초록 ▼

The invention relates to a method and device for determining a reliable position of an aircraft. The device (1) includes means (3, 10) for determining different aircraft position values and means (8, 16, 18) for deducing a reliable position therefrom, using coherence tests and a consolidation method

The invention relates to a method and device for determining a reliable position of an aircraft. The device (1) includes means (3, 10) for determining different aircraft position values and means (8, 16, 18) for deducing a reliable position therefrom, using coherence tests and a consolidation method.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for determining a reliable position of an aircraft, according to which method the following operations are carried out: a) producing, by a computer disposed in the aircraft, at least three first position values which each relate to a current position of the aircraft, each of the at least

1. A method for determining a reliable position of an aircraft, according to which method the following operations are carried out: a) producing, by a computer disposed in the aircraft, at least three first position values which each relate to a current position of the aircraft, each of the at least three first position values being produced on a basis of information arising respectively from onboard receivers which are associated with a satellite positioning system, and determining for each of the at least three first position values a probability space, each probability space being centered around a corresponding position value and defining a volume in which, with a probability greater than a predetermined threshold, an actual position of the aircraft is situated;b) implementing consistency tests to verify whether the at least three first position values are mutually consistent, the consistency tests making it possible to declare for each of the at least three first position values whether or not the respective first position value is valid in terms of reliability, said consistency tests comprising testing position values pairwise, each of the consistency tests comprising determining a threshold value which depends on radii of the probability spaces associated with the two tested position values and comparing a distance between the two tested position values with said threshold value and determining that a reliability problem exists if said distance is greater than the threshold value;c) calculating at least two second position values which each relate to the current position of the aircraft and which correspond to hybrid position values with an aid of said at least three first position values and with an aid of inertial information;d) implementing additional consistency tests to verify whether said at least two second position values are mutually consistent, the additional consistency tests making it possible to declare for each of said at least two second position values whether or not the respective second position value is valid in terms of reliability; ande) determining, on the basis of at least certain of said at least three first and the at least two second position values which have been declared valid based on the consistency tests and the additional consistency tests implemented in said operations b) and d), a reliable current position of the aircraft with the aid of a consolidation scheme. 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising indicating that a fault is responsible for a lack of reliability of a specific position value if the specific position value is declared invalid in one of operations b) and d). 3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, in operation b), determining a first auxiliary reliable position on the basis of said at least three first position values by implementing a consolidation scheme, the first auxiliary reliable position being able to be transmitted to a user system. 4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, in operation d), determining a second auxiliary reliable position on the basis of said at least two second position values by implementing a consolidation scheme, the second auxiliary reliable position being able to be transmitted to a user system. 5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, in operation c), determining said at least two second position values only with the aid of first position values which have been declared valid in operation b). 6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein implementing the consolidation scheme comprises: α) conducting consistency tests to verify all pairs of position values so as to eliminate any unreliable position value;β) conducting performance tests to identify, from among the position values tested in operation α), a pair of position values exhibiting the best reliability; andγ) calculating, on the basis of the pair of position values exhibiting the best reliability, an intermediate position value, as well as an associated probability space, the intermediate position value corresponding to said reliable current position of the aircraft. 7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein in operation a), two of said onboard receivers used are intended for navigation and a third of said onboard receivers used is intended only for monitoring. 8. A device configured to determine a reliable position of an aircraft, said device comprising: a system configured to produce at least three first position values which each relate to a current position of the aircraft, said system comprising receivers carried onboard which are associated with a satellite positioning system and which are each configured to provide information making it possible to produce the at least three first position values, a probability space being determined for each of the at least three first position values, each probability space being centered around a corresponding first position value and defining a volume in which, with a probability greater than a predetermined threshold, an actual position of the aircraft is situated;a first implementation section that implements consistency tests that enable verification of whether the at least three first position values are mutually consistent and make it possible to declare for each of said at least three first position values whether or not the respective first position value is valid in terms of reliability, said consistency tests consisting in testing position values pairwise, each consistency test consisting in determining a threshold value which depends on radii of the probability spaces associated with the two tested position values and in comparing a distance between the two tested position values with said threshold value so that, if said distance is greater than the threshold value, there exists a reliability problem;a calculation section that calculates, with an aid of said at least three first position values and with an aid of inertial information, at least two second position values which each relate to the current position of the aircraft and which correspond to hybrid position values;a second implementation section that implements consistency tests that (i) enable verification of whether said at least two second position values are mutually consistent and (ii) make it possible to declare for each of said at least two second position values whether or not the respective second position value is valid in terms of reliability; anda determination section that determines, on the basis of at least certain of said at least three first and the at least two second position values which have been declared valid by said first and second implementation sections, a reliable current position of the aircraft, by implementing a consolidation scheme.