Rockwell Collins, Inc.

Other

Douglas A Bell

Sarah Barber

James H Doty

Patrick Dennis McCusker

Travis S VanDerKamp

Felix B Turcios

Brent James Nelson

Michael J Schmitt

Richard D Jinkins

Timothy J Etherington

Michael James Krenz

Patrick Y Hwang

Vladislav Gavrilets

Matthew J Carrico

Gary A McGraw

Charles Bradford Dirks

Thomas M Scanlon

Bradley R Mickelson

Lori J Sipper

Madhu S Niraula

Curtis W Talbott

Kimm M Epperson

Paul J Ronan

Stephen M Kleckner

Jason M Vanderhorn

Stephen W Howard

Carlo A Tiana

A flight phase stability indicator system and method for generating and presenting stability indicator(s) are disclosed. A processor receives flight phase data representative of an identification of a current operational flight phase; receives navigation data comprised of aircraft position, a planned flight trajectory, and runway data if runway data is needed for the current operational flight phase; determines stability data representative of a stability of the current operational flight phase based upon at least the navigation data; generates presentation data responsive to the determination and representative of the flight phase stability indicator and/or presentation(s) of flight phase stability; and presents the indicator represented in the presentation data on or through a presentation unit comprised of a visual display, aural advisory unit, and/or tactile advisory unit.

Flight phase stability indicator system and method

A system and related method for validating satellite-based navigation data determines an estimated altitude or position solution based on GPS altitude or position data adjusted with inertial altitude or position data integrated with barometric altitude data corrected for air temperature and latitude. The system may include a vertical monitor for validating the GPS altitude data by comparing the weighted, limited, and integrated estimated altitude solution to the GPS altitude data. The integrated altitude solution may compensate for vertical speed offset. The system may provide secondary altitude monitoring by comparing radar altimeter data to local object data to verify obstacle clearance height. The system may include a lateral monitor for validating GPS lateral position data based on weighting and limiting of altitude sources controlled by a height above threshold estimate from the vertical monitor. Validity information may be presented to the pilot or autopilot.

System and method for validating GPS altitude for low visibility approaches

Systems and methods for symbolically representing text-based obstacle data on an electronic map are disclosed. In embodiments, a system includes a receiver in communication with a remote server. The receiver is configured to receive one or more textual communications from the remote server. The system further includes an aircraft display system with a display and a controller. The controller is in communication with the display, the receiver, and a memory. The controller is configured to generate an electronic map at the display based on map data retrieved from the memory, wherein the map data includes geographic information and predetermined obstacle information. The controller is further configured to receive the one or more textual communications from the receiver and update the electronic map to include one or more symbolic representations based on obstacle data derived from the one or more textual communications.

System for symbolically representing text-based obstacle data on an electronic map

Systems and methods for navigation of a vehicle use a processing system. The systems and methods can allow an aircraft to take-off in low visibility conditions. The processing system includes a cross tracker, an error processor and an error estimator. The cross tracker is configured to determine a cross track deviation using a hybrid positon and runway heading data. The error processor is configured to determine the hybrid positon from inertial reference system data and corrected error data, and the error estimator is configured to provide the corrected error data using estimates derived from delta range data from a global navigation satellite system receiver.

Guidance system and method for low visibility takeoff

Systems and methods for navigating an aircraft display with a mobile device are disclosed. In embodiments, a system includes an aircraft display and a controller in communication with the aircraft display and a mobile device. The controller is configured to generate a graphical user interface at the aircraft display and mirror the graphical user interface at the mobile device. The controller is further configured to receive a user input via the mobile device and configured to update the graphical user interface at the aircraft display and the mobile device based upon the user input.

System for navigating an aircraft display with a mobile device

A system may include a display, an avionics server, and an automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) receiver implemented in an aircraft. The avionics server may include a processor configured to host applications. The ADS-B receiver may be configured to receive ADS-B In data associated with traffic information from other aircraft in a vicinity of the aircraft. Execution of the applications may be configured to cause the processor to: generate geo-referenced aeronautical chart graphics data; output the geo-referenced aeronautical chart graphics data to the display; receive the ADS-B In data from the ADS-B receiver; generate geo-referenced traffic graphics data based on the received ADS-B In data; and output the geo-referenced traffic graphics data to the display. The display may be configured to receive the geo-referenced aeronautical chart graphics data and the geo-referenced traffic graphics data and display an image of a selected aeronautical chart overlaid with the traffic information.

Display of traffic overlaid on aeronautical chart

A system, device, and method for generating an RNP-scaled waypoint symbology presentable to a pilot are disclosed. The symbology generating system may include a source of source of navigation data, a symbology generator (SG), and a presentation system. The SG may be configured to acquire navigation data representative of one or more distance measurements of an area navigation system or a required navigation performance system; and generate presentation data as a function of each distance measurement. The presentation data could be representative of waypoint symbology presentable to a viewer. In some embodiments, the waypoint symbology may be comprised of a two-dimensional object or a three-dimensional object having a plurality of shapes centered on a reference line, where a size of a first shape may be scaled to a first distance measurement, and a size of a second shape may be scaled to a second distance measurement.

RNP-scaled waypoint symbology generating system, device, and method

Present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for generating geographic position are disclosed. A processor receives navigation data representative of geographic position from an external source such as a global positioning system ('GPS'); receives navigation data representative of measurements of angular and linear motions from an internal source of navigation data such as an inertial measurement unit ('IMU'); and determines and generates navigation data representative of geographic position responsive to such determination. The generation of navigation data could be based upon internal source navigation data and an estimate of error of geographic position, where the estimate of error is based upon a delay of the external-sourced navigation data and a delayed output from one of the internal sources (e.g., delayed output of an IMU).

Delayed-based geographic position data generation system, device, and method

A present novel and non-trivial system and methods for generating and presenting glide path information are disclosed. A symbology generator may be configured to receive first data representative of a desired glide path ('DGP'); receive second data representative of first glide path deviation or third data representative of at least aircraft position; determine second glide path deviation as a function of the DGP and the aircraft position if the second data is not received; and generate symbology data as a function of the DGP and the first glide path deviation or second glide path deviation, where the symbology data is representative of a glide path angle reference cue comprised of a desired glide path deviation indicator. The desired glide path deviation indicator may be comprised of a single geometric symbol or a pattern of a plurality of geometric symbols.

Glide path information generating and presenting device and methods

Present novel and non-trivial systems and methods for combining image data received from two or more vision systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, an image generator receives navigation data representative of at least one surface of interest (e.g., runway of intended landing) and aircraft position, retrieves navigation reference data representative of surface information, creates zone data representative of a lighting awareness zone for each surface of interest, receives first image data from a first source and second image data from a second source, identifies third image data from the first image data and the zone data, generates fourth image data from the second and third image data, and provides the fourth image data to a display system, thereby increasing situational awareness by enhancing the pilot's ability to detect or recognize the runway environment.

Image data combining systems and methods of multiple vision systems

Present novel and non-trivial systems and methods for validating navigation data are disclosed. A processor receives navigation data from an external source such as a global positioning system ('GPS'); receives navigation data from a second source comprised of multiple sources; determines the validity of the GPS navigation data; and alerts the pilot if validity of the data falls outside a limit. In an embodiment related to lateral information (i.e., geographic position) data, the second navigation data is comprised of both GPS data and data provided from an internal source. In an embodiment related to altitude information data, the second navigation data is comprised of both GPS data and data provided by multiple internal sources.

Navigation data validation systems and methods

Present novel and non-trivial system, device and method for generating visual aid image data are disclosed. In one embodiment, an image generator receives navigation data representative of at least one surface of interest (e.g., runway of intended landing) and aircraft position; retrieves navigation reference data representative of surface information; creates zone data representative of a lighting awareness zone for each surface of interest; receives first image data from a first source; and generates second image data as a function of the first image data and the zone data, thereby generating a visual aid to increase situational awareness of a pilot by enhancing his or her ability to detect or recognize the runway environment as presented by an enhanced image. In an additional embodiment, the image generator receives and includes third image data in the function for generating the second data.

Visual aid generating system, device, and method

Present novel and non-trivial systems and methods for validating single-channel tactical flight data in a multi-channel architecture are disclosed. Three single-channel monitors are disclosed along with a fourth, external monitor that is accessible to the multiple channels. A system could be comprised of a navigation data source, two or more communications channels, and an external display unit ('DU'), where each channel may be comprised of a flight management system ('FMS'), a DU, and a flight director (&#x201c;FD&#x201d;) system. In addition to the FMS performing two standard functions of calculating a lateral deviation (&#x201c;LDEV&#x201d;) and a roll command (&#x201c;Roll Cmd&#x201d;), a second LDEV/Roll Command calculator and a Roll Command Calculator are employed in DU and FD of same channel, respectively, to determine data validity. In addition, the FD and the symbologies of LDEV and Roll Cmd generated by the DU are also employed in the determination of data validity.

Tactical flight data validating systems and methods for a multi-channel topological architecture

The present examples provide circuits, systems, processes, and the like for providing precision course guidance, typically for improved positive course guidance below published minimum descent altitude or decision altitude, including just in time calculations of obstacle free flight paths. The calculated flight path may be presented in the context of a synthetic scene of the environment surrounding the aircraft. To provide precision course guidance, exemplary avionics systems, processes and the like, as described below may be utilized.

System supporting flight operations under instrument meteorological conditions using precision course guidance

Present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for generating altitude data and/or height data are disclosed. A processor receives navigation data from an external source such as a global positioning system ('GPS'); receives navigation data from multiple internal sources; receives object data representative of terrain or surface feature elevation; determines an instant measurement of aircraft altitude as a function of these inputs; and generates aircraft altitude data responsive to such determination. In an additional embodiment, the processor receives reference point data representative of the elevation of the stationary reference point (e.g., a landing threshold point); determines an instant measurement of aircraft height as a function of this input and the instant measurement of aircraft altitude; and generates aircraft height data responsive to such determination.

Growing community of inventors

Marion, IA, United States of America

Douglas A Bell