U.S. patent application number 09/992829 was filed with the patent office on 2002-09-26 for system and method for aircraft and watercraft control and collision prevention.
Invention is credited to Gutierrez, William.
Application Number | 20020138200 09/992829 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26959043 |
Filed Date | 2002-09-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020138200 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gutierrez, William |
September 26, 2002 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AIRCRAFT AND WATERCRAFT CONTROL AND COLLISION
PREVENTION
Abstract
A system for navigation and collision avoidance where aircraft
and vessels determine their position by GPS and report that
position to a system of satellites along with local parameters such
as heading and attitude. This system of satellites allows
communication and exchange of information between all the
satellites. Each participating craft receives from at least one of
these satellites the positions, headings, speed and other
parameters of all craft in the system or of all craft in the
vicinity. A display can display a situation or a view located on
any craft in the system (but normally on the craft where it is
located) to inform o hazards and pending collisions. Icons and
craft information appear for all craft being displayed.
Inventors: |
Gutierrez, William;
(Independence, MO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Clifford Kraft
320 Robin Hill Dr.
Naperville
IL
60540
US
|
Family ID: |
26959043 |
Appl. No.: |
09/992829 |
Filed: |
November 14, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60278327 |
Mar 26, 2001 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
701/301 ; 342/29;
701/469 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08G 5/0013 20130101;
G08G 5/0078 20130101; G08G 5/0069 20130101; G01S 5/0072 20130101;
G01C 21/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
701/301 ; 342/29;
701/213 |
International
Class: |
G01S 001/00; G06G
007/78 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A system for navigation and collision prevention comprising: a
plurality of satellite stations, said satellite stations in
communication with each other; a plurality of craft, each craft
determining its position and velocity by GPS, each craft sending
its position and velocity to at least one of said satellites; said
satellites sending positions and velocities of other craft to said
craft. said satellites sending positions and velocities of other
craft to each other.
2. The system for navigation and collision prevention of claim 1
further comprising each craft sending unique craft identification
to one of said satellites.
3. The system for navigation and collision prevention of claim 2
further comprising each craft receiving unique craft identification
for other craft one of said satellites.
4. The system for navigation and collision prevention of claim 3
further comprising a display onboard said craft for displaying
position and velocity of other craft.
5. The system for navigation and collision prevention of claim 4
wherein said display displays an icon for each craft.
6. The system for navigation and collision prevention of claim 4
wherein said display displays unique identification information for
each craft.
7. The system for navigation and collision prevention of claim 4
further comprising a collision protection envelope around said
craft based on said craft's speed and capabilities, said display
reporting a hazard for any traffic inside said collision protection
envelope.
8. The system for navigation and collision prevention of claim 4
wherein said display displays a national flag symbol for each
craft, said national flag symbol representing a country of
registry.
9. The system for navigation and collision prevention of claim 4
wherein said display displays projected courses of craft.
10. The system for navigation and collision prevention of claim 9
wherein said display displays time to collision warnings.
11. The system for navigation and collision prevention of claim 10
further comprising at least one visual collision alarm.
12. The system for navigation and collision prevention of claim 1
further comprising UHF communication between a craft and at least
one local station, said local station in communication with at
least one of said satellites.
13. The system for navigation and collision prevention of claim 12
wherein said craft transmits position and velocity using said UHF
communication.
14. A method for preventing collision of craft comprising: craft
determining their positions and velocities with GPS; sending said
positions and velocities to satellite stations; receiving position
and velocity data of other craft from said satellite stations;
determining collision hazards from said position and velocity
data.
16. The method of preventing collision of craft of claim 19 further
comprising displaying said position and velocity for craft on a
display.
17. A navigation and collision avoidance system for a vessel
comprising: a GPS receiver for determining said vessel's position;
a microwave antenna locked to a first satellite, said vessel's
position being reported to said first satellite along with said
vessel's heading and speed; a plurality of additional satellites,
said additional satellites exchanging data with each other and with
said first satellite; said data containing positions, headings, and
speeds of other vessel traffic; said first satellite sending said
data to said vessel; a display for displaying a situation plot
centered on said vessel or on any of said vessel traffic; said
display reporting collision hazards to said vessel or any of said
vessel traffic.
18. The navigation and collision avoidance system of claim 17
further comprising stored "rules of the road" and navigation
charts; said display presenting procedures in normal navigation
situations and in emergency situations to avoid collisions between
said vessel traffic and between said vessel and natural
obstacles.
19. The navigation and collision avoidance system of claim 17
further comprising declaring and communicating emergency situations
of said vessel to said vessel traffic and from said vessel traffic
to said vessel.
20. A ground control navigation and collision avoidance system
comprising: a plurality of aircraft operating on an airport
surface, each of said aircraft determining position by GPS and
automatically communicating position, heading, and speed data to a
central location on said airport, said position, heading, and speed
data for each of said aircraft being shared with all of said
aircraft, each of said aircraft having a situation display
depicting said airport with all of said aircraft displayed, said
display warning of collision hazards on said airport.
21. The ground control navigation and collision avoidance system of
claim 20 further comprising traffic sign icons on said display to
direct said aircraft on said airport.
22. The ground control navigation and collision avoidance system of
claim 20 further comprising foreign language capability on said
display, said display choosing a language based on country of
origin of a particular aircraft, said display presenting
information and directions in said language.
23. A missile guidance system comprising a missile in flight, said
missile determining its position by GPS and reporting said position
along with speed and heading to at least one of a plurality of
satellites, said satellites in communication with each other; a
missile operator in communication with at least one of said
satellites; said missile operator controlling said missile through
communication with said satellites.
24. The missile guidance system of claim 23 wherein at least one of
said satellites communicates position, heading, and speed of said
missile to said missile operator.
25. The missile guidance system of claim 24 further comprising a
situation display centered on an instantaneous position of said
missile, said display also displaying map coordinate and terrain
data to said missile operator.
26. The missile guidance system of claim 25 wherein said display is
a personal computer.
Description
[0001] This application is related to provisional application No.
60/278,327 filed Mar. 26, 2001 and claims priority from that
application. Provisional application No. 60/278,327 is hereby
incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to the field of
craft control, navigation, and collision prevention, and more
particularly to a system and method of relaying craft position
information derived by GPS via satellites to other participating
craft to prevent collisions and inform the pilot or captain of
possible procedures to follow.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] The use of GPS positioning is well known in the art for all
types of aircraft, watercraft, and land vehicles. Local systems
exist where vehicles broadcast this information to other vehicles
or craft in the vicinity (see for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,872,526).
However, these systems do not provide location information that is
available on a world-wide basis to participating users. Users must
be within receiving distance of the cooperating aircraft or
watercraft to receive reports.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,995,903 uses real world terrain depiction.
GPS position is used to find the correct point in a terrain
database.
[0007] There are many other prior art systems that use GPS for
navigation and many proposals to improve the air traffic control
system; however, none of these systems or proposals address the
real problem of knowing where each craft in the system is and being
able to report that to all other craft and then supplying
information to the pilot or captain as to what to do in a certain
situation.
[0008] What is badly needed is a system and method where position,
course, speed, and altitude information (for ships, position,
speed, and course) can be transmitted to satellites specifically
designed to control such traffic on a world-wide or nation-wide
basis. These satellites should communicate with each other so that
all satellites can rebroadcast all available information. This way
participating craft are always aware of the location of all other
craft known about by the system. This system should inform the
pilot or captain of collision hazards and provide information as to
what to do in a given situation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The POSTMAN/D (Positioning by Orbital Satellite Transmitting
Marine and Aviation Navigational Data) system, that represents the
present invention, is an integrated cockpit/bridge communications
system that takes data known to each craft and provides it to other
participating craft. By craft, I mean aircraft and watercraft of
all types, missiles, and also optionally land vehicles.
[0010] The system of the present invention supplies a visual
display of all craft in the area. Each participating craft computes
its position in known ways via GPS/DGPS, or other possible ways
such as Loran C, VOR, or any other means or method of determining
absolute position. The preferred method is the use of GPS or DGPS
known in the art. Each craft also possesses information on its own
speed, heading, absolute altitude, and height above the ground for
aircraft, as well as its attitude in terms of pitch, roll, and yaw.
Generally three GPS satellites are needed for an a 3-dimensional
fix.
[0011] Each participating craft can then uplink transmit this
information via microwave link to at least one of a special
constellation of POSTMAN/D satellites dedicated to this system.
These satellites, located strategically around the world,
communicate with each other via microwave or other communications
means. In this manner, they share information concerning all
participating craft.
[0012] Each participating craft also receives a downlink
transmission of a broadcast nature from all POSTMAN/D satellites in
its view. It is thus possible for any participating craft to have
detailed, real time information of any other craft actively in the
system.
[0013] Each craft is identified to the system by a unique serial
number or hull number. This number can be programmed into the
system at installation time and cannot be changed. Thus, whenever
the on-board system is transmitting coordinate information, it is
always using the correct, unchangeable hull or serial number of the
craft. By coordinate information, I mean position, speed, heading,
altitude, and height above the terrain. Thus, it is difficult, if
not impossible, to fool the system into misidentification of any
craft.
[0014] Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
system where each participating craft reports its position as
determined from GPS, and its own parameters such as heading and
speed to a system of repeaters which are satellites or other
control points. The satellites are in communication with each other
so information available at one satellite is available at every
satellite. Each participating craft in the system receives
information on location, heading, and speed of other craft. It can
then display the status of other craft on a display; it can warn of
impending collisions; and it can even be programmed to avoid
collisions by supplying information to a craft's autopilot.
[0015] Software in an on-board computer system correlates and
classifies all data coming in from the POSTMAN/D satellites as to
coordinates of other craft as well as coordinates for the that
craft. Computations can be easily made to determine if there is any
collision danger. A zone of protection can be computed around the
craft based on speed and maneuverability. The system can provide
the pilot or captain with instructions on what to do to avoid any
potential collision or in any other situation. The system can
optionally be programmed to take control of the craft to perform
emergency maneuvers to avoid collision by sending data to the
craft's autopilot.
[0016] The basic on-board system can consist of a GPS/DGPS
receiver, a microwave transceiver for communication with the
POSTMAN/D satellites, an UHF transceiver for backup or local
communication, a gyro stabilized antenna with a signal seeking
device to lock on the best POSTMAN/D satellite, a display panel for
the cockpit or bridge, and various interface equipment between the
components. In addition, the basic system has inputs from the
craft's own instrument systems as to attitude roll and pitch (or
heading in the case of a ship). This allows proper positioning of
Icons on a display in the proper axis or real time flight attitude.
The display software can supply simulated terrain or scenery
similar to that of a flight simulator.
[0017] Once the system is activated, the stabilized antenna seeks
and locks on the strongest available POSTMAN/D satellite. The
system can be programmed to search for, and switch to, a stronger
signal if one becomes available. The system begins immediately to
transmit the craft's ID number as well as absolute position in
longitude and latitude (or other local coordinates), heading,
speed, and altitude. The system also begins immediately to receive
data from the POSTMAN/D system of satellites concerning other
participating craft anywhere. Selection can be made by ranging to
limit the incoming information to craft in a reasonable vicinity.
Because information is available about all participating craft, the
display can be centered or located on any craft in the system, not
just the craft where the display is located. When the display is
located on another craft, it shows all information relative to that
craft.
[0018] Data to and from the POSTMAN/D satellites is generally in a
data packet module format using the known techniques of digital
data transmission. Each packet or module can contain error control
bits and/or error correction capabilities. Any received packet or
module that cannot be read for any reason can be re-requested. Data
from the satellites is generally sent out in a broadcast mode to
all craft in receiving range. Data to the satellite from any craft
can be sent in a packet/collision communications mode known in the
art, or by any other communications mode that allows multiple
competing stations to communicate including time division,
frequency division and code division multiplex.
[0019] The system can also be used to control or guide aircraft on
the ground to guide them to proper destinations on an airport and
to prevent ground collisions (either between aircraft or aircraft
and vehicles). In this case, airport vehicles would also be
participating craft in the system.
[0020] Alternate communication between local vehicles or in the
case of bad weather could be by UHF radio. UHF could be used
anytime that microwaves did not work. The POSTMAN/D satellites can
optionally be used in conjunction with fixed ground stations set up
along coastlines. These stations would act as repeaters
communicating with the satellites via microwave and with craft by
UHF if necessary.
[0021] The system can also be optionally programmed to provide
instructions according to the rules of the road for vessels. This
feature would be especially useful for inexperienced boaters faced
with a possible collision hazard or if they wander into shallow or
unsafe water.
[0022] The system for aircraft can, and should, have the feature of
not being able to be turned off while the aircraft is in flight.
This can be simply accomplished by providing input from switches
sensing the landing gear down and with weight on the gear. This
feature would allow operators anywhere to determine the location of
any aircraft at all times even in situations where terrorists, for
example, did not want the aircraft's position to be known (for
example by turning off the transponder). In addition, if there is
such a change in course that an aircraft has totally deviated from
its original flight plan, an emergency code can be sent to the
satellite to declare an abnormal or emergency situation. Sometimes
aircraft are asked to circle locations to "hold" while in flight.
The system could be programmed to recognize such a maneuver and not
declare that an emergency. This could be done by recognizing that
the aircraft is holding at a known navigation point. Also the
aircraft could inform the system that it is holding.
[0023] The craft's display will show all craft utilizing the system
(in the selected range), and those not in the system but detected
by any participating craft's radar system. It can show an icon
depicting the craft (model, color, logos, and similar
identification information) as well as the craft's serial number,
the country of registration flag (to help controllers with choosing
a secondary language for instructions if needed), the craft's
itinerary, the captain's name, and the name of the owner or
company. The information, other than the icon and serial number,
need not be displayed on the display, but can be accessible by
inquiry and can appear at the bottom of the screen, or elsewhere,
in an area near the craft's instruments being monitored by the
POSTMAN/D system.
[0024] On the bottom of the screen, or elsewhere, a number of the
craft's instruments can be shown on a rotating basis, (unless they
fall out of normal range reading and require immediate attention,
at which time they will appear steady and oversize).
[0025] Thus it is an object of the present invention to control air
traffic by self-reporting users worldwide.
[0026] It is an object of the present invention to provide positive
identification of all traffic and its destination.
[0027] It is an object of the present invention to eliminate
misinterpretation of commands caused by language barriers by
providing secondary language reporting in any language.
[0028] It is an object of the present invention to optionally make
use of a craft's autopilot to navigate the craft safely to its
destination.
[0029] It is an object of the present invention to also report
craft not self-reporting when they are picked up by other
participating craft.
[0030] It is an object of the present invention to allow an
operator to visually watch traffic at any given point on earth
limited only by software installed on his craft.
[0031] It is an object of the present invention to control air
ground traffic much like automobile traffic.
[0032] It is an object of the present invention to provide
collision deterrence by warning all concerned of impending danger
long before anything happens.
[0033] It is an object of the present invention to pinpoint the
exact location and details of all craft when an emergency situation
develops.
[0034] It is an object of the present invention to provide expert
guidance as to actions that should be taken by a pilot or captain
to avoid a collision or other danger.
[0035] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
deterrence against unlawful use of a craft by anyone.
[0036] It is an object of the present invention to be available to
all craft large and small by secondary UHF communications.
[0037] It is an object of the present invention to provide field
guidance of a tactical weapon such as a missile from anywhere in
the world.
[0038] It is an object of the present invention to provide a means
where aircraft pilots can see their position in relation to
waypoints in route to a final destination.
[0039] It is an object of the present invention to allow ground
controllers to track the position of aircraft at airport facilities
using icons on a control display.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0040] FIG. 1 shows a diagram of the POSTMAN/D system with
communications between craft and satellites.
[0041] FIG. 2 shows satellite to satellite communication.
[0042] FIG. 3 shows UHF backup communications.
[0043] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a basic system.
[0044] FIG. 5 shows zones of safety around various craft.
[0045] FIG. 6 shows an airport where the invention is controlling
ground traffic.
[0046] FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of the startup procedure for a
craft.
[0047] FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of a shipboard display.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0048] Turning to FIG. 1, an overview of the POSTMAN/D system can
be seen. Various craft such as ships 3, high performance aircraft
1, low to medium performance aircraft 2, missiles (not shown),
helicopters (not shown), and any other sort of craft including some
land vehicles (not shown) communicate bi-directionally with one or
more POSTMAN/D satellites 4. In addition, each craft computes
absolute position, speed over the ground, and possibly altitude by
receiving microwave signals from GPS satellites 5. Usually 3 GPS
satellites must be acquired to determine these parameters
accurately. The use of GPS is well known in the art.
[0049] Each craft uses the signal from the GPS satellite 6 to
compute its own parameters or coordinates. These coordinates
(meaning position, speed, and possibly altitude) are combined with
locally known parameters such as heading, helm setting and engine
setting for a watercraft, or pitch and roll angle for an aircraft
to form a complete set of such parameters or coordinates which are
then transmitted to the acquired POSTMAN/D satellite by a dedicated
uplink microwave channel 8 channel. This channel can use any
convenient microwave frequency that would be assigned to it. It is
within the scope of the present invention to use different
frequency sets or channels for ships, aircraft, ground control, and
missile or remote control. Any type of modulation can be used
including amplitude modulation, frequency modulation, and phase
modulation. Digital signaling techniques known in the art are used
for this communication. A preferred method is to use code division
multiplexing; however other forms of multiplexing can also be used
such as time division multiplexing and frequency division
multiplexing.
[0050] Each larger craft can use a gyro stabilized antennal locked
to the POSTMAN/D satellite that is received with the strongest
signal. It is also within the scope of the present invention to use
a phase steered antenna that has no moving parts. The advantage of
a phase steered antenna is that it can spend part of its time
search the sky for a POSTMAN/D satellite with a stronger signal
without losing lock of the current acquired satellite.
[0051] The POSTMAN/D satellite 4 sends signals back to the craft
using a downlink microwave communications channel 7 that functions
similarly to the uplink channel 8.
[0052] FIG. 2 shows two POSTMAN/D satellites 4A and 4B
communicating with each other. POSTMAN/D satellites that are within
visual range of each other can acquire and communicate with each
other. This way, data from all participating craft can be shared
among all POSTMAN/D satellites. Each satellite can optionally
maintain an on-board database of all participating craft activity.
This data can be compressed for efficient storage. The total number
of craft operating world-wide can number in the thousands or tens
of thousands. Microwave relay of packetized messages can update
this data rapidly and keep it up to date. Data concerning high
performance aircraft and missiles must be updated very rapidly,
while data concerning low performance aircraft and ships can be
updated at a lower rate.
[0053] In FIG. 2, the two satellites use separate channels for 9A
and 9B for fast exchange of information. FIG. 2 also shows the
uplink and downlink channels 7 and 8 to a vessel 3 previously
discussed as well as a secondary downlink channel 7A which could be
optionally acquired by a craft if desired. This second channel from
a different POSTMAN/D channel would serve as a verification and
backup communications means.
[0054] FIG. 3 shows ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio backup. The
present invention includes the optional capability for craft of all
types to communicate by UHF radio with fixed land (or sea) stations
10. In FIG. 3, an aircraft 2 and a ship 3 can communicate directly
with a UHF antenna 11 located at the station 10. A slower, by
similar uplink/downlink channel pair 12 is also used. Not shown in
FIG. 2 is the fact that the fixed station 10 also communicates with
one or more POSTMAN/D satellites. The fixed station thus can also
have an updated data base of all participating craft, or it can
simply be a relay station. UHF communication can then be used in
situations where a craft simply cannot communicate by microwave
directly with a POSTMAN/D satellite because of weather or other
reasons. Also, small craft are more likely to use UHF into a fixed
station because they are usually within easy communications
distance from shore, and they may not be able to afford the costs
of a more sophisticated gyro-stabilized or phase steered antenna
system. Aircraft taking off and landing generally use UHF
communications while they are near the airport. In the case of UHF
communications, the fixed station can act as if it were one of the
POSTMAN/D satellites in that it could contain an active database
and relay craft coordinates to the satellite constellations.
[0055] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of an on-board
system. Three antennas are shown in FIG. 2, normal GPS receive 21,
UHF transmit/receive 11 and microwave transmit receive 18. Each
antenna has an associated receiver: GPS 20, UHF 19 and microwave
17. As discussed, the microwave antenna 18 is either gyro
stabilized or phase steered to maintain satellite lock (any other
means of locking the antenna on a satellite is within the scope of
the present invention). In normal operation, for an aircraft
system, upon touchdown, the pilot would switch from "flight mode"
to "ground mode". This will generally cause the computer to switch
transceivers, UHF becoming the active and microwave becoming the
standby. This allows ground controllers to take over control of
traffic.
[0056] An interface system 15 takes demodulated and decoded data
(possibly error corrected) and provides input to a central
processing unit (CPU) 13. The CPU communicates with disks, memory,
CD ROM and other peripherals as is well known in the art of
computing. In addition, the CPU 13 communicates with a special
display 16 that presents information to the pilot or captain and
allows incoming commands to be displayed or directly coupled into
an autopilot. A pointing device can also be attached so that
various information can be displayed.
[0057] The craft's hull number or serial number is hard programmed
into the POSTMAN system at installation and cannot be changed in
the field. Support information such as country of registration,
year of manufacture, manufacturer's name, model, and serial number
can also be hard programmed. This data is used to generate a craft
ID that is used throughout the system to identify that craft to all
other craft.
[0058] The display 16 can display simulated terrain data as well as
situation data. Usually horizontal situation data is preferred;
however, the display can be changed to show vertical data as well.
For marine vessels, a marine navigation chart can be superimposed
on the display. For aircraft, various air navigation charts can be
superimposed if desired. The overall scale can cover selected
ranges such as 5 miles, 25 miles, 60 miles, and any other range.
Ranges can also be selected by latitude and longitude coordinates.
As mentioned, the display can be centered or located on any craft
in the system and not just the craft where the display is located.
This feature could be used when some craft was having an
emergency.
[0059] An icon that best depicts the type of craft appears on the
display for each craft within the range that the display is set at.
The display can be zoomed in and out. For aircraft, next to the
icon, the tail number as well as country of registration is
displayed. For ships, an identifier as well as country of
registration and possibly gross weight can be displayed.
Supplemental information can also be displayed such as year of
manufacture, manufacturer's name, model, length, and serial number.
Missiles simply have a code or serial number inserted for ease of
identification.
[0060] Different views can be provided to the operator in addition
to a horizontal situation view; these are front view from the
cockpit or bridge, side views, top views, line of sight with the
nose of the craft or missile.
[0061] The POSTMAN/D system can help with the safety and navigation
of aircraft and marine vessels. The system can create an imaginary
protective envelope around the craft which will warn the pilot of a
possible danger or collision with another craft or fixed object. It
can also provide the pilot or captain with the proper procedure or
action necessary to avoid such a collision or danger.
[0062] FIG. 5 shows a diagram of possible imaginary protective
envelopes for various types of craft. A high performance aircraft
22 has a large envelope 23, where a low performance aircraft 24 has
a much smaller envelope 25. A ship 26 has a smaller envelope fore
and aft (in front of it and behind it) and to the sides. For
aircraft, the standard recommended envelope is at least 1000 feet
for each 100 knots of speed. The POSTMAN system can set an envelope
of 5 miles from each wingtip horizontally 1500 feet vertically.
Front and rear limits depend on speed; the minimum standard is 5000
feet front and 3000 feet rear. These envelopes can be changed. Any
safety envelopes are within the scope of the present invention.
[0063] The system can be programmed to recognize and adjust,
compare and calculate, all objects within these envelopes. For any
object or craft on a collision course, the exact time to impact can
be computed and reported. Programming then can provide a visual
and/or audio warning at a pre-determined time or range for save
evasive action.
[0064] FIG. 6 shows a view of a commercial airport looking down.
Two major runways 28 are shown as well as taxiways 29. A control
tower 31 is possibly located somewhere in proximity to the runways.
Also shown is an apron 30 near a building. This could represent a
passenger terminal, hanger or other airport building. Various
aircraft 32 are under ground control and are on the taxiways. The
aircraft's GPS determines the exact location of each craft. This
information is transmitted to by UHF to an antenna 33 located
somewhere on the airport This antenna is connected to a ground
based POSTMAN/D station that relays information received from
satellite and other aircraft. In particular there can be a UHF link
34 to each plane being controlled so that the POSTMAN/D display on
each plane can show the location of all other active planes on the
airport. Even airplanes on runways participate with the POSTMAN/D
system to report their whereabouts to other airplanes on the
airport. This is particularly effective in preventing collisions
between planes landing and taking off and planes taxiing
(especially when taxiing aircraft cross active runways). As
previously stated, when an aircraft lands, a switch is made from
satellite microwave to local UHF communications. Ground controllers
can then take over control of the aircraft. The craft will appear
as an icon on their display. Their display can have an airport
facility depiction as a background.
[0065] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the POSTMAN/D turn-on
process onboard a given craft. When the craft becomes active 35,
the POSTMAN/D system turns on. This can be automatic whenever the
craft's engine is running. It is possible to install the POSTMAN/D
system so that it cannot be turned off from inside the cockpit or
bridge of a craft. This can be controlled by a variety of
conditions such as engines on and landing gear up, or no weight on
landing gear for aircraft. The idea is that any craft that is
located in any position that could even remotely lead to a
collision with other craft must be reporting its position to the
other craft. Also, it should be impossible to defeat the system by
anyone when the craft is in motion. Thus, even an aircraft that has
been taken over or hijacked will continue to report its
position.
[0066] After the system is activated 35, local communications are
established 36. On an airport or in a harbor for a watercraft, this
can be by UHF communications. The POSTMAN/D system next tries to
establish satellite communication 37 with a POSTMAN/D satellite so
that it can directly send and receive its position into the system.
An initial GPS fix is also made, and the initial position of the
craft is reported 38 to the system. Any possible initial commands
39 or position reports of other craft in the locality (or on the
airport or in the harbor) are received and displayed. Finally, the
onboard system goes into a steady state 40 of reporting position to
the rest of the system and of accepting incoming reports of other
craft locations and any possible incoming commands.
[0067] FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of a shipboard display. It should
be noted that this figure is simply illustrative and that many
other configurations of displays could be used. A display screen 42
shows a plot of the current situation. This situation can be chosen
to be from above (as shown), out the window, from the side, or any
other possible situation representation. Along the bottom of the
display 47 the current position of the craft in longitude and
latitude can be shown, as well as the date and time. The display
can be optionally overlaid with a standard nautical chart.
[0068] Each craft being displayed can be represented by an icon 57.
The icon can be chosen so that the operator understands what type
of craft is being represented. Also, each icon can be shown in its
normal, real-time attitude or heading. Thus, for an aircraft
display, icons can be shown with one wing down, etc. The icon is
also accompanied by an set of information 58 representing that
craft. This information can contain the type of craft, flag (for
possible language determination), speed, heading, and any other
information. In the particular situation display depicted in FIG.
8, the present craft 57 is located near the bottom of the display
with a projected track 59 extending along the current heading. Each
other craft being displayed also shows a projected track 61 based
on current heading. Possible collisions 61 can be marked and a time
assigned (14 minutes to collision, etc.) based on the speeds of
both craft.
[0069] The overall range shown on the display can be controlled by
a switch 44 on the display. Also, the type of display, or type of
information being displayed can be controlled by a switch 43 or
switches on the panel. The display can be changed to different
angles of view, etc. because the display is computer generated. A
cursor 48 can be used to select icons of interest so that more
detailed information about the craft can be displayed. An "Enter"
button 52 can be used to make selections off the cursor 48.
Collision or what might be called safety status can be displayed by
a series of light green 49, yellow 50, or red 51. The system would
light one of these lights at all times to quickly show the overall
collision situation. A imminent collision would set of an audio
alarm 53 that could also be combined with a blinking light.
[0070] If the craft wanted to declare an emergency, different types
could be selected from switches 55 or menus 56 located on the
display. An emergency could then be declared by pushing a button 54
which would transmit it to all other craft. Other craft could be
alerted by having their icon of the current craft blink or
otherwise notify. Additional information about any selected craft
could be displayed somewhere on the display as text 62. FIG. 8
shows this along the top of the display; however, this position is
optional. It is important to note that the present invention sends
a distress signal regardless of weather, distance from land or
other craft. In this respect, the present invention is superior
than current methods of using flares, or emergency radio directed
only to certain receivers and not the public.
[0071] It should be noted that there must be different displays for
ships, aircraft, and ground control as well as other possible
system users. The present invention envisions the use of several
different types of custom displays. For example, a ground control
display could have a split screen with possibly three sections. One
of the splits could show a top view of an aircraft following an
assigned path by a ground controller with a capability to zoom in
or out. A second could show the overall or whole assigned path with
no zoom capabilities. A third or main display could give a pilot
view directly in front of him, taking into consideration as to view
distance/height, the position he sits in relation to the ground. On
this screen, the ground controller could place by the drag and
place method, or other, traffic signs, traffic lights, etc. and or
specific instructions such as an arrow pointing in the direction he
is to turn, possibly first flashing to prepare for the turn, and
then steady to execute the turn. Other instructions in writing
could go along with the visual ones in English followed by a
secondary language (automatically chosen based on the country of
the craft). An example might be "Halt short of runway 270" followed
by a translation (Spanish) "Pare corto de la pista 270". The system
would choose the secondary language from a preprogrammed table.
Ground vehicles could also be participating craft in the ground
control system.
[0072] A display for an aircraft could show the aircraft in its
real flight attitude (perhaps in slight bank to left or right if
turning). The background can be the airport layout either ahead or
behind for landing or taking off. This display could also be
programmed for a top view situation plot. In all displays,
restricted or danger zones such as restricted or prohibited
airspace, changes to airspace or navigable water through NOTAMS or
Coast Guard advisories would also be displayed. Instructions to
change course would appear on the display. If the craft continued
on into a restricted area, an alert would be sent to other craft,
to proper controllers, and would show up on the craft's
display.
[0073] The present invention could be used to control a missile. A
missile would work just like air or water craft. The missile would
compute its position by GPS and relay that position to a satellite.
The satellite would transmit the position of the missile to a
soldier (or operator) who was guiding it. The operator would have a
computer such as a laptop along with accessories such as a
joystick, mouse, etc. to control the missile. The laptop computer
could communicate with the satellite by satellite telephone through
any of the system of telephone satellites. Allowances could be made
for delays in communication from the computer to the satellite and
the satellite to the missile and to the response time of the
onboard computer to respond to commands so that corrections could
be made in real time. Any correction made by the computer could be
translated into a digital coded signal, which when received by the
missile's remote flight controls, would be translated to control
servos to adjust the proper controls on the missile. A soldier
could thus control the missile from anywhere a satellite telephone
call is possible. The delay in the system could be measured during
a setup period by sending a coded signal to the missile which is
then returned to the sender. By timing the delay, the sending
system would know how to correct for it.
[0074] It should be understood that the illustrations and
embodiments herein described are merely illustrative of the present
invention. Many other variations and embodiments are within the
scope of the present invention.
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