초록 ▼

Disclosed is a method and system for managing a convoy of aircraft during taxiing. Taxi management is carried out by exchanging, by a first data transmission unit, information between the aircraft of the convoy concerning aircraft flight parameters of the aircraft within the convoy, and exchanging,

Disclosed is a method and system for managing a convoy of aircraft during taxiing. Taxi management is carried out by exchanging, by a first data transmission unit, information between the aircraft of the convoy concerning aircraft flight parameters of the aircraft within the convoy, and exchanging, between the aircraft of the convoy and at least one control station that manages the convoy collectively, information relating to the collective convoy. The exchange can be carried out by a second data transmission unit, with the ground control station receiving from each aircraft in the convoy information relating to convoy status, centralizing the received information, scheduling the convoy, and transmitting to each aircraft a convoy status table that indicates overall status of the convoy.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for managing a convoy of at least two aircraft which follow one another along a common taxi trajectory for taxiing on the ground, in which one aircraft is a leader aircraft, and at least one aircraft is a following aircraft that follows the leader aircraft, said method comprising the ste

1. A method for managing a convoy of at least two aircraft which follow one another along a common taxi trajectory for taxiing on the ground, in which one aircraft is a leader aircraft, and at least one aircraft is a following aircraft that follows the leader aircraft, said method comprising the steps of: exchanging, by a first data transmission unit, information between the aircraft of the convoy concerning flight parameters of the aircraft within the convoy;exchanging, between the aircraft of the convoy and at least one control station that manages the convoy collectively, information relating to the collective convoy, wherein:the exchange is carried out by a second data transmission unit, andsaid at least one control station receives from each aircraft in the convoy information relating to convoy status, centralizes the received information, schedules the convoy, and transmits to each aircraft a convoy status table that indicates overall status of the convoy, and which is updated according to status information transmitted individually by each aircraft; andwherein the following steps are carried out by a control system mounted on the following aircraft:generating a yaw speed instruction enabling the following aircraft to laterally follow a taxi trajectory for taxiing on the ground, which is common to the aircraft of said convoy;receiving the convoy status table, which describes current status of the convoy and indicates a longitudinal separation between said following aircraft and at least one preceding aircraft in the convoy;generating, according to said current status table, a longitudinal speed instruction enabling the following aircraft to observe said longitudinal separation; andcontrolling the following aircraft, according to said yaw speed instruction and said longitudinal speed instruction, to taxi on the ground within the convoy of aircraft. 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal speed instruction is limited by an allowable maximum speed envelope. 3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal speed instruction is calculated by taking into account one of the following information items: a separation between the following aircraft and a preceding aircraft in the convoy;a separation between the following aircraft and the leader aircraft of the convoy; andseparations between the following aircraft, the preceding aircraft and the leader aircraft. 4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said status table includes, for each aircraft of the convoy, at least the following information: aircraft rank in the convoy;names of the aircraft in the convoy; andseparation between aircraft. 5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the separation is based on type and dimensions of the following aircraft and the leader aircraft, on runway status and on visibility. 6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal speed instruction is monitored so as to: limit the longitudinal speed instruction within a limit of normal operational capabilities of the aircraft; andgrant a speed or acceleration authority greater than the limit of the normal operational capabilities of aircraft to maintain security conditions. 7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the leader aircraft of the convoy is piloted according to a speed profile that takes account constraints associated with at least one following aircraft of the convoy. 8. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of: attaching an aircraft to said convoy, by determining an attachment point which is situated on the ground and which represents a beginning portion of a common trajectory between the attached aircraft and the convoy, with said attached aircraft being attached upon passing said attachment point; anddetaching an aircraft from the convoy, by determining a detachment point which is situated on the ground and which represents a point marking an end portion of common trajectory between the detached aircraft and the convoy, with said aircraft being detached upon passing the detachment point at a predetermined safety distance. 9. An aircraft taxi management system for managing a convoy of at least two aircraft that follow one another along a common trajectory, wherein one aircraft is a lead aircraft and at least one aircraft is a following aircraft, said system comprising: at least one control station;first data transmission unit that exchanges information between the aircraft of the convoy relating to flight parameters of the aircraft within the convoy;second data transmission unit that exchanges, between the aircraft of the convoy and the at least one control station that manages the convoy collectively, information relating to the collective convoy, wherein the at least one control station receives from each aircraft information relating to convoy status, centralizes the received information, schedules the convoy, and transmits to each aircraft a convoy status table that indicates overall status of the convoy, and which is updated according to status information transmitted individually by each aircraft; anda control system mounted on the following aircraft which comprises:yaw speed generator that generates a yaw speed instruction for the at least one following aircraft to laterally follow a trajectory for taxiing on the ground, which is common to the aircraft of said convoy;convoy status unit that receives a current convoy status table, which describes current status of the convoy and indicates a longitudinal separation between said following aircraft and at least one preceding aircraft in the convoy;longitudinal speed instruction generator that generates, according to said status table, a longitudinal speed instruction enabling the following aircraft to observe said longitudinal separation; andcontrol assist unit that assists in controlling the following aircraft taxiing on the ground within the convoy, according to said yaw speed instruction and said longitudinal speed instruction. 10. The management system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said control assist unit further comprises: a guidance unit that automatically guides said following aircraft; anda display unit.