초록 ▼

The invention relates to a method and system for supporting pilots in landing helicopters in visual flight under brownout or whiteout conditions. According to the invention, 3D data of the planned landing site are generated during the approach for landing, and are accumulated into a 3D representatio

The invention relates to a method and system for supporting pilots in landing helicopters in visual flight under brownout or whiteout conditions. According to the invention, 3D data of the planned landing site are generated during the approach for landing, and are accumulated into a 3D representation of the landing site with the aid of position and attitude data of the helicopter. From this 3D representation, a virtual external view is continuously generated corresponding to the perspective of the actual position and attitude of the helicopter and is displayed for the pilot. A control routine ensures that no 3D data of the planned landing site that are generated under brownout or whiteout conditions are taken into account in the accumulation of the 3D representation.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method for supporting pilots in landing helicopters in visual flight under brownout or whiteout conditions, said method comprising: generating current 3D data of a planned landing site during an approach for landing; using an accumulation of said current 3D data, together w

What is claimed is: 1. A method for supporting pilots in landing helicopters in visual flight under brownout or whiteout conditions, said method comprising: generating current 3D data of a planned landing site during an approach for landing; using an accumulation of said current 3D data, together with current position and attitude data of the helicopter, to generate a 3D representation of the landing site, which 3D representation continuously displays a virtual view of the landing site corresponding to the current actual position and attitude of the helicopter, which view is displayed for the pilot; detecting occurrence of a preset condition that is indicative of possible existence of a current brownout or whiteout of said landing site; upon detection of said condition, i) a control routine causing discontinuation of use of current 3D data of the planned landing site in generating the 3D representation; and ii) generating said 3D representation based on 3D data generated prior to detection of said condition, and on current actual position and attitude of the helicopter. 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the control routine is configured such that the incoming 3D data are analyzed to determine existence of brownout or whiteout conditions; and said preset condition comprises determination of existence of said brownout or whiteout condition. 3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the control routine is configured such that the altitude of the helicopter above ground is continuously measured; and said preset condition is that the helicopter is below a predefined minimum altitude. 4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the position reference system also uses the generated 3D data to calculate the attitude and position data. 5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the virtual view is rendered photorealistically. 6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein: a color video camera records actual color and gray scale distribution of the landing site during the approach; and the virtual view is generated to approximate the actual color and gray scale distribution. 7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein to enhance the perception of the view, sunlight with shadow formation is simulated in the generated view as a function of solar attitude, which is known from position and the time of day information. 8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein an onboard 3D sensor with a resolution of at least 0.5�� and a data rate greater than 20,000 pixels/second is used to generate the 3D data. 9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the virtual view is displayed on a display screen or a head-up display. 10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the 3D data for generating a 3D representation of the landing site are accumulated over a period longer than 1 second. 11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the virtual view is generated with a refresh rate of at least 20 Hz. 12. A method for assisting a pilot in landing a helicopter in visual flight, said method comprising: a 3D sensor on board the helicopter generating 3D data of a landing site during an approach for landing at the landing site; a position reference system on board the helicopter generating attitude and position data during said approach for landing at the landing site; processing said 3D data and the attitude and position data to generate a virtual natural perspective view of the landing site; displaying said virtual natural perspective view to said pilot during said approach; detecting occurrence of brownout or whiteout conditions at said landing site by image analysis of said 3D data; during a detected occurrence of a brownout or whiteout condition, continuing to generate and display said virtual natural perspective view, based on said 3D data acquired prior to said occurrence of said brownout or whiteout conditions, by continuously adapting said virtual natural perspective view that is based on previously acquired 3D data, to correspond to actual current helicopter attitude and position using current attitude and position data from said position reference system. 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the virtual natural perspective view is rendered photorealistically. 14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein: a color video camera records the actual color and gray scale distribution of the landing site during the approach; and the virtual natural perspective view is generated to approximate the actual color and gray scale distribution. 15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein to enhance the perception of the view, sunlight with shadow formation is simulated in the generated view as a function of solar attitude, which is known from position and the time of day information. 16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the virtual natural perspective view is displayed on a display screen or a head-up display. 17. A system for assisting a pilot in landing a helicopter in visual flight, said system comprising: a 3D sensor on board the helicopter, for generating 3D data of a landing site during an approach for landing at the landing site; a position reference system on board the helicopter, for generating attitude and position data during said approach for landing at said landing site; a visual display which is observable by said pilot; and an image processing system, coupled to receive 3D data from said 3D sensor, and attitude and position data from said position reference system; wherein said image processing system is programmed to execute the following routines, generating a virtual natural perspective view of said landing site, based on said attitude and position data and said 3D data; displaying said virtual natural perspective view to said pilot during said approach; detecting occurrence of brownout or whiteout conditions at said landing site by image analysis of said 3D data; during a detected occurrence of a brownout or whiteout condition, continuing to generate and display said virtual natural perspective view, based on said 3D data acquired prior to said occurrence of said brownout and whiteout conditions, by continuously adapting said virtual natural perspective view that is based on previously acquired 3D data, to correspond to actual current helicopter attitude and position using current attitude and position data from said position reference system. 18. The system as claimed in claim 17, wherein: a color video camera records the actual color and gray scale distribution of the landing site during the approach; and the virtual natural perspective view is generated to approximate the actual color and gray scale distribution. 19. The system as claimed in claim 18, wherein to enhance the perception of the view, sunlight with shadow formation is simulated in the generated view as a function of solar attitude, which is known from position and the time of day information. 20. The system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the virtual natural perspective view is displayed on a display screen or a head-up display.