Ground collision avoidance system (iGCAS)

摘要

The present invention is a system and method for aircraft ground collision avoidance (iGCAS) comprising a modular array of software, including a sense own state module configured to gather data to compute trajectory, a sense terrain module including a digital terrain map (DTM) and map manger routine to store and retrieve terrain elevations, a predict collision threat module configured to generate an elevation profile corresponding to the terrain under the trajectory computed by said sense own state module, a predict avoidance trajectory module configured to simulate avoidance maneuvers ahead of the aircraft, a determine need to avoid module configured to determine which avoidance maneuver should be used, when it should be initiated, and when it should be terminated, a notify Module configured to display each maneuver's viability to the pilot by a colored GUI, a pilot controls module configured to turn the system on and off, and an avoid module configured to define how an aircraft will perform avoidance maneuvers through 3-dimensional space.

主权项

1. A computerized ground collision avoidance system (iGCAS) comprising a computer processor including a transitory computer-readable storage device and a non-transitory computer-readable storage device storing a plurality of software modules including:
a sense own state module configured to gather data to compute trajectory; a sense terrain module including a digital terrain map (DTM) and map manger routine to store and retrieve terrain elevations; a predict avoidance trajectory module configured to simulate avoidance maneuvers ahead of a flight path by computing one or more avoidance trajectories; a predict collision threat module configured to generate one or more elevation profiles, each one of said one or more elevation profiles corresponding to terrain under each of said one or more avoidance trajectories computed by said predict avoidance trajectory module; a determine need to avoid module configured to determine which of said one or more avoidance trajectories should be used, when it should be initiated, and when it should be terminated by comparing said one or more avoidance trajectories and said corresponding one of said one or more elevation profiles from said predict avoidance trajectory and predict collision threat modules; a notify module configured to display the viability of each one of said one or more avoidance trajectories to the pilot and, when needed, to direct the pilot through the avoidance trajectory by a colored GUI; a pilot controls module configured to turn the system on and off as well as configure the system personal protection and warning needs; an avoid module configured to define how an aircraft will perform avoidance trajectories through 3-dimensional space.