Safran Electronics & Defense

Sagem Defense Securite

St Engineering Aerospace Ltd.

Julien Farjon

Nicolas Cadalen

Philippe Tranie

Mikaël Diaz

Ng Kwee Chye

Eric Walter

Alexandre Guyamier

Christophe Guettier

Loïc Fougeres

Hoon Ta Huang Jackson

A method for piloting a pre-existing aircraft comprising the following steps:

Method for piloting an aircraft

An acquisition and analysis device to be integrated in a pre-existing aircraft that includes original systems comprising pilot controls and also an autopilot system includes acquisition means arranged to acquire parameters produced by the original systems, and analysis means arranged on the basis of the parameters, to evaluate whether the pre-existing aircraft is normal or abnormal, and to evaluate the current stage of flight of the pre-existing aircraft, on the basis of the state of the pre-existing aircraft and of the current stage of flight of the pre-existing aircraft, to define a piloting setpoint selected from piloting setpoints comprising at least a manual piloting setpoint produced by a pilot actuating pilot controls, an autopilot setpoint produced by the autopilot system, and an alternative piloting setpoint, and to cause the selected piloting setpoint to be transmitted to the original systems of the pre-existing aircraft.

Acquisition and analysis device intended for integration into a pre-existing aircraft

An alternative piloting system arranged to be integrated in a pre-existing aircraft that includes original systems having flight control and autopilot systems. The autopilot system includes a piloting device independent of the original systems, having a positioning unit arranged to produce positioning data relating to the aircraft, and a control unit arranged to produce an alternative piloting setpoint for the aircraft; an acquisition and analysis device, including acquisition device arranged to acquire data produced by the original systems, positioning data and alternative piloting setpoint as produced by the piloting device, and decision device arranged to decide whether the alternative piloting setpoint should or should not be used for piloting the aircraft; and an interface device arranged to control the flight control system on the basis of the alternative piloting setpoint when the decision device of the acquisition and analysis device decide that said alternative piloting setpoint should be used for piloting the aircraft.

Alternative piloting system for integrating in a pre-existing aircraft

A piloting device arranged to be integrated in a pre-existing aircraft that includes original systems comprising both a flight control system and an autopilot system is distinct from and autonomous relative to the original systems and includes a positioning unit and a control unit. The positioning unit is arranged to produce positioning data for the pre-existing aircraft. The control unit is arranged to perform a geofencing function from the positioning data produced by the positioning unit and to produce an alternative piloting setpoint for the pre-existing aircraft. The alternative piloting setpoint is adapted to supplement both a manual piloting setpoint produced by a pilot of the pre-existing aircraft via the flight control system and also an autopilot setpoint produced by the autopilot system.

Piloting device designed to be integrated into a preexisting aircraft

The invention relates to a method for guiding an aircraft along a reference path, said method comprising: a) when the altitude of the aircraft is greater than a threshold, estimating (E) a relative location of the aircraft in relation to a taxiing starting point using a map of the platform and reference points on the ground, b) when the altitude of the aircraft is less than said threshold and before the aircraft is located at the taxiing starting point, estimating (E) a relative location of the aircraft in relation to the taxiing starting point using data relating to the absolute location of the aircraft and the last relative location estimated at step a), c) when the aircraft is located at the taxiing starting point, guiding (E) the aircraft on the basis of a location of the aircraft relative to the reference path as estimated using data relating to a set of indicators on the ground.

Method for guiding an aircraft

A method of navigation of an aerial drone in the presence of at least one intruding aircraft in an airspace zone surrounding the drone, wherein an estimated distance between the drone and the intruding aircraft is calculated based on a strength of the signal received and validated if an estimated value of an element of positioning data calculated by the drone using the estimated distance substantially corresponds to a measured value of the element of positioning data. An aerial drone designed for implementation of this method.

Method for navigating an aerial drone in the presence of an intruding aircraft, and drone for implementing said method

The guiding method such as described correctly guides an aircraft on a platform of an airport, even in complex taxiing areas.

A method enabling an aerial drone not having a TCAS system to avoid an intruder aircraft, the method including the steps of acquiring the position of the intruder aircraft in order to determine the distance between the aerial drone and the intruder aircraft, measuring the angular speed of the intruder aircraft in a horizontal plane, and determining whether the intruder aircraft is fitted with a TCAS system, and, if so, receiving a resolution advisory transmitted by the TCAS of the intruder aircraft and following a previously-determined avoidance path. The invention also provides a drone fitted with a system implementing the method.

Growing community of inventors

Boulogne Billancourt, France

Julien Farjon