초록 ▼

A method for coordinating numerous vehicles within a common maneuver is characterized by receiving, at a moving vehicle, state and projected maneuver information of other vehicles participating in the maneuver via a broadcast link and utilizing the information to control the trajectory of the moving

A method for coordinating numerous vehicles within a common maneuver is characterized by receiving, at a moving vehicle, state and projected maneuver information of other vehicles participating in the maneuver via a broadcast link and utilizing the information to control the trajectory of the moving vehicle based on predicted paths of all participating vehicles for future times for which the maneuver is to be conducted. For simple maneuvers, such as flight-deck based self-spacing of aircraft in a runway approach, the method allows each participating vehicle to virtually perform the coordinated maneuver by predictive simulation using current state data to determine if corrective measures need be undertaken, or, if the predicted maneuver shows that it would complete as planned, maintaining its current trajectory. This affords vehicle operators the freedom to perform other duties, as the operators are alerted only when a change in state is necessitated. In the runway approach problem, the state changes are primarily in a change of speed and the choice of a simple, stepped speed profile reduces the amount of speed control that must be attended to by aircraft flight crews, allows for fuel efficient flight profiles within constraints of solving the spacing problem, and allows for higher runway throughput as compared with the prior art.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for coordinating numerous vehicles within a common maneuver is characterized by receiving, at a moving vehicle, state and projected maneuver information of other vehicles participating in the maneuver via a broadcast link and utilizing the information to control the trajectory of the moving

A method for coordinating numerous vehicles within a common maneuver is characterized by receiving, at a moving vehicle, state and projected maneuver information of other vehicles participating in the maneuver via a broadcast link and utilizing the information to control the trajectory of the moving vehicle based on predicted paths of all participating vehicles for future times for which the maneuver is to be conducted. For simple maneuvers, such as flight-deck based self-spacing of aircraft in a runway approach, the method allows each participating vehicle to virtually perform the coordinated maneuver by predictive simulation using current state data to determine if corrective measures need be undertaken, or, if the predicted maneuver shows that it would complete as planned, maintaining its current trajectory. This affords vehicle operators the freedom to perform other duties, as the operators are alerted only when a change in state is necessitated. In the runway approach problem, the state changes are primarily in a change of speed and the choice of a simple, stepped speed profile reduces the amount of speed control that must be attended to by aircraft flight crews, allows for fuel efficient flight profiles within constraints of solving the spacing problem, and allows for higher runway throughput as compared with the prior art. wherein said body has an outside diameter in the range from about 0.1 inch to about 0.5 inch. 4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said body has a length in the range from about 1 inch to about 36 inches. 5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said first, second, third, and fourth members are substantially concentrically arranged. 6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said first member comprises a solid metal wire. 7. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said first member comprises solid copper wire. 8. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said second member comprises plastic-type materials. 9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said third member comprises a plurality of metal wires. 10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said fourth member comprises plastic-type materials. 11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said body comprises RG-11 coaxial cable. 12. An apparatus according to claim 10, further in combination with a flashlight. 13. A flashlight extension that is flexible, comprising: a body having a length between first and second end fittings, said body comprising; a first member, forming an electrically conductive core having a first section modulus; a second member, forming a substantially nonconductive barrier disposed generally concentrically with said first member, said second member having a second section modulus; a third member, forming a conductive element spaced apart radially from said first member by said second member, said third member having a third section modulus; a fourth member forming a protective covering for substantially the entire length of said third member, said fourth member having a fourth section modulus; said second, third, and fourth members having section moduli in combination such that deformations of said body are substantially governed by deformations of said first member; with said first end fitting being affixed to a first end of said body, said first end fitting further being configured and arranged to interface in a removable and electrically conductive relation with an end of a flashlight; and said second end fitting being affixed to a second end of said body, said second end fitting further being configured and arranged to interface in a removable and electrically conductive relation with a flashlight head. 14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said first member comprises the primary load carrying member of the body. 15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said body has an outside diameter in the range from about 0.1 inch to about 0.5 inch. 16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said body has a length in the range from about 1 inch to about 36 inches. 17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said first, second, third, and fourth members are approximately concentrically arranged. 18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said body comprises RG-11 coaxial cable. 19. An apparatus according to claim 18, further in combination with a flashlight. 20. A flexible flashlight extension comprising: a body having first and second end fittings separated by a length distance, said body comprising; a first member, forming an electrically conductive core; a second member, forming a substantially nonconductive barrier disposed generally concentrically with said first member; a current carrying path from the first end fitting to the second end fitting; said second member having material properties and a cross-sectional dimension such that deformations of said body are substantially governed by deformations of said first member; with said first end fitting being affixed to a first end of said body, said first end fitting further being configured and arranged to interface in a removable and electrically conductive relation with an end of a flashlight; and said second end fitting being affixed to a second end of said body, said second end fitting further being configured and ar ranged to interface in a removable and electrically conductive relation with a flashlight head. 21. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first member comprises the primary load carrying member of the body. 22. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said current carrying path comprises a third member, forming a conductive element, and being electrically isolated from said first member, and being spaced radially from said first member by said second member, and further being disposed approximately concentrically with respect to said second member, the third member comprising a plurality of metal wires. 23. An apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising a fourth member disposed radially about said third member, and forming a protective covering for substantially the entire length of said third member, the fourth member comprising plastic-type materials. 24. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said body has an outside diameter in the range from about 0.1 inch to about 0.5 inch. 25. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said body has a length in the range from about 1 inch to about 36 inches. 26. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said first, second, third, and fourth members are substantially concentrically arranged. 27. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said first member comprises a solid metal wire. 28. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said first member comprises solid copper wire. 29. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said second member comprises plastic-type materials. 30. A flexible flashlight extension comprising: a first end fitting configured and arranged to interface in a removable and electrically conductive relation with an end of a flashlight; a second end fitting configured and arranged to interface in a removable and electrically conductive relation with a flashlight head; a body connected to said first end fitting and said second end fitting, said body comprising: a first member forming a core, said core having properties to hold said body in a deformed shape subsequent to bending displacements; a second member disposed generally concentrically with said first member; and a protective covering disposed generally concentrically with said first member and said second member, said protective covering providing a smooth surface characterized by an absence of ridges and joints. 31. The flexible flashlight extension of claim 30, further comprising a current carrying path from the first end fitting to the second end fitting. 32. The flexible flashlight extension of claim 30, further comprising a third member forming a conductive element, said third member being electrically isolated from said first member, and being spaced radially from said first member by said second member. 33. The flexible flashlight extension of claim 32, wherein said third member comprises a plurality of metal wires. 34. The flexible flashlight extension of claim 30, wherein said protective covering is comprised of plastic-type materials. 35. The flexible flashlight extension of claim 30, wherein said first member comprises a solid metal wire configured to be the primary load carrying member of the body. 36. The flexible flashlight extension of claim 30, wherein said first member has a section modulus that is greater than a section modulus of said of said protective covering. 37. A flexible flashlight extension comprising: a first end fitting configured and arranged to interface in a removable and electrically conductive relation with an end of a flashlight; a second end fitting configured and arranged to interface in a removable and electrically conductive relation with a flashlight head; a body connected to said first end fitting and said second end fitting, said body comprising: means for holding said body in a deformed shape subsequent to a bending displacement such that said body can be held in a sharp angle; means for forming a non-conductive bar rier about the means for holding the body; means for conducting electricity from the first end fitting to the second end fitting; and means for covering said means for holding, said means for forming a non-conductive barrier, and said means for conducting electricity. 38. The flexible flashlight extension of claim 37, wherein said means for holding said body in a deformed shape comprises a solid metal wire. 39. The flexible flashlight extension of claim 37, wherein the means for forming a non-conductive barrier comprises a cylindrical barrier disposed generally concentrically with said means for holding. 40. The flexible flashlight extension of claim 37, wherein the means for conducting electricity comprises a conductive element formed of a plurality of metal wires disposed approximately concentrically with respect to said means for forming a non-conductive barrier. 41. The flexible flashlight extension of claim 37, wherein the means for covering comprises a smooth protective covering characterized by an absence of ridges and joints, said means for covering being disposed radially about said means for conducting electricity. ording to claim 5, wherein said probability density function along an amplitude axis with no input made has been acquired in advance, and said probability density function acquired at a time a signal is input is corrected based on that former probability density function. 8. The digital-signal quality monitoring method according to claim 5, wherein an n number of average values and n number of dispersion values of said discriminated signal are acquired from said probability density function and said quality parameter is computed from said probability density function. 9. The digital-signal quality monitoring method according to claim 5, wherein an eye opening is computed from said probability density function along said amplitude axis of said input signal at individual discrimination levels. 10. A regular-system/reserved-system switching apparatus comprising: switching means for selectively outputting an n-value digital signal (n being a natural number equal to or larger than 2) of a regular system or an n-value digital signal of a reserved system; quality monitoring means for said n-value digital signal output by said switching means and acquiring a quality parameter; switching control means for controlling a switching action of said switching means based on said quality parameter obtained by said quality monitoring means, whereby said quality monitoring means scans a discrimination level while discriminating a value of said n-value digital signal by comparing that value with said discrimination level, detects an average value of said discriminated signal and computes a quality parameter of said n-value digital signal from said average value. 11. The regular-system/reserved-system switching apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said quality monitoring means scans said discrimination levels and also discrimination timings. 12. A regular-system/reserved-system switching apparatus comprising: quality monitoring means for monitoring n-value (n being a natural number equal to or larger than 2) digital signals of both a regular system and a reserved system and acquiring quality parameters; switching means for selectively outputting said n-value digital signal of said regular system or said n-value digital signal of said reserved system; and switching control means for controlling a switching action of said switching means based on said quality parameters of said regular system and said reserved system obtained by said quality monitoring means, whereby said quality monitoring means scans a discrimination level while discriminating values of said n-value digital signals of both said regular system and said reserved system by comparing those values with said discrimination level, detects average values of said discriminated signals and computes quality parameters of said n-value digital signals of both said regular system and said reserved system from said average values. 13. The regular-system/reserved-system switching apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said quality monitoring means scans said discrimination levels and also discrimination timings. 14. A transmission quality monitoring apparatus for monitoring transmission qualities of n-value digital signals (n being a natural number equal to or larger than 2) in a plurality of wavelength channels, which are optically transmitted over an optical transmission line of a wavelength division multiplexing network, comprising: optical branching means for branching a part of transmitted light from said optical transmission line of said wavelength division multiplexing network; digital signal extracting means for extracting digital signals of said plurality of wavelength channels from said transmitted light branched by said optical branching means; quality monitoring means for receiving said digital signals of said plurality of wavelength channels extracted by said digital signal extracting means and acquiring quality parameters of said digital signals; and che ck means for checking if there is an abnormality for each of said wavelength channels from said quality parameters obtained by said quality monitoring means and generating an abnormality detection signal upon detection of said abnormality, whereby said quality monitoring means scans a discrimination level while discriminating values of said n-value digital signals of said wavelength channels by comparing those values with said discrimination level, detects average values of said discriminated signals and computes quality parameters for said wavelength channels from said average values. 15. The transmission quality monitoring apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said quality monitoring means scans said discrimination levels and also discrimination timings. 16. A transmission quality monitoring apparatus for monitoring transmission qualities of n-value digital signals (n being a natural number equal to or larger than 2) in a plurality of wavelength channels, which are optically transmitted over an optical transmission line of a wavelength division multiplexing network, comprising: optical branching means for branching a part of transmitted light from said optical transmission line of said wavelength division multiplexing network; digital signal extracting means for extracting digital signals of said plurality of wavelength channels from said transmitted light branched by said optical branching means; signal selecting means for selectively outputting an arbitrary one of said digital signals of said plurality of wavelength channels extracted by said digital signal extracting means; quality monitoring means for receiving said digital signal selected by said signal selecting means and acquiring a quality parameter of said digital signal; and check means for checking if there is an abnormality in said selected digital signal from said quality parameter obtained by said quality monitoring means and generating an abnormality detection signal upon detection of said abnormality, whereby said quality monitoring means scans a discrimination level while discriminating a value of said digital signal selected by said signal selecting means by comparing that value with said discrimination level, detects an average value of said discriminated signal and computes a quality parameter for each of said wavelength channels from said average value. 17. The transmission quality monitoring apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said quality monitoring means scans said discrimination levels and also discrimination timings. 18. A receiving apparatus for demodulating a data signal by comparing an input n-value digital signal (n being a natural number equal to or larger than 2) with (n-1) threshold values, comprising: quality monitoring means for scanning discrimination levels while discriminating a value of said input digital signal by comparing that value with said discrimination levels, detecting an average value of said discriminated signal, acquiring a probability density function along an amplitude axis of said input signal by differentiating said average value of said discriminated signal with respect to said discrimination levels, and computing a quality parameter from said probability density function; and threshold value control means for detecting (n-1) discrimination levels that optimize said quality parameter acquired by said quality monitoring means and using said (n-1) discrimination levels as said (n-1) threshold values. 19. A receiving apparatus for demodulating a data signal by comparing an input n-value digital signal (n being a natural number equal to or larger than 2) with (n-1) threshold values, comprising: quality monitoring means for scanning discrimination levels and discrimination timings while discriminating a value of said input digital signal by comparing that value with said discrimination levels, detecting an average value of said discriminated signal, acquiring a probability density function along an amplitude axis of said input signal at individual discrimination timing by differentiating said average value of said discriminated signal with respect to said discrimination levels, and computing a quality parameter from said probability density function; and threshold value control means for detecting (n-1) discrimination levels that optimize said quality parameter acquired by said quality monitoring means and using said (n-1) discrimination levels as said (n-1) threshold values.