Systems and methods for managing center of gravity

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10486825-B2
Application number	US-201615377107-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 13, 2016
Priority date	Dec 13, 2016
Publication date	Nov 26, 2019
Grant date	Nov 26, 2019

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing a center of gravity of a vehicle on a display associated with the vehicle are provided. The method includes: determining an initial value of a center of gravity prior to a start of a journey, and receiving a value for a consumption of a fuel for the journey; determining, by a processor, a change in the center of gravity at each waypoint based on the initial value and the fuel consumed; generating a first user interface that illustrates the center of gravity at the waypoints over the journey and that illustrates that the change in the center of gravity exceeds a predefined threshold; based on the change in the center of gravity exceeding the predefined threshold, generating, a second user interface that provides a selection to bring the center of gravity below the predefined threshold; and updating the first user interface based on the selection.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for managing a center of gravity of a vehicle on a display associated with the vehicle, comprising:
determining, by a processor, an initial value of a forward center of gravity and an aft center of gravity for the vehicle prior to a start of a journey having a plurality of waypoints, and receiving a value for a consumption of a fuel by the vehicle between each waypoint of the journey from a source of data associated with the vehicle;
determining, by the processor, a change in the forward center of gravity and the aft center of gravity of the vehicle at each waypoint of the journey based on the initial value of the forward center of gravity and the aft center of gravity and the fuel consumed between each waypoint;
generating, by the processor, a first user interface for display on the display that illustrates the forward center of gravity and the aft center of gravity of the vehicle at one or more of the plurality of waypoints over the journey and that illustrates that the change in at least one of the forward center of gravity and the aft center of gravity for at least one of the one or more of the plurality of waypoints exceeds a predefined threshold;
rendering, by the processor, the first user interface on the display;
based on the change in the center of gravity for the at least one of the plurality of waypoints exceeding the predefined threshold, generating, by the processor, a second user interface for display on the display that provides a selection to bring the at least one of the forward center of gravity and the aft center of gravity below the predefined threshold at the at least one of the plurality of waypoints; and
updating, by the processor, the generated first user interface based on a receipt of the selection.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein updating, by the processor, the generated first user interface further comprises:
determining a position of the vehicle on the journey; and
updating, by the processor, the generated first user interface based on the selection and the position of the vehicle on the journey.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second user interface comprises at least one input box, and the method further comprises:
receiving input from an input device associated with the vehicle; and
updating, by the processor, the generated first user interface based on the received input.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating, by the processor, the second user interface for display on the display further comprises:
determining, by the processor, based on the change in the center of gravity for the at least one of the plurality of waypoints exceeding the predefined threshold, at least one weight to move a distance to result in a change of the at least one of the forward center of gravity and the aft center of gravity to a value below the predefined threshold, and the selection is based on the determining.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating, by the processor, the second user interface for display on the display further comprises:
determining a position of the vehicle on the journey; and
rendering the second user interface on the display based on the position of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first user interface is rendered on a vertical situation display.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first user interface is rendered on a flight planning page display.

8. A system for managing a center of gravity of a vehicle on a display associated with the vehicle, comprising:
a source of a position of the vehicle;
a source of journey data and fuel consumption data for the vehicle along the journey, the journey having a plurality of waypoints;
a processor onboard the vehicle and in communication with the display, and the processor:
determines a forward center of gravity and an aft center of gravity of the vehicle at each waypoint of the journey based on an initial value of the forward center of gravity and the aft center of gravity and the fuel consumption data;
generates first user interface data that indicates the forward center of gravity and the aft center of gravity of the vehicle at each of the plurality of waypoints over the journey and that indicates that at least one of the forward center of gravity and the aft center of gravity for at least one of the plurality of waypoints exceeds a predefined threshold;
renders a first user interface on the display based on the first user interface data;
determines the position of the vehicle on the journey;
generates, based on the position of the vehicle and the at least one of the forward center of gravity and the aft center of gravity for the at least one of the plurality of waypoints exceeding the predefined threshold, second user interface data that provides a selection to bring the at least one of the forward center of gravity and the aft center of gravity below the predefined threshold at the at least one of the plurality of waypoints;
renders a second user interface on the display based on the second user interface data; and
updates the generated first user interface based on a receipt of the selection.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first user interface data indicates whether the forward center of gravity or the aft center of gravity for at least one of the plurality of waypoints is near the predefined threshold.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the second user interface includes at least one input box that receives input data from an input device associated with the vehicle.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor updates the generated first user interface based on a receipt of the input data.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the selection is at least one weight to move a distance to result in a change of the at least one of the forward center of gravity and the aft center of gravity to a value below the predefined threshold, the at least one weight determined by the processor based on the at least one of the forward center of gravity and the aft center of gravity for the at least one of the plurality of waypoints exceeding the predefined threshold.

13. A computer program product for processing a digital signal, comprising:
a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method for managing a center of gravity of a vehicle on a display associated with the vehicle, comprising:
determining an initial value of a forward center of gravity and an aft center of gravity for the vehicle prior to a start of a journey having a plurality of waypoints, and receiving a value for a consumption of a fuel by the vehicle between each waypoint of the journey from a source of data associated with the vehicle;
determining a change in the forward center of gravity and the aft center of gravity of the vehicle at each waypoint of the journey based on the initial value of the forward center of gravity and the aft center of gravity and the fuel consumed between each waypoint;
generating a first user interface for display on the display that illustrates the forward center of gravity and the aft center of gravity of the vehicle at each of the plurality of waypoints over the journey and that illustrates that the change in at least one of the forward center of gravity and the aft center of gravity for at least one of the plurality of waypoints exceeds a predefined threshold;
rendering the first user interface on the display;
based on the change in the at least one of the forward center of gravity and the aft center of gravity for the at least one of the plurality of waypoints exceeding the predefin

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Gowda Sushma

Classifications

• G06F3/14

  Digital output to display device {; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units} · CPC title

• B64D43/00 Primary

  Arrangements or adaptations of instruments · CPC title

• G06F3/0482

  Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus · CPC title

• G01C21/00

  Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C19/00 (measuring distance traversed on the ground by a vehicle G01C22/00; control of position, course, altitude or attitude of vehicles G05D1/00; traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968) · CPC title

• G01M1/127 Primary

  during the flight · CPC title