System and method for optimizing an aircraft trajectory

Abstract

Systems and methods of the present invention are provided to generate a plurality of flight trajectories that do not conflict with other aircraft in a local area. Interventions by an air traffic control system help prevent collisions between aircraft, but these interventions can also cause an aircraft to substantially deviate from the pilot's intended flight trajectory, which burns fuels, wastes time, etc. Systems and methods of the present invention can assign a standard avoidance interval to other aircraft in the area such that a pilot's aircraft does not receive an intervention by an air traffic control system. Systems and methods of the present invention also generate a plurality of conflict-free flight trajectories such that a pilot or an automated system may select the most desirable flight trajectory for fuel efficiency, speed, and other operational considerations, etc.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 191,573 filed Jul. 13, 2015, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to the systems and methods for generating flight trajectories for aircraft in flight to meet operational requirements, minimize fuel burn, reduce off path vectoring, and minimize the number of level flight segments during climbs and descents.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) around the world maintain air traffic control systems (ATCs) to organize the flow of aircraft traffic in a particular airspace and to avoid conflicts and prevent collisions among airborne aircraft. To accomplish this task, ATCs rely on ground-based radar systems to determine the “state vector” of an aircraft which includes altitude, position, East-West v...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]In accordance with the invention, systems and methods are provided for generating a plurality of conflict-free flight trajectories that best suits one or more selected operational requirements of a pilot, an AOC, an ATC, etc. The plurality of conflict-free flight trajectories provide more than separation assurance from other aircraft. The plurality of flight trajectories is free of conflicts such as other aircraft, weather events, no-fly zones, and other restrictions. In addition, the conflict-free flight trajectories are vetted or calculated based on one or more parameters. For example, flight trajectories may be generated based on fuel efficiency, time efficiency, optimum airspeed, and combinations of the same. The resulting plurality of conflict-free flight trajectories saves fuel and time, offers flexibility to pilots and airlines, reduces the workload of ATCs, reduces fuel burn, reduces noise, reduces the emission of carbon dioxide, and reduces nitric oxide by requiring fewer interventions.

[0018]Another example of an EMW is when the pilot wishes to avoid spending time at an altitude (or range of altitudes) where aircraft structural icing occurs. By inserting EMWs into the trajectory the instant aircraft could avoid spending time at altitudes where icing conditions exist. In yet another example the aircraft's total energy could be managed to avoid possible injury to passengers and crew by being within the optimum speed for penetration of turbulent airspace. By inserting EMWs into the trajectory the instant aircraft can travel at the proper speed for turbulent conditions and avoid excessively violent gyrations associated with flying too fast in turbulent air.

Problems solved by technology

For example, if the instant aircraft determines a flight trajectory that passes within the SAI assigned to another aircraft, then there is a conflict because the instant aircraft is passing too close to the other aircraft.

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