초록 ▼

A stand alone terrain conflict detector of an aircraft includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, an inertial navigation system, navigational and topographical databases, a control panel, a central processing unit (CPU), which CPU generates position data, a current flight path vector and c

A stand alone terrain conflict detector of an aircraft includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, an inertial navigation system, navigational and topographical databases, a control panel, a central processing unit (CPU), which CPU generates position data, a current flight path vector and control signals, an obstacle detector which receives the position data and the current flight path vector and which generates a flight path signal, an alert signal identifying a terrain threat to the aircraft and a projected flight path vector, a video generator coupled to the obstacle detector and the CPU, and a display connected to the video generator. The display outputs one of a 2D image, a first 3D image and a second 3D image and the terrain threat generated by video generator. Advantageously, the video generator generates the 2D image responsive to the flight path signal and navigational data during the first mode of operation, generates the first 3D image including the projected flight path vector responsive to the flight path vector and one of navigational data and topographical data during the second mode of operation, and automatically generates, whenever the alert signal is generated, the second 3D image, including an escape vector, having a scale different than that of the first 3D image, responsive to the projected flight path vector and one of the navigational data and the topographical data during the third mode of operation. A method for operating the stand alone terrain conflict detector is also described.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A stand alone terrain conflict detector of an aircraft having first, second, and third modes of operation, comprising:a global positioning system (GPS) receiver;a laser gyroscope;an accelerometer;a navigational database;a topographical database;a processor;a control panel

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A stand alone terrain conflict detector of an aircraft having first, second, and third modes of operation, comprising:a global positioning system (GPS) receiver;a laser gyroscope;an accelerometer;a navigational database;a topographical database;a processor;a control panel operatively coupled to said processor for directing operation of said processor;an obstacle detector, operatively coupled to said GPS receiver, said laser gyroscope, said accelerometer, said navigational database, said topographical database, and said processor, which obstacle detector, in cooperation with said processor, generates a first signal indicative of a flight plan, and generates at least one of a second signal signifying a terrain threat to the aircraft when an obstacle is located within a predetermined distance of a projected flight path vector of the aircraft and a third signal indicative of the projected flight path vector;an audio generator which generates an distinctive audible signal responsive to said second signal;a video generator, operatively coupled to said obstacle detector, which generates a two dimensional (2D) image indicative of the flight path responsive to said first signal and data stored in said navigational database during the first mode of operation, which generates a first three dimensional (3D) image including the projected flight path vector responsive to said third signal and data stored in at least one of said navigational and topographical databases during the second mode of operation, and which automatically generates, whenever said audible signal is generated, a second 3D image, including an escape vector, having a scale different than that of said first 3D image responsive to said third signal and data stored in at least one of said navigational and topographical databases during the third mode of operation; anda display, electrically coupled to said video generator, which displays a respective one of said 2D image, said first 3D image and said second 3D image and said terrain threat.