초록 ▼

An apparatus, methods, and computer program products are provided for monitoring the attitude of an aircraft. The apparatus of the present invention includes a navigation system, such as a GPS, that provide values representing the velocity vector of the aircraft. Additionally, the apparatus includes

An apparatus, methods, and computer program products are provided for monitoring the attitude of an aircraft. The apparatus of the present invention includes a navigation system, such as a GPS, that provide values representing the velocity vector of the aircraft. Additionally, the apparatus includes two gyroscopes positioned with respect to the aircraft to sense the roll and pitch of the aircraft. A generator is connected to the navigation system and generates a calculated flight path and roll angle based on the velocity vector of the aircraft. Further, the apparatus of the present invention includes a combiner connected to both the generator and the gyroscopes. The combiner combines the calculated flight path angle to the sensed pitch angle and the calculated roll angle to the sensed roll angle and generates composite flight path and roll angles. The composite flight path and roll angles represent the attitude of the aircraft. In some embodiments, the apparatus combines either the composite flight angle or the composite roll angle with either the pitch or roll values generated by the aircraft's attitude indicator. If the difference between these corresponding values exceed a threshold, the apparatus provides an indication to the pilot that the aircraft's attitude indicator is malfunctioning. In another embodiment, the apparatus may compare the composite flight path and roll angle values to corresponding threshold values. If the composite path and roll angle values exceed these thresholds, the apparatus provides an indication to the pilot that the aircraft is at an unsafe attitude.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for monitoring the attitude of an aircraft comprising:an input for receiving velocity values related to the velocity vector of the aircraft; an output; a generator in electrical communication with said input for determining a calculated flight path angle and a calculated roll angle o

1. An apparatus for monitoring the attitude of an aircraft comprising:an input for receiving velocity values related to the velocity vector of the aircraft; an output; a generator in electrical communication with said input for determining a calculated flight path angle and a calculated roll angle of the aircraft based on a velocity vector of the aircraft; and a first combiner in electrical communication with said generator and said output, wherein said first combiner combines the calculated flight path angle from said generator with a sensed pitch angle of the aircraft and the calculated roll angle from said generator with a sensed roll angle of the aircraft and provides a composite flight path angle and a composite roll angle representing the attitude of the aircraft to said output.