Rockwell Collins, Inc.

Robert A Armstrong

Kenneth A Zimmerman

Louis J Bailey

John G Wilson

Gary C Bailey

Carlo L Tiana

Robert B Wood

Weston James Lahr

Geoffrey A Shapiro

Timothy R Fannin

Keith A Stover

Gary J Albert

Michael J Oldham

Lance D Walker

A system and method operate to leverage high assurance positioning systems to determine a hybrid deviation from an expected position, altitude, and path to generate a lateral and vertical signal indicating deviation from a desired position. As a filtered or alternative to conventional precision landing systems, the hybrid positioning system receives sensor data from a plurality of sensors and compares the received sensor data to known values to determine a deviation of position and trajectory. Extending the capability of existing auto-land systems, relative-to-runway sensors and/or filtered high assurance hybrid solutions are employed as an alternative to conventional precision landing systems. The sensors provide position data that is compared to an expected position and path to provide deviations in lateral, vertical, and speed augmenting traditional RF-based systems. The result includes a system capability for all weather landing leveraging traditional flight control systems to extend capabilities at all airports.

Guidance deviation derivation from high assurance hybrid position solution system and method

A method for monitoring inactive pixels in a scene imaging system may include determining a location of at least one inactive pixel in a focal plane array. The method may include sensing an environment image based upon a surrounding environment of an aircraft. The method may include generating an image associated with the environment image. The method may include evaluating a location for one or more inactive pixels in the generated image in comparison to a location for the at least one inactive pixel in the focal plane array. The method may include determining whether a fault exists in image generation or image display based upon the evaluation.

System and method for monitoring inactive pixels in a scene imaging system

The embodiments disclosed herein present novel and non-trivial system, module, and method for creating a variable FOV image presented on a HUD combiner unit. A processor receives navigation system data and data associated with eye position. A variable FOV image data set representative of navigation symbology is generated, where the image data set is determined by applying the navigation system and eye position data to an adaptive FOV function, where the function correlates eye position to an FOV image. The image data set is presented to a HUD system where an image represented in the image data set is displayed on a combiner unit, whereby the image FOV correlates to eye position. Furthermore, the processor may receive terrain data and generate a variable FOV image data set inclusive of data representative of a three-dimensional perspective scene outside an aircraft.

System, module, and method for creating a variable FOV image presented on a HUD combiner unit

A head-up display (HUD) is disclosed. The HUD is provided on board an aircraft. The HUD comprises a projector and a combiner. The combiner enables viewing of the world outside of the combiner and also allows viewing of information provided from the projector. A computer is coupled to the projector and provides airport runway and taxiway symbols conformally mapped onto the combiner. Also provided on the combiner is a mapping of hold lines onto the combiner.

Display of hold lines on head-up display

A database defining at least one exclusion zone of airport is described. The database includes a computer-implemented memory configured to store and allow retrieval of a plurality of points, the points defining a boundary of an exclusion zone associated with an airport, the area being prohibited for aircraft travel.

System and method for improved mapping of a location

The present invention is a method and system of aircraft surface operations guidance on a head up display. An aircraft surface operations guidance method includes the following steps. At time t, a taxi guidance cue and a trend vector are displayed on a head up display of an aircraft. The taxi guidance cue represents a desired position of an aircraft control point of the aircraft at time t. The trend vector represents a predicted path of the aircraft control point from time tto time tbased on a state of the aircraft at time t. The trend vector includes a tip representing a predicted position of the aircraft control point at time t. The tip is maintained within the taxi guidance cue so that the aircraft control point may reach the desired position at time t.

Aircraft surface operations guidance on head up display

A head-up display (HUD) is disclosed. The HUD is provided on board an aircraft. The HUD comprises a projector and a combiner. The combiner enables viewing of the world outside of the combiner and also allows viewing of information provided from the projector. A computer is coupled to the projector and provides airport runway and taxiway symbols conformally mapped onto the combiner. Also provided on the combiner is a mapping of virtual airport signs onto the combiner.

Display of airport signs on head-up display

A head-up display (HUD) is disclosed. The HUD is provided on board an aircraft. The HUD comprises a projector and a combiner. The combiner enables viewing of the world outside of the combiner and also allows viewing of information provided from the projector. A computer is coupled to the projector and provides airport runway and taxiway symbols conformally mapped onto the combiner. Also provided on the combiner is a mapping of automatic dependent surveillance broadcast advisory information and traffic onto the combiner.

Display of automatic dependent surveillance (ADS-B) information on head-up display

The speed dependent variable display system for a computer-implemented moving-map vehicle display system includes a data conversion module for converting a vehicle speed input signal to a distance range value; and, an application module for utilizing the distance range value, vehicle position information, vehicle direction of movement information, and input geographical information to provide scaled output geographical information. The scaled output geographical information is utilized to provide a situational awareness display which is optimized in accordance with the vehicle's position, direction of movement and speed. A display apparatus receives the scaled output geographical information to provide an optimized situational awareness display for a moving-map vehicle display system.

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Canby, OR, United States of America

Robert A Armstrong