Honeywell International Inc.

Rajesh Chaubey

Dorothee De Villele

Rajeev Mohan

Sharanabasappa Advani

Daniel Eugene Lewis

Richard Snyder

Ravish Udupa

Marek Batelka

Daniel Corbel

Pavel Ptacek

Roopa Niveditha Sundara Kulal

Ratan Khatwa

Srihari Jayathirtha

Ivan Markov

Zdenek Jancik

Chavdar Kirov

Abhishek Gupta

Ramkumar Rajendran

Amit Nishikant Kawalkar

Kiran Mancheiah Venkataramana

Zdenek Moravek

Ivan Lacko

Jim R Rumbo

Mike Jackson

Brian E O'Laughlin

Akshay Sankeshwari

Bhalakrishnan Janardhanan

John Hillier

Chethan N

Ambika Sure

Michael Jackson

Naresh Bandam

Gregory Carlucci

Veeralla Sai V Yashodhar

Ranju Thomas Pulikot

Monika Litvova

Methods and systems are provided for assisting operation of a vehicle to satisfy a downpath energy constraint when a current energy state has deviated from a reference energy state according to a planned route of travel. One method involves identifying an intermediate energy constraint at an intermediate point en route to the downpath waypoint, determining a first segment for satisfying the intermediate energy constraint at the intermediate point from the current energy state using a first configuration, determining a second segment from the intermediate point that satisfies the requested energy constraint at the downpath waypoint using a different configuration, and providing graphical indicia of the recommended path including the first and second segments. The graphical indicia includes a first graphical indication of the first configuration associated with the first segment and a second graphical indication of the second configuration associated with the second segment.

Energy constraint management methods and systems

Methods and systems are provided for guiding or otherwise assisting energy management of an aircraft radar vectoring en route to a runway. A method involves dynamically determining an updated predicted lateral trajectory for the radar vectoring when the current aircraft status fails to satisfy a trajectory execution criterion for a previously-predicted lateral trajectory by iteratively adjusting a runway interception point defining a segment aligned with the runway until arriving at the updated predicted lateral trajectory for which a stabilization criterion for the runway can be satisfied. The method determines a target value for an energy state parameter of the aircraft at a current location on the updated predicted lateral trajectory and provides indication of a recommended action to reduce a difference between a current value for the energy state parameter and the target value.

Dynamic radar vectoring guidance methods and systems

Methods and system for alerting descent with respect to at least one of minimum sector altitude, minimum safe altitude and terrain clearance floor in an aircraft. The methods and systems receive at least one of a minimum sector altitude value, a minimum safe altitude value and a terrain clearance floor value based on a flight plan of the aircraft or a location of the aircraft. A movement trajectory of the aircraft is predicted. The aircraft predicted movement trajectory is evaluated with respect to the at least one of the minimum sector altitude value, the minimum safe altitude value and the terrain clearance floor value. An alert is output when the evaluation predicts convergence of the aircraft predicted movement trajectory and the at least one of the minimum sector altitude value, the minimum safe altitude value and the terrain clearance floor value.

Systems and methods for alerting descent below altitude

A method in an aircraft for energy reduction is disclosed. The method includes: determining a starting point location, altitude and airspeed for a stable approach for landing at a diversion airport; and determining a vertical strategy for achieving the starting point altitude and airspeed by identifying a region of opportunity for adjusting the speed and altitude and identifying a plurality of energy reduction strategies for achieving the starting point altitude and airspeed while in the region of opportunity based on a speed mode during the stable approach. The method further comprises causing a graphic display to be displayed that lists for selection each of the plurality of identified strategies, detailed maneuver information for strategy implementation, and costs for implementing each identified strategy; and causing to be displayed, responsive to flight crew selection, a lateral view and vertical view of a proposed trajectory based on a selected identified strategy.

System and methods enabling aircraft energy dissipation for rapid decision making

Methods and systems are provided for engaging a vertical navigational descent (VNAV/DES) mode of a flight management system (FMS) for an aircraft. The method comprises retrieving a preset vertical navigation (VNAV) profile for a descent path of the aircraft that is stored in the FMS. The current flight path angle (FPA) and vertical speed (VS) of the aircraft is determined and intercept parameters are calculated to intercept the preset VNAV profile with the VNAV/DES mode of the FMS. The intercept parameters are calculated based on the current FPA and VS and displayed to an aircrew member of the aircraft on a visual display device. The aircrew member is allowed to accept the intercept parameters with the VNAV/DES mode of the FMS.

Method and system for engaging a vertical navigation descent mode for an aircraft

A system and methods for enhancing operator situational awareness are disclosed. For example, one method includes monitoring a plurality of radio transmissions associated with a plurality of vehicles in a first traffic flow pattern, monitoring a second traffic flow pattern in a vicinity of a vehicle of the plurality of vehicles, monitoring at least one weather value for a destination site for the plurality of vehicles, proposing a destination approach for the vehicle in response to the monitoring, evaluating an impact of the proposed destination approach on an existing travel path for the vehicle, and generating a second travel path for the vehicle in response to the evaluating.

System and method for enhancing operator situational awareness of traffic diversion patterns and adapting thereto

Methods and systems are provided for assisting operation of a vehicle deviating from a desired manner of operation, such as an aircraft deviating from a planned trajectory. One method involves identifying a current aircraft altitude, identifying a current aircraft configuration, determining a recommended flight path from the current aircraft altitude for satisfying an upcoming constraint associated with a reference descent strategy based at least in part on the current aircraft configuration in response to a deviation between the current aircraft altitude a target altitude according to the reference descent strategy, and providing an output influenced by the recommended flight path. The recommended flight path includes a recommended vertical profile and a recommended speed profile, and the recommended flight path is configured to vary at least one of a kinetic energy or a potential energy of the aircraft along the recommended flight path en route to the upcoming constraint.

Variable energy management methods and systems

A method for providing cost data for a flight is provided. The method (i) obtains cost target data for the flight, under anticipated conditions; (ii) obtains real-time aircraft performance parameters affecting the actual cost of the flight, using continuous monitoring during the flight, including at least aircraft speed modes, aircraft flight level changes, tactical interventions, weather impact, and descent timing deviations; (iii) determines an actual cost of the flight, based on the real-time aircraft performance parameters affecting the actual cost; (iv) identifies flight plan change options associated with a potential cost savings over the actual cost, wherein the flight plan change options comprise potential modifications to the flight plan to complete the flight; (v) presents the flight plan change options; and (vi) adapts operation of one or more avionics systems onboard the aircraft, based on one of the flight plan change options.

Methods and systems for dynamically determining and adapting to cost impact during a flight

Methods and systems are provided for guiding or otherwise assisting energy management of an aircraft radar vectoring en route to a runway. A method involves determining a predicted lateral trajectory for the radar vectoring in accordance with interception criteria, wherein the lateral trajectory comprises a sequence of segments for satisfying the interception criteria from a current location of the aircraft and each navigational segment of the sequence is associated with an anticipated aircraft heading assignment. The method determines a reference vertical trajectory corresponding to the lateral trajectory, determines a target value for an energy state parameter of the aircraft at the current location on the lateral trajectory using the reference vertical trajectory, and provides indication of a recommended action to reduce a difference between a current value for the energy state parameter and the target value.

Radar vectoring energy management guidance methods and systems

An automatic diversion management system on-board an aircraft is provided. The diversion management system is configured to automatically detect a need for the aircraft to divert from a primary airport to a diversion airport; automatically initiate diversion planning to a suitable diversion airport responsive to detecting conditions that can cause a need for diversion; automatically create a diversion flight plan; automatically send a clearance request to air traffic control (ATC) for a first type of conditions causing a need for diversion and send a clearance request to ATC, responsive to flight crew action, for a second type of conditions causing a need for diversion; and automatically activate the diversion flight plan after receipt of ATC clearance for the first type of conditions causing a need for diversion and activate the diversion flight plan, responsive to flight crew action, for the second type of conditions causing a need for diversion.

System and method for enabling automatic diversion management

Systemsandmethods, and non-transitory computer readable mediumsdirected to generating an adaptive glide slope angle and allowing a pilot to interact with the generated glide slope angle are provided. The systemsandmethods, and non-transitory computer readable mediumsretrieve, from a navigation database (NDB), a designated approach procedure for the aircraft, and identify a designated glide slope angle (D_GSA) based thereon. The systemsandmethods, and non-transitory computer readable mediumsreceive sensed actual weather data and sensed aircraft status data and generate an adaptive glide slope angle A_GSA based thereon. The systemsandmethods, and non-transitory computer readable mediumsallow modification of and modify, or prevent modification of, the designated approach procedure with the A_GSA based on the determination of whether or not the A_GSA is compatible with the designated approach procedure.

Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable mediums for dynamic selection of advanced approach procedures

Provided are enhanced flight guidance systems and methods for an aircraft. The method includes recognizing when the aircraft is in manual operation and an active flight path is different than the planned flight path. An interrupt is received and categorized as one of (i) obstacle, (ii) equipment/fuel, or (iii) pilot health monitor. A managed mode begins, including identifying a rejoining leg of the planned flight path at which to rejoin and a location on the rejoining leg at which to rejoin. A recapture path strategy is selected from (i) lateral, (ii) vertical, and (iii) mixed lateral and vertical. A recapture path to the location on the rejoining leg is computed. The computed recapture path includes speed targets and configuration requirements at dedicated points along the recapture path. Aircraft state data along the recapture path is predicted and guidance controls for the aircraft along the recapture path are generated.

Systems and methods for generating a recapture path for an aircraft

Systems and methods directed to evaluating and enabling enhanced glide slope angles are provided. The method includes, in a control module, identifying a designated glide slope angle (D_GSA) based on a designated approach procedure; receiving and processing sensor data and navigation data; and, generating an adaptive glide slope angle (A_GSA) and an associated final capture altitude (FCA) based thereon. The method includes determining whether (a) an altitude constraint applies at the FCA, and determining whether (b) a level segment exists at the FCA. When (a) and (b) are concurrent, the method enables modification of the designated approach procedure with the A_GSA; and, the method prevents modification of the designated approach procedure with the A_GSA when there is no concurrence of (a) and (b).

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Karnataka, India

Rajesh Chaubey