The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 02, 2003
Filed:
Jul. 20, 2001
Greg T. Stayton, Glendale, AZ (US);
Kathryn W. Ybarra, Surprise, AZ (US);
James R. Troxel, Glendale, AZ (US);
Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems, LLC, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Abstract
A formation collision avoidance system includes a Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) having a passive mode and an active mode. The passive mode enables several members of an aircraft formation to fly without actively interrogating using TCAS while only one or few formation members are actively interrogating. Formation members in passive mode maintain awareness of current air and ground traffic conditions using networked surveillance information provided over a communications link between formation members in active mode and formation members in passive mode. The networked surveillance information includes positional and intent information of current air/ground traffic obtained from ADS-B broadcasts and replies to the actively interrogating members of the formation. The communications link utilizes Station Keeping Equipment (SKE) already existing on certain aircraft.