Obstacle avoidance system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10176723-B2
Application number	US-201815979172-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 14, 2018
Priority date	Sep 9, 2016
Publication date	Jan 8, 2019
Grant date	Jan 8, 2019

Abstract

An obstacle avoidance system is provided to assist a pilot in avoiding obstacles. The obstacle avoidance system includes a set of proximity sensors and a pilot interface device. The set of proximity sensors detects nearby obstacles by emitting a signal and receiving a reflected signal from an obstacle. A processor receives an obstacle indication from the set of proximity sensors and detects the obstacle that is in proximity to the aircraft based at least in part on the reflected signal. The processor acquires a distance and a direction to the obstacle and calculates a threat level posed by the obstacle. The pilot interface device is operable to display the following: an ownship icon indicative of the aircraft, a velocity vector icon indicative of a velocity vector of the aircraft, and an obstacle graphic indicative of the distance, direction, and threat level of the obstacle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An obstacle avoidance system operable to detect and display obstacles in proximity to an aircraft, the obstacle avoidance system comprising:
a display;
a communications element operable to receive an obstacle indication from one or more proximity sensors associated with the aircraft during flight of the aircraft, the aircraft having one or more rotor blades generating lift to hover and move the aircraft through the air in any direction,
wherein the obstacle indication is associated with a signal reflected from an obstacle;
a processor coupled with the display and the communications element, the processor operable to:
acquire a distance and a direction to the obstacle from the aircraft based upon the obstacle indication,
determine a threat level posed by the obstacle to the aircraft,
determine an obstacle display including an ownship icon and an obstacle graphic indicative of the distance and the direction to the obstacle from the aircraft and a breadth of the obstacle, the obstacle graphic including a threat indication based upon the determined threat level posed to the aircraft by the obstacle, and
control the display to present the determined obstacle display;

wherein breadth of the obstacle indicated by annular arc-width associated with the breadth of the obstacle.

2. The obstacle avoidance system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further operable to:
determine a velocity vector icon indicative of movement of the aircraft in a direction,
determine a projected-position indication that is indicative of a projected location of the aircraft after a time lapse, and
control the display to present the velocity vector icon and the projected-position indication.

3. The obstacle avoidance system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further operable to determine a front side of the obstacle based on the obstacle indication received from the one or more proximity sensors.

4. The obstacle avoidance system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further operable to determine endpoints of the obstacle and determine the breadth of the obstacle based on the endpoints.

5. The obstacle avoidance system of claim 4 , wherein the endpoints of the obstacle are determined based upon the obstacle indication received from the one or more proximity sensors.

6. The obstacle avoidance system of claim 4 , wherein the processor is further operable to identify multiple sides of the obstacle based on the obstacle indication received from the one or more proximity sensors.

7. The obstacle avoidance system of claim 1 , wherein the obstacle graphic has a location and width corresponding to the location of the obstacle relative to the aircraft, and wherein the processor is further operable to scale the location and width of the obstacle graphic based on the determined distance and direction to the obstacle from the aircraft.

8. An obstacle avoidance system operable to detect and display obstacles in proximity to an aircraft, the obstacle avoidance system comprising:
a display;
a communications element operable to receive an obstacle indication from one or more proximity sensors associated with the aircraft during flight of the aircraft, the aircraft having one or more rotor blades generating lift to hover and move the aircraft through the air in any direction,
wherein the obstacle indication is associated with a signal reflected from an obstacle;
a processor coupled with the display and the communications element, the processor operable to:
acquire an altitude of the obstacle and a distance and a direction to the obstacle from the aircraft based upon the obstacle indication,
determine an altitude of the aircraft,
determine an obstacle display including an ownship icon and an obstacle graphic indicative of the distance and the direction to the obstacle from the aircraft and a breadth of the obstacle, the obstacle graphic including a relative altitude indication configured to indicate whether the obstacle is above or below the aircraft, and
control the display to present the determined obstacle display;

wherein breadth of the obstacle indicated by annular arc-width associated with the breadth of the obstacle.

9. The obstacle avoidance system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further operable to:
determine a velocity vector icon indicative of movement of the aircraft in a direction,
determine a projected-position indication that is indicative of a projected location of the aircraft after a time lapse, and
control the display to present the velocity vector icon and the projected-position indication.

10. The obstacle avoidance system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further operable to determine a front side of the obstacle based on the obstacle indication received from the one or more proximity sensors.

11. The obstacle avoidance system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further operable to determine endpoints of the obstacle and determine the breadth of the obstacle based on the endpoints.

12. The obstacle avoidance system of claim 11 , wherein the endpoints of the obstacle are determined based upon the obstacle indication received from the one or more proximity sensors.

13. The obstacle avoidance system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further operable to identify multiple sides of the obstacle based on the obstacle indication received from the one or more proximity sensors.

14. The obstacle avoidance system of claim 8 , wherein the obstacle graphic has a location and width corresponding to the location of the obstacle relative to the aircraft, and wherein the processor is further operable to scale the location and width of the obstacle graphic based on the determined distance and direction to the obstacle from the aircraft.

Assignees

• Garmin Int Inc

Inventors

• Gadgil Anup A
• Komer Joseph L

Classifications

• G08G5/0078

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06F3/00

  Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements · CPC title

• G08G5/0021

  Physics · mapped topic

• G08G5/0052

  Physics · mapped topic

• G01C23/00

  Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration · CPC title