Systems and methods for displaying a pilot display for an aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11912430-B2
Application number	US-202217732354-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2022
Priority date	Apr 28, 2022
Publication date	Feb 27, 2024
Grant date	Feb 27, 2024

Abstract

In an aspect of the present disclosure a pilot display system for an aircraft includes a sensor configured to measure an aircraft position and generate a position datum based on the aircraft position, a display incorporated in the aircraft, and a computing device communicatively connected to the sensor and the display, the computing device configured to receive a flight path including a transition point, determine, from the position datum, the aircraft position relative to the transition point, and command the display to display a visual representation of the aircraft position relative to the transition point.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pilot display system for an aircraft, the system comprising:
a sensor configured to continuously measure a current aircraft position and generate a position datum based on the aircraft position;
a display incorporated in the aircraft; and
a computing device communicatively connected to the sensor and the display, the computing device configured to:
receive a flight path that includes a transition point, wherein the transition point is a point in or section of the flight path where a transition will occur;
determine, from the position datum, the aircraft position relative to the transition point;
command the display to display:
a visual representation of the aircraft position relative to the transition point, wherein the visual representation comprises an icon, wherein a position of the icon is based on the aircraft position relative to the flight path; and
a progression of a transition in style of flight, wherein the transition comprises transitioning between fixed-wing flight and vertical rotor-based flight; and

command the display to alter a color of the icon as a function of a degree of deviation of the aircraft position from the flight path.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the visual representation is configured to represent the transition in style of flight, wherein the visual representation further comprises a location of the icon relative to a horizon during the style in flight transition and a corresponding degree of correction for pitch of the aircraft.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the display comprises a visual representation of a horizon, wherein the icon positioned on the horizon signifies that the aircraft is in the flight path.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flight path is based on a flight plan.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the aircraft is an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft comprising at least a vertical propulsor.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the eVTOL comprises at least a forward propulsor.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the transition point comprises a first altitude, the position datum comprises a second altitude, and determining, from the position datum, the aircraft position relative the transition point further comprises comparing the first altitude and the second altitude.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the display is a heads-up display.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is further configured to command the display to display an image of at least an arrow to indicate a corrective maneuver of the aircraft as a function of the degree of deviation of the aircraft position from the flight path.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flight path is based on at least a state of charge of a battery of the aircraft.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein commanding the display to display further comprises indicating an acceptable range of time remaining for completion of the transition based on the aircraft position.

12. A method for displaying a pilot display for an aircraft, the method comprising:
receiving, at a computing device, a flight path that includes a transition point, wherein the transition point is a point in or section of the flight path where a transition will occur;
determining, at the computing device and from a position datum, a current aircraft position relative to the transition point;
commanding, by the computing device, the display to display:
a visual representation of the aircraft position relative to the transition point, wherein the visual representation comprises an icon, wherein a position of the icon is based on the aircraft position relative to the flight path; and
a progression of a transition in style of flight, wherein the transition comprises transitioning between fixed-wing flight and vertical rotor-based flight; and

commanding, by the computing device, the display to alter a color of the icon as a function of a degree of deviation of the aircraft position from the flight path.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the visual representation is configured to represent the transition in style of flight, wherein the visual representation further comprises a location of the icon relative to a horizon during the style in flight transition and a corresponding degree of correction for pitch of the aircraft.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the display comprises a visual representation of a horizon, wherein the icon positioned on the horizon signifies that the aircraft is in the flight path.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the flight path is based on a flight plan.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the aircraft is an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft comprising at least a vertical propulsor.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the eVTOL comprises at least a forward propulsor.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the transition point comprises a first altitude, the position datum comprises a second altitude, and determining, from the position datum, the aircraft position relative the transition point further comprises comparing the first altitude and the second altitude.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the display is a heads-up display.

20. The method of claim 12 , wherein commanding the display to display further comprises indicating an acceptable range of time remaining for completion of the transition based on the aircraft position.

Assignees

• Beta Air Llc
• Beta Tech Inc

Inventors

• Moy Nicholas
• Freiheit Collin
• Auerbach Joshua E

Classifications

• G08G5/21 Primary

  located onboard the aircraft · CPC title

• G08G5/34 Primary

  for flight plan modification · CPC title

• B64D43/00 Primary

  Arrangements or adaptations of instruments · CPC title

• B64C29/00

  Aircraft capable of landing or taking-off vertically, e.g. vertical take-off and landing [VTOL] aircraft (rotorcraft B64C27/00) · CPC title

• G08G5/0039

  Physics · mapped topic