135 results about "Aircraft Pilots" patented technology

An aircraft display and control system generally includes a processor, a cursor control and selection device, an aeronautical information database, a geographic database, and a plurality of display devices. Users, such as an aircraft pilot and copilot, can perform flight plan entry and modification by manipulating graphical information on the display devices using cursor control. In one embodiment, the present invention allows multiple members of an aircraft crew to share control of common flight information display areas, aids the crew's situational awareness by providing software-implemented dynamic symbology and highlighting to indicate cursor location, current panel of entry, and current focus for keyboard and cursor events.

Method and system for automatically displaying, visually and / or audibly and / or by an audible alarm signal, relevant weather data for an identified aircraft pilot, when each of a selected subset of measured or estimated aviation situation parameters, corresponding to a given aviation situation, has a value lying in a selected range. Each range for a particular pilot may be a default range, may be entered by the pilot and / or may be automatically determined from experience and may be subsequently edited by the pilot to change a range and to add or delete parameters describing a situation for which a display should be provided. The pilot can also verbally activate an audible display or visual display of selected information by verbal entry of a first command or a second command, respectively, that specifies the information required.

An aircraft display and control system generally includes a processor, a cursor control and selection device, a multifunction keyboard, an aeronautical information database, a geographic database, and a plurality of display devices. Users, such as an aircraft pilot and copilot, can perform flight plan entry and modification by manipulating graphical and textual information on the display devices using the cursor control device and the multifunction keyboard. In one embodiment, the present invention provides an interface to flight deck information systems that is intuitive and easy to use, and which enables flight crew members to easily and effectively enter and modify data displayed by the aircraft flight deck, substantially centralizes avionics controls within one controller, and decreases flight crew “heads-down” time.

The invention relates to a device for assisting in the choice of a diversion airport for an aircraft piloted by a crew (200), said aircraft comprising a flight management system including location means (207) calculating the position of the aircraft, said device comprising a navigation database (202) and a performance database (203) of the aircraft, said device being characterized in that it comprises:a company database (201) comprising airports and characteristics of said airports,means (205) of calculating a list of airports, called candidate airports, from the airports in the company database, from the navigation database and from the selected characteristics by the crew,means (204) for calculating remaining flight time and fuel consumption predictions for each of the candidate airports from the position of the aircraft, from weather conditions and from the performance database,an interface giving the favoured airports for diversion according to pre-established criteria or determined in real time using the interface.

This invention relates to a method and system for increasing safety in chemical application from an aircraft. Wind speed, wind direction and other critical flight parameters are measured, calculated, recorded, and visually or audibly announced during the aircraft flight via onboard equipment, which parameters provide a means for the aircraft pilot to control chemical spray application and for unassisted automatic chemical spray cutoff and for limiting spray application outside an application zone or target area. Such parameters also provide a means for indicating the lift reserve of the aircraft and a means for determining atmospheric stability near the ground and providing the pilot with a record of the meteorological conditions at a particular location. The method and system of the present invention also provide a means for predicting appropriate aircraft upwind offset distance to compensate for predicted chemical spray drift.

The present invention provides an alert interactive system designed to serve as an alertness tool to ensure that a person, such as an aircraft pilot, a car or truck driver, a soldier or sailor on watch, or a security professional, remains alert. The alert interactive system provides instructions and time for the person to enter a code, and provides an alert to that person and others when the code is not entered timely and correctly. The present invention indicates when the person is not alert, and may be taking a nap, may be fully asleep, or unconsciousness.

A meteorological information system useable by aircraft pilots and others. A receiver-calculator unit receives raw meteorological data and site-specific physical data from a ground-based weather station having a signal transmitter for broadcasting signals conveying data about weather conditions at the station. The transmitted raw data signals are received by the receiver-calculator unit in the aircraft. The receiver-calculator unit may feature an input with which the operator inputs information about the physical character, such as the heading, of the runway of interest. The receiver-calculator unit processes both received raw weather data and received site-specific physical data, and / or operator-input data, to derive additional meteorological information. The raw and derived weather conditions information is displayed by the unit to be available to the aircraft pilot during landing or take-off maneuvers. Optionally, the apparatus uses known algorithms for determining aircraft performance characteristics to process raw and derived weather and site-specific data to determine the relative safety of proposed aircraft maneuvers, such as take-off.

A function for generating guidance data from the GNSS data and the inertial data (IRS1) with integrated fault detection is distributed on the inertial reference units and the digital processing boards of said multimode receivers. Application to an augmented GLS guidance mode for category I to III approach operations.

A system and method for setting, controlling, or maintaining a selected taxi speed and route for one or more aircraft equipped with an onboard non-engine powered drive means powering one or more aircraft wheels to move the aircraft during taxi is provided. Taxi speed and / or route can be set, maintained, or controlled by the aircraft pilot or ground traffic control in conjunction with taxi speed and travel of other aircraft and ground vehicles. A pilot activates a speed control to set and control taxi speed. The aircraft will automatically travel on the ground at that speed without input from the pilot until it is necessary to change the speed manually or automatically. Airport ground traffic control can generate taxi profiles for all non-engine driven aircraft to automatically control, subject to pilot capability to override, the taxi of multiple aircraft at an airport in conjunction with ground vehicle movement.

This invention is an automatic or semi-automatic bladder relief system for users that require disposal of urine in the absence of sanitary facilities, like aircraft pilots and incontinent individuals. It incorporates an inflatable urine collector deflatable after use. It incorporates disposable batteries into a disposable urine storage bag with an isolated cleaning fluid chamber with directional valve and pump system that automatically rinses and sanitizes the pump, hoses, collection means and user with cleaning fluid stored in the cleaning fluid chamber. The urine storage bag has a failsafe device in the event of system failure, it being detachable from the pump with a stored extendable portion forming a seal with user's body allowing urination into the bag without urine splash-back and upon completion the user places the extended portion back into the unit closing it with a ziplock. The storage bag contains absorbent polymer crystals absorbing the deposited urine.

Oxygen breathing masks with a sound pickup device. A microphone capsule of the sound pick-up device is positioned at the base of a mouth-piece whose aperture is placed just before the mask user's mouth. Such a mask may find particular application for aircraft pilots.

This invention relates to an automatic or semi-automatic bladder relief system, specifically designed to increase the overall sanitation and comfort for users that may require a means to dispose of their urine in the absence of other sanitary facilities due to situations such as aircraft pilots and incontinent individuals. For user comfort this invention incorporates an inflatable urine collection means that may be deflated after use.

This invention is an automatic or semi-automatic bladder relief system which increases sanitation and comfort for users requiring a means to dispose of urine in the absence of sanitary facilities, such as aircraft pilots and incontinent individuals. This invention incorporates an inflatable urine collection means that may be deflated after use. The power unit incorporates a battery that is integrated into a disposable urine storage bag or into a disposable female pad or male cup. This invention utilizes a disposable urine storage bag with an isolated cleaning fluid chamber with a directional valve and pump system automatically rinsing and sanitizing the pump, hoses, collection means and the user with a cleaning fluid stored in the cleaning fluid chamber of the disposable urine storage bag. The disposable urine storage bag contains absorbent polymer crystals absorbing the urine as it is deposited in the bag during use.

An aircraft display and control system generally includes a processor, a cursor control and selection device, a multifunction keyboard, an aeronautical information database, a geographic database, and a plurality of display devices. Users, such as an aircraft pilot and copilot, can perform flight plan entry and modification by manipulating graphical and textual information on the display devices using the cursor control device and the multifunction keyboard. In one embodiment, the present invention provides an interface to flight deck information systems that is intuitive and easy to use, and which enables flight crew members to easily and effectively enter and modify data displayed by the aircraft flight deck, substantially centralizes avionics controls within one controller, and decreases flight crew “heads-down” time.

This invention relates to an automatic or semi-automatic bladder relief system, specifically designed to increase the overall sanitation and comfort for users requiring a means to dispose of urine in the absence of sanitary facilities in situations such as aircraft pilots and incontinent individuals. This invention incorporates an inflatable urine collection means that may be deflated after use. The power unit incorporates a disposable battery that is integrated into a disposable urine storage bag. This invention also utilizes a disposable urine storage bag with an isolated cleaning fluid chamber with a directional valve and pump system automatically rinsing and sanitizing the pump, hoses, collection means and the user with a cleaning fluid stored in the cleaning fluid chamber of the disposable urine storage bag. The disposable urine storage bag contains absorbent polymer crystals absorbing the urine as it is deposited in the bag during use.

An armrest assembly for an aircraft. The armrest assembly includes an insert. The insert includes a flange for coupling to an aircraft interior panel. The insert also includes a protruding portion. The protruding portion includes a cavity. The cavity has a length greater than 12 inches and has a width greater than 2 inches. The armrest assembly also includes an armrest. The armrest is attached to the cavity. The armrest includes an upper surface for supporting the arm of an aircraft pilot or passenger. The armrest's upper surface has a length that is greater than 12 inches and has a width that is greater than 2 inches.

A system and method are provided for improving aircraft pilot situational awareness. When datalink messages and / or automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data and / or various other data are received in the aircraft, the received data are processed to generate a spatial and temporal situational model for the aircraft. At least a portion of the spatial and temporal situational model is rendered on a display device within the aircraft.

A vision enhancement system providing an enhanced image of the user's field of view. The enhanced image is projected in the user's line of sight using a CMOS camera to image the field of view, a small programmable image processor chip and a high resolution display. The invention provides a small, efficient, lightweight sensor that offers high resolution, wide field-of-view, and broad spectral coverage. In preferred embodiments the system is installed on aircraft pilot helmets to allow pilots enhanced visibility with minimal impact to normal operations.

A method and system are disclosed for assessing the capability of a first person to operate a machine, such as an aircraft or other transport vehicle. The method includes the steps of:(a) Sensing the value of at least one, and preferably two or more information parameters for assessing the fitness of the person operating the machine. The parameters include one or a combination of electroencephalogram information, electrocardiogram information, heart rate information, respiratory rate information, eye motion information, eyelid position information, eyelid motion information, expired gas mixture information, blood oxygen content information, blood oxygen saturation information and blood pressure information for the person operating the machine, and / or information about operation of the machine as well as information about actions taken by the person operating the machine.(b) Determining whether at least one value of one information parameter is / are not within the range of values deemed to be acceptable for a capable person.(c) Indicating when the at least one information parameter is / are not within the range of acceptable values, thereby indicating the person's decreased fitness and ability to operate the machine.

The present invention relates to software for training an aircraft pilot to respond to the failure of one or more engines of a multi-engine aircraft during flight. The software simulates engine failure through the use of software imposed power output limits on the one or more engines for which failure is simulated. In certain embodiments, the software of the present invention sets one or more of the engine condition gauges to a fictitious readings corresponding to readings that would be displayed in the event of an actual engine failure.

The invention discloses a three-dimensional high-directivity infrared aircraft landing guide system. The three-dimensional high-directivity aircraft landing guide system is mainly characterized in that optical images with required aircraft landing information are generated in air by the aid of high-penetration and high-directivity infrared laser light via an optical system and can cover large flight intervals, so that aircrafts can detect the optical images in the large flight intervals, and the aircrafts or aircraft pilots can be guided via the information provided by the optical images to find the optimal landing routes, and the aircrafts can be smoothly landed. The three-dimensional high-directivity infrared aircraft landing guide system has the advantages that the navigation information is pertinently transmitted only in specific directions by the aid of the high-directivity infrared laser light, accordingly, energy wastage can be reduced, the navigable distances can be increased, and the anti-interference performance can be improved.

A carrying case for storing and transporting various items. The carrying case is especially useful as a flight bag. The carrying case includes an organizing flap hinged to the carrying case, and one or more organizing pockets or internal flaps that are hinged to the organizing flap. The organizing pockets can thus be opened and rotated like pages of a book for convenient storage of particular items or papers. The organizing pockets may be sized to hold Sectional Aeronautical Charts published by the Federal Aviation Administration for use by aircraft pilots. The rotatable organizing pockets are easily accessible to pilots to allow a pilot to direct more of his or her attention to piloting an aircraft and less time fumbling through files or pockets to locate maps and papers.

The invention discloses a three dimensional virtual simulation system and simulation method for shipboard aircraft pilot training injury assessment. The three dimensional virtual simulation system comprises a hardware platform, a bottom layer support model base, a data management module, a bio-mechanical simulation module, a three dimensional virtual scene view module and a post processing module. The three dimensional virtual simulation method comprises: the data management module receives the data and configuration parameters input by a user, and transmits configuration parameter management to the bio-mechanical simulation module and the three dimensional virtual scene view module; the obtained bio-mechanical simulation data is transmitted to the post processing module and the three dimensional virtual scene view module respectively; three dimensional virtual scene view simulation is carried out and the result is stored; and by means of comprehensive comparison between the three dimensional virtual scene view simulation data and the bio-mechanical simulation data, the training injury assessment result for pilots are displayed and analyzed to the user. The three dimensional virtual simulation system and simulation method for shipboard aircraft pilot training injury assessment solve the defects of nonrepeatability and high risk of a traditional experimental study, and have the advantages of being high in efficiency, having repeatability and being low in cost.

A monitoring and control device for an aircraft actuator includes a control module, delivering control signals for the actuator and position signals for the actuator determined according to control messages received from a piloting management system of the aircraft, and at least one first position sensor supplying information concerning the position of the actuator, and a monitoring module, delivering position signals for the actuator and receiving the control signals received from the piloting management system of the aircraft, and information relating to the position of the actuator supplied by at least one second position sensor. The control and monitoring modules are capable of assessing the consistency of the signals processed therein and of controlling accordingly a power supply and disabling module of the actuator.

The present invention is directed toward specially tinted lenses for use in flying airplanes. In the present invention, the far field of vision is highly tinted to reduce the light from a sunlit sky, over sunlit cloud tops, or in clouds. This enables an aircraft pilot to easily see out of the cockpit into highly illuminated environments. The intermediate field of vision is essentially clear to enable the pilot to easily see a dimly illuminated instrument panel as compared to outside the aircraft. The near field of vision may have a range of tinting from clear to up to a medium tinted value for reading maps and other material. In addition, the change in tinting is discontinuous, that is, sharp, from one field of vision to another. The present invention works because the aircraft structure, that is, the nose and instrument panel, blocks outside light from coming into the intermediate field of vision where the lens is clear.

A method for monitoring an aircraft piloting device including at least one piloting member (20, 30) and at least one fly-by-wire flight control system (40, 41). At least one monitoring module is integrated into this control system and is adapted to compute, on the basis of primary signals processed by sensors associated with at least one piloting member, at least one theoretical value of at least one monitored parameter of at least one piloting member, to compare each theoretical value with measurement signals of each monitored parameter and to select a monitoring action, particularly to generate monitoring signals (55, 56), as a function of the difference between each theoretical value and the measurement signals.

The field of the invention is that of methods for the synthesis of a 3D mapping image consisting of pixels and representing the distribution of the intervisibility area on a terrain overflown by an aircraft. An intervisibility area is understood to mean the area within range of a known potential threat. The method of the invention represents the intervisibility area in the form of the surface layer constituted by points belonging to the sphere covered by the threat, such that the distance from each point of the surface layer to the point of the terrain having the same geographical coordinates should be as small as possible. This arrangement enables the aircraft pilot to have very clear and very easily interpretable information available to him. Furthermore, the method requires limited computation resources. This facilitates its implementation in onboard mapping generators.

A helmet for an aircraft pilot is provided including an inner shell and a liner attached to the inner shell configured to closely contact the pilot's head. The helmet also comprises adjustable tensioning means disposed at the rear of the helmet configured to tension the inner helmet and liner onto the pilot's head, to secure and locate the helmet in place on the pilot's head.

A flat panel display for presenting graphical renderings of aircraft flight, operation and system status data to an aircraft pilot renders the data at various predetermined brightness levels depending on the category of data assigned to that data. Primary data appears on the screen at a full brightness level and secondary data appears on the screen at a brightness level less than the full brightness level. In this manner, a wide variety and range of aircraft flight, operation and system status data can be simultaneously conveyed to the pilot on a single display screen through selective illumination of particular classes or categories of the data on the display at predetermined brightness levels, thereby advantageously directing the pilot's attention specifically to the primary data which is presented at full brightness. In various implementations and embodiments, the brightness of the secondary data can be selectively increased manually by a pilot, as by activation of a switch or touching of a touch-sensitive display screen in the region of the secondary data of interest, or can increase when pilot-initiated changes to manually-entered data are initiated or being made, or can be increased automatically in the event detection of an abnormal or emergency condition involving the secondary data.