Machine and process for vehicle trajectory control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025279008-A1
Application number	US-202519197085-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 2, 2025
Priority date	Oct 21, 2022
Publication date	Sep 4, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

Illustrative examples are provided of a process and machine configured to provide innovative technical solutions for: deriving a predicted trajectory for a vehicle; controlling a trajectory for a vehicle; and for reducing congestion in an Air Traffic Management system, via: a processor executing an algorithm specially programmed for: generating a baseline lateral profile for a baseline trajectory; subsequently generating a baseline vertical profile for the baseline trajectory; subsequently forming the baseline trajectory by merging the vertical profile with the baseline lateral profile; and using at least one of: a performance element, or a configuration element, from the baseline trajectory for deriving the predicted trajectory. The predicted trajectory is sent for use by a Flight Management System and/or an Air Traffic Management System.

First claim

1 . A process for guiding a vehicle, the process comprising:
a processor executing an algorithm specially programmed for:
generating a baseline lateral profile for a baseline trajectory;
generating a baseline vertical profile for the baseline trajectory;
forming the baseline trajectory by coupling the vertical profile with the baseline lateral profile; and
using at least one of: a performance element, or a configuration element, from the baseline trajectory for guiding the vehicle.

2 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising:
the vehicle traversing a series of turn points within a desired time and within a desired distance; and generating the baseline lateral profile via using instantaneous changes in a course of the vehicle at each turn point in the series of turn points.

3 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising:
respectively retrieving, at each turn point along the baseline trajectory, at least one of: the performance element or the configuration element of the vehicle; using at least one of: performance element or the configuration element, respectively, computing a turn radius at each turn point; and replacing, using the turn radius, the baseline lateral profile with an adjusted lateral profile.

4 . The process of claim 3 , further comprising:
generating, using the adjusted lateral profile, an adapted vertical profile; and forming a guided trajectory by merging the adjusted lateral profile with the adapted vertical profile.

5 . The process of claim 1 , wherein generating the vertical profile for the baseline trajectory comprises applying airspace constraints onto the baseline lateral profile.

6 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising:
subsequent to forming the baseline trajectory, adapting the vertical profile and therefrom deriving a guided trajectory.

7 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the performance element is a true airspeed.

8 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is an aerospace vehicle.

9 . A process for meeting constraints and objectives for a vehicle, the process comprising:
a processor executing an algorithm specially programmed for deriving a trajectory for the vehicle meeting the constraints and the objectives, via:
generating a baseline lateral profile for a baseline trajectory;
generating a vertical profile for the baseline trajectory;
forming the baseline trajectory by merging the vertical profile with the baseline lateral profile;
using at least one of: a performance element or a configuration element from the baseline trajectory for deriving a trajectory for the vehicle meeting the constraints and the objectives;
sending the predicted trajectory to a guidance unit for the vehicle; and
guiding a trajectory of the vehicle meeting the constraints and the objectives.

10 . The process of claim 9 , further comprising:
the constraints and the objectives comprising a series of turn points; and generating the baseline lateral profile via using instantaneous changes in a course of the vehicle at each turn point in the series of turn points traversing the series of turn points within a desired time and within a desired distance.

11 . The process of claim 9 , further comprising:
respectively retrieving, at each turn point along the baseline trajectory, at least one of: the performance element or the configuration element of the vehicle; and using at least one of: the performance element or the configuration element, respectively, computing a turn radius at each turn point; and replacing, using the turn radius, the baseline lateral profile with an adjusted lateral profile.

12 . The process of claim 11 , further comprising:
generating, using the adjusted lateral profile, an adapted vertical profile; and forming the trajectory by merging the adjusted lateral profile with the adapted vertical profile.

13 . The process of claim 9 , wherein the vehicle is an aerospace vehicle.

14 . The process of claim 9 , wherein generating the vertical profile for the baseline trajectory comprises applying airspace constraints onto the baseline lateral profile.

15 . The process of claim 9 , further comprising:
subsequent to forming the baseline trajectory, adapting the vertical profile and therefrom guiding the vehicle.

16 . A process for determining and deconflicting an aircraft intent, the process comprising:
deriving an intention of a vehicle, via:
a processor executing an algorithm specially programmed for:
generating a baseline lateral profile for a baseline trajectory;
generating a baseline vertical profile for the baseline trajectory;
forming the baseline trajectory by merging the baseline vertical profile with the baseline lateral profile; and
using at least one of: a performance element or a configuration element from the baseline trajectory for deriving the aircraft intent; and

receiving and using, the aircraft intent for deconflicting the aircraft intent for the vehicle from other derived aircraft intent of other vehicles.

17 . The process of claim 16 , further comprising:
the aircraft intent comprising traversing a series of turn points in a desired amount of time and a desired distance; and generating the baseline lateral profile via using instantaneous changes in a course of the vehicle at each turn point in the series of turn points.

18 . The process of claim 16 , further comprising:
respectively retrieving, at each turn point along the baseline trajectory, at least one of: the performance element or the configuration element of the vehicle; using at least one of: the performance element or the configuration element, respectively, computing a turn radius at each turn point; and replacing, using the turn radius, the baseline lateral profile with an adjusted lateral profile.

19 . The process of claim 18 , further comprising:
generating, using the adjusted lateral profile, an adapted vertical profile; and deriving the aircraft intent by merging the adjusted lateral profile with the adapted vertical profile.

20 . The process of claim 16 , wherein generating the vertical profile for the baseline trajectory comprises applying airspace constraints onto the baseline lateral profile, and further comprising, subsequent to forming the baseline trajectory, adapting the vertical profile and therefrom deriving the aircraft intent.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Frontera Sánchez Guillermo
• Lopez Leones Javier

Classifications

• G08G5/55

  for a single aircraft · CPC title

• G08G5/50

  Navigation or guidance aids · CPC title

• G08G5/22

  located on the ground · CPC title

• G08G5/26

  Transmission of traffic-related information between aircraft and ground stations · CPC title

• G08G5/59

  in accordance with predefined flight zones, e.g. to avoid prohibited zones · CPC title