Rockwell Collins, Inc.

Ellen L McGaughy

Michael James Krenz

Bandi B Reddy

David L Leedom

Stefano Riverso

Collin D Ogden

Bandi Bharat Kumar Reddy

Timothy J Geels

A system and method are provided for selecting features from a digital chart, and entering corresponding flight plan amendments into a flight plan by direct transfer to an FMS. Based on the selection, the system may prompt the user for subsequent selections. Digital charts are generated in dynamically or in real-time according to a set of databases, including the databased used by the FMS. Elements within the databases are characterized so that the flight crew can select which elements are displayed. Features in the digital chart may be made selectable or unselectable based on a filtering process. The filtering process may be based on environmental variables, aircraft capabilities, safety tolerances, etc.

Flight planning through data driven charting

A system may include an aircraft including a processor. The processor may be configured to: receive a lead aircraft assignment instruction, the lead aircraft assignment instruction instructing the aircraft to follow a lead aircraft; determine whether the aircraft is receiving sufficient lead aircraft traffic data from the lead aircraft to record a four-dimensional (4D) track of the lead aircraft; upon a determination that the aircraft is receiving the sufficient lead aircraft traffic data, output an acceptance of the lead aircraft assignment instruction; receive the lead aircraft traffic data from the lead aircraft, the lead aircraft traffic data including information at least one of associated with or of the track of the lead aircraft; record the track of the lead aircraft; and output commands configured to cause (a) the aircraft to follow the recorded track, or (b) guidance content for following the recorded track of the lead aircraft to be presented.

System and method for flying aircraft relative to lead aircraft

A system and method for displaying dynamic time-based ranging over a moving map determines position, heading, and airspeed information of an ownship. Based on the positioning information of the ownship, the moving map projects the ownship forward in time and superimposes on the moving map (which may already include distance-based ranging information) time-based ranging information indicating a projected range of positions of the ownship at future or subsequent times relative to the current time. The displayed time-based ranging indicators may be arcuate in shape but adjusted to account for dynamic factors such as headwinds or tailwinds that may affect the time required for the ownship to reach a target at a given distance.

Time based overlay for positional map displays

A flight management system includes a display for displaying a user interface and a processor coupled with the display and configured to receive flight plan information regarding a flight plan of an aircraft and aircraft status information from an aircraft monitoring system. The processor generates an alert indicating a deviation from the flight plan based on a comparison of the aircraft status information to the flight plan information, and provides the alert on a portion of the user interface displaying information indicative of the aircraft status information. The alert provides one or more user interface controls configured to enable a pilot to interact with the portion of the user interface displaying the information indicative of the aircraft status information to at least one of view additional information regarding the difference between the status information and the flight plan information and modify the flight plan of the aircraft.

Flight management system and flight plan alert integration systems and methods

A system and related method for enhancing situational awareness by providing, via a vertical situation display (VSD), real time feedback to the pilot when the vertical path (VPATH) of the aircraft diverges or deviates from its desired trajectory. The VSD may display the divergent trajectory to the pilot as well as advise whether the divergence from the desired VPATH can be recovered without exceeding the performance parameters of the aircraft. If the divergence is recoverable, the VSD may display a suggested recovery trajectory and recovery speed associated with reacquiring the desired VPATH based on the performance characteristics of the aircraft.

Enhanced vertical path (VPATH) inhibit logic for vertical situation display (VSD)

An audio sequencing device includes an input circuit, a prioritizing circuit, a playback circuit, and an output circuit. The input circuit is receives a first audio signal from a first audio source and a second audio signal from a second audio source. The prioritizing circuit assigns a first priority to the first audio signal and a second priority to the second audio signal. The playback circuit sequences at least one of the audio signals based on at least one of an order of receiving the audio signals and the assigned priorities. The output circuit transmits the audio signals to a user device one at a time based on the sequence and the assigned priorities of the audio signals.

Growing community of inventors

Cedar Rapids, IA, United States of America

Ellen L McGaughy