The Boeing Company

Brian David Gilbert

John Wiedemann

Alireza Majd

Peter D Gunn

Robert James Myers

Sherwin S Chen

Gary Alan Ray

Mark Ivan Nikolic

Paul D Burkhead

Alessandro Edward Galli

Jayson Jean Bowen

Flight deck control panel with display

A method, apparatus, and system for displaying information for an aircraft on a display device in a flight deck of the aircraft. A computer system in the aircraft displays a dynamic home page in a graphical user interface on the display device in the flight deck of the aircraft. The information in the dynamic home page is based on the information used to operate the aircraft during a current phase of flight. The computer system changes the information in the dynamic home page as the current phase of flight changes or non-normal conditions occur during operation of the aircraft.

Graphical user interface in a computer system in an aircraft

An interactive speed profile bar that enables crew awareness of the overall planned flight trajectory speed profile. The speed profile bar will have a graphical depiction (e.g., virtual buttons having alphanumeric symbology) of some or all of the speed segments of the speed profile. Each graphical element (e.g., virtual button) includes symbology identifying the applicable speed mode and corresponding target speed change. Each speed segment will start at the inflection point where the speed change will occur in the flight plan, and will continue until the next trajectory speed change. The speed profile bar will be interactive, allowing the flight crew to select the speed segment to change, in response to which selection the system displays graphical user interface elements showing a menu of the available speed segment options. Each individual speed segment is represented by an individual virtual button that can be selected by touching the screen or other input device.

Vertical situation display with interactive speed profile bar

A method and apparatus for displaying information for an aircraft on display devices in a flight deck of the aircraft. A computer system in the aircraft identifies information used to operate the aircraft. The computer system selects a display configuration from a plurality of display configurations for the display devices. The computer system displays the information in windows on display devices in the flight deck of the aircraft in the display configuration. The display configuration simplifies access to the information used to operate the aircraft.

Flight deck display management

A collision avoidance system comprises a pair of video cameras mounted to a vertical stabilizer of the aircraft, a machine vision processing unit, and a system to inform the pilots of a potential collision. The machine vision processing unit is configured to process image data captured by the video cameras using stereoscopic and structure from motion techniques to detect an obstacle that is near or in the path of the aircraft. Estimates of the range to the object and the rate of change of that range are computed. With the range and range rate, a time to collision can be estimated toward every point of the aircraft. A pilot warning can be sounded based on the nearness of the potential collision. A method of calibrating the video cameras using existing feature points on the top of the aircraft is initiated in response to power being turned on.

Stereo camera system for collision avoidance during aircraft surface operations

A method, apparatus, and system for displaying information for an aircraft on display devices in a flight deck of the aircraft. A computer system in the aircraft identifies information used to operate the aircraft. The computer system selects a display configuration from a plurality of display configurations for the display devices based on a first set of tasks assigned to a pilot for a current flight and a second set of tasks assigned to a copilot for the current flight of the aircraft. The computer system displays the information in windows on display devices in the flight deck of the aircraft in the display configuration. The display configuration simplifies access to the information used by the pilot to perform the first set of tasks and the copilot to perform the second set of tasks.

Flight deck display management system

A device operational control system is configured to control operation of a device. The device operational control system includes a motion sensor that is configured to detect motion. The motion sensor is configured to output a motion signal indicative of the motion. An operational control unit is communicatively coupled to the motion sensor. The operational control unit is configured to receive the motion signal from the motion sensor and control at least one operational aspect of the device based on the motion.

Device operational control systems and methods

A system and method for controlling a display on an aircraft. An operator interaction with an edge area of a touch screen is identified by a processor unit when a first format of the display is displayed on the touch screen. The edge area extends along an edge of the touch screen. A second format of the display is displayed on the touch screen by the processor unit in response to identifying the operator interaction with the edge area of the touch screen. The second format of the display is different from the first format of the display.

Growing community of inventors

Kenmore, WA, United States of America

Brian David Gilbert