In some embodiments, one or more units of the presentation system 140 may receive presentation data provided by VPG 130.
The visual display unit 142 may be configured to present one or more display(s) or image(s). In some embodiments, the terms “display” and “image” are interchangeable and treated synonymously. Referring now to
For the purpose of illustration and not of limitation,
Referring to
Referring to
The plurality of flight segments may be comprised of climb and acceleration segments. The first segment could be comprised of a climb segment in which the aircraft becomes airborne (at VLOF) until it reaches a height of 35 feet and accelerates from VLOF to a takeoff safety speed V2. Depending on the engine configuration, a predefined, numerical minimum climb gradient may have to be met as shown in the table of
The second segment could be comprised of a climb segment in which the aircraft may be expected to climb at a steady V2 in between the height of 35 feet and a height of 400 feet. Predefined, numerical minimum climb gradients for the second segment are shown in the table along with segment configurations for landing gear, flaps, and engine power.
The third segment could be comprised of an acceleration segment in which the aircraft may be expected to accelerate from V2 to a final segment speed VFS (or 1.25 times a minimum steady flight speed at which the aircraft is controllable VS). Segment configurations for landing gear, flaps, and engine power for the third segment are shown in the table.
The fourth segment could be comprised of a climb segment in which the aircraft may be expected to climb at a steady VFS in between the height of 400 feet and a height of 1,500 feet. Predefined, numerical minimum climb gradients for the fourth segment are shown in the table along with segment configurations for landing gear, flaps, and engine power.
Some advantages and benefits of embodiments discussed herein are shown in
Distance d0m could be an initial point on the takeoff surface (e.g., beginning of a T/O runway) at which the aircraft starts the T/O path. Alternatively, distance d0m could be the initial point from which the aircraft starts the T/O path so that it places the AGD at the end of an available T/O surface (e.g., the end of a T/O runway). Applying existing or real-time aircraft performance factors and the segment conditions for landing gear, flaps, and engine power shown in the table of
Distance d3m could be the estimated total or segment distance at which the aircraft climbs to a height of 400 feet at a minimum, predefined segment climb gradient. Distance d4m could be the estimated total or segment distance at which the aircraft accelerates from V2 to VFS. Distance d5m could be the estimated total or segment distance at which the aircraft climbs to a height of 1,500 feet a minimum, predefined segment climb gradient at VFS.
Referring to
Distance d3a could be the estimated total or segment distance at which the aircraft climbs to a height of 400 feet at an attainable climb gradient while maintaining V2. Distance d4m could be the estimated total or segment distance at which the aircraft accelerates from V2 to VFS. Distance d5m could be the estimated total or segment distance at which the aircraft climbs to a height of 1,500 feet at an attainable climb gradient while maintaining VFS.
Referring to
Additionally, visual advisories may be presented with each attainable T/O path profile segment. Because each segment of the attainable T/O path profile is located at or above a corresponding segment of the minimum T/O path profile, the visual advisory could present a highlighter indicating to the pilot none of the segments have exceeded a limitation. As shown in
Referring to
Because two segments of the attainable T/O path profile are located below a corresponding segment of the minimum T/O path profile, the visual advisory could present a highlighter indicating to the pilot that both of these segments have exceeded a limitation. As shown in
Also, the aural advisory unit could present an announcement commensurate with an unfavorable condition such as “TAKEOFF PATH SEGMENTS—LIMITATIONS EXCEEDED” or “TAKEOFF PATH CLIMB SEGMENTS 1 AND 2—LIMITATIONS EXCEEDED” for
Referring to
As shown in
Also, the aural advisory unit could present an announcement commensurate with an unfavorable condition such as “TAKEOFF PATH SEGMENTS—LIMITATIONS EXCEEDED” or “TAKEOFF FLIGHT PATH SEGMENTS 1, 2, 3, and 4—LIMITATIONS EXCEEDED”. Also, the tactile advisory unit could present a tactile advisory to the pilot.
Although the preceding discussion has been drawn an attainable T/O path resulting from an application of existing or real-time aircraft performance factors along with the segment conditions (or aircraft configuration) shown in the table of
The method of flowchart 300 begins with module 302 with the VPG 130 retrieving of data representative of takeoff runway information from the navigation data source 110. In some embodiments, the source of takeoff runway information data could be comprised of a FMS.
The flowchart 300 continues with module 304 with the VPG 130 receiving of data representative of aircraft performance factors from the performance factors data source 120. In some embodiments, the source of takeoff runway information data could be comprised of a FMS.
The flowchart 300 continues with module 306 with the VPG 130 determining of a first vertical path. The first vertical path may be comprised of a plurality of first segments determined as a function of first design criteria, where the first design criteria may be comprised of a plurality of attainable climb gradients. Also, the first design criteria may be comprised of a plurality of designated speeds, a plurality of designated vertical distances, and a predefined, inoperative engine configuration. The first vertical path could be a path comprised of a plurality of first segments such as the ground roll, first climb, second climb, acceleration, and third climb segments. In some embodiments, the first vertical path may be a first takeoff path comprised of an attainable T/O path using the configuration stated in Table 3 or an attainable T/O path defined by a manufacturer and/or end-user. The first takeoff path may be comprised of a ground roll segment and a plurality of flight segments.
The flowchart 300 continues with an optional module 308 with the VPG 130 determining of a second vertical path. The second vertical path may be comprised of a plurality of second segments (such as such as the ground roll, first climb, second climb, acceleration, and third climb segments) determined as a function of second design criteria, where the second design criteria may be comprised of a plurality of predefined, climb gradients. Similar to the first design criteria, the second design criteria may also be comprised of a plurality of designated speeds, a plurality of designated vertical distances, and a predefined, inoperative engine configuration. In some embodiments, the second vertical path may be a second takeoff path; similar to the first takeoff path, the second takeoff path may be comprised of a ground roll segment and a plurality of flight segments.
In some embodiments, the second design criteria could be modified so that that AGD is located above an accelerate-stop distance available point of a takeoff runway or stopway (if provided), where the accelerate-stop distance available could be the distance of the length of the runway available for a ground roll plus, if provided, the length of a stopway. The location of the T/O path start 224 and/or the location of VLOF may have to be adjusted in the modified second design criteria so that the AGD is located above an accelerate-stop distance available point.
The flowchart 300 continues with an optional module 310 including the VPG 130 determining of whether one or more first segments subject a limitation upon the first vertical path. As discussed above, vertical path limitations may not exist where the first vertical path (e.g., an attainable T/O path) is located at or above the second vertical path (e.g., a minimum T/O path); in other words, first vertical path limitations may exist where the first vertical path is below the second vertical path.
A comparison of the two vertical profiles may be performed to determine the existence or non-existence of a first vertical path limitation. For example, assume that that first vertical path is comprised of the available T/O path and the second vertical path is comprised of the minimum T/O path that has been discussed above. If d2a is greater than d2m, then the first flight segment has subjected the first vertical path into exceeding a limitation. If d3a is greater than d3m, then the second flight segment has subjected the first vertical path into exceeding a limitation. If d4a is greater than d4m, then the third flight segment has subjected the first vertical path into exceeding a limitation. If d5a is greater than d5m, then the fourth flight segment has subjected the first vertical path into exceeding a limitation.
The flowchart 300 continues with module 312 with the VPG 130 generating of presentation data responsive to determinations made in module 306. The presentation data may be representative of a first vertical path profile indicative of the plurality of first segments, where the first vertical path is visually presentable to a viewer. Additionally, the presentation data may be further representative of an aural advisory and/or a tactile advisory.
If optional module 308 is included, the presentation data may be further representative of a second vertical path profile indicative of the plurality of second segments, where the first second path is visually presentable to a viewer. If optional module 310 is included, the presentation data may be further representative of one or more visual advisories responsive to the determination of whether the first vertical path has been subjected to a limitation (as shown in
The flowchart continues with an optional module 314 with the providing of the presentation data to the presentation system 140. The presentation system 140 could be configured to receive the presentation data and present the first and/or second vertical path profiles on a display unit. In some embodiments, the first vertical profile may be presented together with the second vertical profile and presented with horizontal and vertical axes. The horizontal axis could be indicative of a distance-based or time-based scale, and the vertical axis could be indicative of a vertical distance scale. In some embodiments, the presentation system could be comprised of an aural advisory unit and/or a tactile advisory unit. When the presentation data represents an aural advisory and/or a tactile advisory, one or both advisories may be presented via the aural advisory unit and/or the tactile advisory unit. Then, the method of flowchart 300 ends.
It should be noted that the method steps described above may be embodied in computer-readable media stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium as computer instruction code. It shall be appreciated to those skilled in the art that not all method steps described must be performed, nor must they be performed in the order stated.
As used herein, the term “embodiment” means an embodiment that serves to illustrate by way of example but not limitation.
It will be appreciated to those skilled in the art that the preceding examples and embodiments are exemplary and not limiting to the scope of the present invention. It is intended that all modifications, permutations, enhancements, equivalents, and improvements thereto that are apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings are included within the true spirit and scope of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims include all such modifications, permutations, enhancements, equivalents, and improvements falling within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.
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