System and method for aiding a pilot in locating an out of view landing site

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9523580-B2
Application number	US-201414558195-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 2, 2014
Priority date	Dec 2, 2014
Publication date	Dec 20, 2016
Grant date	Dec 20, 2016

Abstract

A system and method for displaying symbology that is indicative of the direction of a landing site is provided. The provided system and method generate and display, prior to the rotorcraft reaching the MAP, symbology that conveys visual guidance that may be quickly and easily comprehended by a pilot. The provided system and method reduce the pilot's visual scan area and associated search time, reducing cognitive workload and increasing situational awareness.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for displaying, on a rotorcraft display system, symbology indicative of the direction of a rotorcraft landing site from the rotorcraft, the method comprising:
receiving, by a processor, avionics data comprising a rotorcraft current position, a rotorcraft current approach, and a rotorcraft landing site;
processing the avionics data to determine a direction from the rotorcraft current position to the rotorcraft landing site;
driving a monitor to display a composite image of navigation information overlaid with symbology indicative of the received avionics data; and
displaying, on the composite image, symbology (i) indicative of the direction to the rotorcraft landing site from the rotorcraft current position, and (ii) indicative of a narrowed scan area surrounding the direction of the rotorcraft landing site.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying symbology further comprises rendering an arrow extending from the rotorcraft current position toward the rotorcraft landing site.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the symbology indicative of the narrowed scan area comprises a visually distinguishable predetermined shape extending plus or minus five degrees from the arrow, and overlaid on the arrow, wherein the number of degrees is customizable by the user.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the symbology indicative of the direction to the rotorcraft landing site comprises
a visually distinguishable predetermined shape comprising a plurality of edges surrounding the rotorcraft current position.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
identifying a first edge of the plurality of edges that is closest to the rotorcraft landing site; and
rendering the first edge in a visually distinguishable manner with respect to the remainder of the plurality of edges.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising altering the color of the first edge.

7. A rotorcraft display system, the system comprising:
a source of avionics data;
a monitor; and
a processor coupled to the source of avionics data and the monitor, the processor configured to (i) receive avionics data comprising a rotorcraft current position, a rotorcraft current approach course, and rotorcraft landing site information, (ii) determine therefrom a direction from the rotorcraft current position to the rotorcraft landing site, (iii) drive the monitor to display a composite image of navigation information overlaid with symbology indicative of the received avionics data; and (iv) generate symbology on the composite image that is (a) graphically indicative of the rotorcraft current position, the direction from the rotorcraft current position to the rotorcraft landing site, and a narrowed scan area surrounding the rotorcraft landing site.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to render an arrow pointing from the current position to the landing site.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to: overlay the arrow with a visually distinguishable first predetermined shape extending plus or minus five degrees from the arrow, wherein the number of degrees is customizable by the user.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to (i) display a second predetermined shape comprising a plurality of edges, (ii) identify a first edge of the plurality of edges that is closest to the rotorcraft landing site, and (iii) render the first edge in a visually distinguishable manner with respect to the remainder of the plurality of edges.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to alter the color of the first edge.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to alter the thickness of the first edge.

13. A method for displaying, on a rotorcraft display system, symbology indicative of a rotorcraft landing site, the method comprising:
receiving, by a processor, avionics data comprising a rotorcraft current position, a rotorcraft current approach, and a rotorcraft landing site;
determining, in response to the received avionics data, (i) a direction of the rotorcraft landing site from the rotorcraft current position, and (ii) a narrowed scan area around the rotorcraft landing site; and
displaying symbology indicative of (i) the direction of the rotorcraft landing site from the current position, and (ii) the narrowed scan area around the rotorcraft landing site.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein displaying symbology comprises rendering an arrow extending from the rotorcraft current position toward the rotorcraft landing site.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the symbology indicative of the direction to the rotorcraft landing site comprises a predetermined shape comprising a plurality of edges surrounding the rotorcraft.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein displaying symbology comprises rendering an arrow within the predetermined shape that extends from the rotorcraft current position to a point on the boundary of the predetermined shape that is closest to the landing site, and wherein the narrowed scan area extends equally around on each side of the arrow within the predetermined shape.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of rendering comprises altering the thickness of the first edge.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
identifying a first edge of the predetermined shape that is closest to the landing site; and
rendering the first edge in a visually distinguishable manner.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of rendering comprises altering the color of the first edge.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising rendering the arrow in a first color and rendering the narrowed scan area in a second color.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Mohideen Mohammed Ibrahim
• Patil Sunita
• S Anoop
• Kilbourne Steve
• Wayman Ronald Brian

Classifications

• B64D45/04 Primary

  Landing aids; Safety measures to prevent collision with earth's surface · CPC title

• G01C23/005

  Flight directors (indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32) · CPC title

• G05D1/0202

  specially adapted to aircraft · CPC title

• G01C21/00 Primary

  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

• G05D1/0676

  specially adapted for landing · CPC title