Capability envelope display methods and systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11538203-B2
Application number	US-202117316384-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 10, 2021
Priority date	May 10, 2021
Publication date	Dec 27, 2022
Grant date	Dec 27, 2022

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for displaying visualizations of a vehicle's capability with respect to an input query corresponding to a prospective action to modify operation of the vehicle. One method involves identifying one or more input query parameters, obtaining current status information for the vehicle, identifying one or more performance constraints for the vehicle, and determining a capability envelope for the vehicle for satisfying the one or more input query parameters for the prospective action based at least in part on the current status information and the one or more performance constraints. The capability envelope includes a plurality of potential trajectories for the vehicle different from a reference trajectory for the vehicle. The method provides graphical indicia of the one or more input query parameters and the capability envelope with respect to the reference trajectory on a navigational map display.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
identifying one or more input query parameters for a prospective action by a vehicle to modify operation of the vehicle;
obtaining current status information for the vehicle;
identifying one or more performance constraints for the vehicle;
determining a capability envelope for the vehicle for satisfying the one or more input query parameters for the prospective action based at least in part on the current status information and the one or more performance constraints, wherein the capability envelope comprises a plurality of potential trajectories for the vehicle different from a reference trajectory for the vehicle;
providing a graphical indication of the one or more input query parameters with respect to the reference trajectory for the vehicle on a navigational map on a display device associated with the vehicle; and
providing one or more graphical indicia of the capability envelope with respect to the reference trajectory for the vehicle on the navigational map.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the one or more graphical indicia of the capability envelope comprises:
displaying a graphical representation of a first potential trajectory of the plurality of potential trajectories on the navigational map, wherein the first potential trajectory corresponds to a first boundary of a capability range for the vehicle; and
displaying a graphical representation of a second potential trajectory of the plurality of potential trajectories on the navigational map, wherein the second potential trajectory corresponds to a second boundary of the capability range for the vehicle different from the first boundary.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
providing a first graphical indication of a first vehicle configuration associated with the first potential trajectory; and
providing a second graphical indication of a second vehicle configuration associated with the second potential trajectory, wherein the second vehicle configuration is different from the first vehicle configuration.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
providing a first graphical indication of a first performance impact associated with the first potential trajectory; and
providing a second graphical indication of a second performance impact associated with the second potential trajectory.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first potential trajectory is configured to maximize a performance attribute associated with operating the vehicle and the second potential trajectory is configured to minimize the performance attribute.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the performance attribute comprises one of cost, fuel consumption and travel time.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the graphical indication of the one or more input query parameters comprises displaying the graphical indication on the navigational map at a position corresponding to an input value for a query parameter.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein:
the input value for the query parameter comprises an altitude constraint for a waypoint; and
displaying the graphical indication comprises displaying a graphical representation of the waypoint on the navigational map at a position corresponding to the altitude constraint.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the vehicle comprises an aircraft;
the prospective action comprises a deviation from a planned route of travel according to a flight plan;
identifying the one or more input query parameters comprises automatically identifying the one or more input query parameters based on one or more communications received at the aircraft; and
the one or more communications include an air traffic control (ATC) request corresponding to the deviation.

10. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processing system, cause the processing system to:
obtain an input query comprising one or more parameters for a prospective action by a vehicle to modify operation of the vehicle;
obtain current status information for the vehicle;
identify one or more performance constraints for the vehicle;
determine a capability envelope for the vehicle for satisfying the one or more parameters for the prospective action based at least in part on the current status information and the one or more performance constraints;
provide, on a navigational map on a display device, a graphical indication of the input query with respect to a reference trajectory for the vehicle; and
provide, on the navigational map, one or more graphical indicia of the capability envelope with respect to the reference trajectory.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processing system to determine a plurality of potential trajectories for satisfying the one or more parameters based at least in part on the current status information and the one or more performance constraints by varying a configuration of the vehicle, wherein the capability envelope comprises the plurality of potential trajectories.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein:
the reference trajectory comprises a planned route of travel;
the prospective action comprises a deviation from the planned route of travel; and
the plurality of potential trajectories are different from the reference trajectory.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processing system to provide the one or more graphical indicia of the capability envelope by:
displaying a graphical representation of a first potential trajectory on the navigational map, wherein the first potential trajectory corresponds to a first capability boundary for the vehicle; and
displaying a graphical representation of a second potential trajectory on the navigational map, wherein the second potential trajectory corresponds to a second capability boundary for the vehicle different from the first capability boundary.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processing system to:
providing a first graphical indication of a first vehicle configuration associated with the first potential trajectory; and
providing a second graphical indication of a second vehicle configuration associated with the second potential trajectory, wherein the second vehicle configuration is different from the first vehicle configuration.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processing system to:
provide a first graphical indication of a first performance impact associated with the first potential trajectory; and
provide a second graphical indication of a second performance impact associated with the second potential trajectory.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the first potential trajectory is configured to maximize a performance attribute associated with operating the vehicle and the second potential trajectory is configured to minimize the performance attribute.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the performance attribute comprises one of cost, fuel consumption and travel time.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the graphical indication of the input query comprises a graphical element on the navigational map at a position corresponding to an input value for a first parameter of the one or more parameters.

19. The computer-readable medium

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Holder Barbara
• Dillard Michael
• Whitlow Stephen

Classifications

• B64D43/00

  Arrangements or adaptations of instruments · CPC title

• G06F3/04842

  Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06T11/26 Primary

  Drawing of charts or graphs · CPC title

• G06T11/206 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic

• G08G5/54

  for approach or landing · CPC title