Method and system for operating an aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12494136-B2
Application number	US-202318307962-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 27, 2023
Priority date	Apr 28, 2022
Publication date	Dec 9, 2025
Grant date	Dec 9, 2025

Abstract

A method for operating an aircraft ( 1 ) is provided, wherein for a predetermined trajectory (NT) of the aircraft ( 1 ) a volume enveloping the trajectory (NT) is determined, which volume includes a first, inner volume and a second, outer volume, and the second volume envelops the first volume. The first volume is composed of a plurality of first individual volumes (TVi) and the second volume is composed of a number of second individual volumes, which individual volumes (TVi) are calculated at each point of the trajectory (NT) on the basis of parameters (v i ) of an actual flight condition of the aircraft ( 1 ) at a respective time.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A method for operating an aircraft, the method comprising:
for a predetermined trajectory of the aircraft, determining, by a controller of the aircraft, a volume enveloping the predetermined trajectory, with the volume comprising a first, inner volume and a second, outer volume, wherein the second volume envelops the first volume, and the first volume is composed of a plurality of first individual volumes and the second volume is composed of a number of second individual volumes; calculating, by the controller, the first individual volumes and the second individual volumes at each point of the predetermined trajectory based on parameters of an actual flight condition of the aircraft at a respective time, wherein respective extensions of each the first individual volumes and the second individual volumes are greater in an aircraft direction of flight than in an opposite direction of the flight; when an unmanned operating mode of the aircraft is not active, signaling, by the controller, a head-up display of the aircraft that shows the first individual volumes and the second individual volumes; and when the unmanned operating mode of the aircraft is active, activating, by the controller, a function in a flight guidance system that performs recovery maneuvers based on the first individual volumes and the second individual volumes.

2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the parameters include at least one of: a planned speed of the aircraft, a flight altitude, a trajectory angle, weather conditions, worst-case behavior of the aircraft in an event of loss of control and feasibility of a recovery maneuver at a respective time.

3 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising calculating the first and the second individual volumes taking into account a direction of flight of the aircraft.

4 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising calculating the first and the second individual volumes at a time of flight.

5 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising calculating the first and the second individual volumes before a start of a mission of the aircraft.

6 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising continuously checking during a flight whether the aircraft is within the volume.

7 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising initiating recovery maneuvers upon determining that the aircraft has exited the first volume.

8 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising aborting a current mission if the aircraft is found to have exited the second volume, and initiating further measures.

9 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein in case of a manned operation of the aircraft, the method further comprises graphically displaying the first volume and the second volume to a pilot on board the aircraft in a display.

10 . The method as claimed in claim 9 , if the first volume is exited by the aircraft, the method further comprises at least one of visually or audibly requesting a pilot return to the predetermined trajectory.

11 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, in case of an unmanned operation of the aircraft, the method further comprises at least one of automatically triggering recovery maneuvers or requesting a remote pilot control takeover of the aircraft if the first volume is exited.

12 . The method as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising automatically notifying an operator of the aircraft and a responsible airspace surveillance agency.

13 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising carrying out a change of a control strategy of the aircraft including at least one of switching to a more robust, low-performance controller, or switching to a trajectory with lower requirements on a navigation performance of the aircraft.

14 . A system for operating an aircraft, the system comprising a head-up display and a controller including a volume determination module located on board the aircraft or on the ground and connected to the aircraft via a data link, said volume determination module is configured to:
for a predetermined trajectory of the aircraft, determine a volume enveloping the predetermined trajectory, with the volume comprising a first, inner volume and a second, outer volume, wherein the second volume envelops the first volume, and the first volume is composed of a plurality of first individual volumes and the second volume is composed of a number of second individual volumes; calculate the first individual volumes and the second individual volumes at each point of the predetermined trajectory based on parameters of an actual flight condition of the aircraft at a respective time, wherein respective extensions of each the first individual volumes and the second individual volumes are greater in an aircraft direction of flight than in an opposite direction of the flight; when an unmanned operating mode of the aircraft is not active, cause the head-up display to show the first individual volumes and the second individual volumes on the head-up display; and when the unmanned operating mode of the aircraft is active, activate a function in a flight guidance system that performs recovery maneuvers based on the first individual volumes and the second individual volumes.

15 . The system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the volume determination module is further configured to:
compare a respective geometry of the determined volumes with received navigation data of the aircraft; and command the flight guidance system to execute remedial measures in an event of a violation of at least one of the first volume or the second volume.

16 . An aircraft comprising:
a flight guidance system configured to cause flight maneuvers based on control commands; a head-up display; and a controller configured to command the flight guidance system by:
for a predetermined trajectory of the aircraft, determining a volume enveloping the predetermined trajectory, with the volume comprising a first, inner volume and a second, outer volume, wherein the second volume envelops the first volume, and the first volume is composed of a plurality of first individual volumes and the second volume is composed of a number of second individual volumes;
calculating the first individual volumes and the second individual volumes at each point of the predetermined trajectory based on parameters of an actual flight condition of the aircraft at a respective time, wherein respective extensions of each the first individual volumes and the second individual volumes are greater in an aircraft direction of flight than in an opposite direction of the flight;
when an unmanned operating mode of the aircraft is not active, cause the head-up display of the aircraft to show the first individual volumes and the second individual volumes on the head-up display; and
when the unmanned operating mode of the aircraft is active, activating a function in the flight guidance system that causes recovery flight maneuvers based on the first individual volumes and the second individual volumes.

17 . The aircraft as claimed in claim 16 , wherein when the first volume is exited by the aircraft, the controller is further configured to cause the head-up display of the aircraft to at least one of visually or audibly request a pilot return to the predetermined trajectory.

Assignees

• Volocopter Gmbh

Inventors

• Ortlieb Markus

Classifications

• G08G5/22

  located on the ground · CPC title

• G08G5/21 Primary

  located onboard the aircraft · CPC title

• G08G5/57

  for unmanned aircraft · CPC title

• G08G5/55 Primary

  for a single aircraft · CPC title

• G08G5/53

  for cruising · CPC title