217 results about "Aircraft safety" patented technology

An improved system and method are disclosed for facilitating target aiming and aircraft control by flight crews using electronic displays. For example, an aircraft display system is disclosed that includes a database for storing target location and boundary data, a processing unit, a position and direction determination unit for use in determining the position of an aiming symbol on a display, a graphics display generator, and a visual display. The processing unit determines whether or not a selected target to be displayed is obscured or covered by the aiming symbol to be displayed. If any portion of the target is obscured or covered by the aiming symbol, then the processing unit directs the graphics display generator to generate graphic control signals for the visual display, which increase the transparency of the portions of the aiming symbol that obscure or cover the target. Notably, the transparency of any symbol (or portion of a symbol) can be increased if that symbol obscures or covers a target being displayed or viewed. Thus, the visibility of targets viewed using onboard visual displays is significantly enhanced, whereby the targets are obscured by the symbols used to aim and control the aircraft. Advantageously, target aiming and aircraft control are facilitated, which reduces pilot workload and navigation errors, and thus results in increased aircraft safety.

A security mechanism identifies users, so as to restrict access and operation to authorized users, such as to persons authorized to access and fly a particular aircraft. The security mechanism comprises one or more security devices to identify the user attempting to gain access or operate the controller; and one or more monitoring devices to determine whether or not the user identified is authorized to have access or operate the controller. Methods of safely operating aircraft are also described. The methods include protocols for limiting access to the aircraft and assuming remote control of the aircraft if a possibly hostile situation is detected.

The field of the invention is that of optoelectronic taxi-assistance devices for aircraft, including a head-up display providing for the presentation of information in the pilot's field of vision. The invention applies in particular to large civil aircraft of the Boeing 747 or Airbus A380 type. The object of the invention is to propose the displaying of safety-related symbologies in the head-up display, providing for substantially improving aircraft safety and maneuverability during the taxiing phase. These symbologies relate substantially to the position of the aircraft on the taxiway and to the turning and stop maneuvers to be performed by the pilot. Said symbologies are particularly useful in poor visibility conditions.

A method and system are disclosed for assessing the capability of a pilot to operate an aircraft. The system senses the value of at least one operator information parameter for assessing the fitness of the pilot operating the aircraft and at least one aircraft information parameter relating to the position and motion of the aircraft. The operator information parameters include 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 aircraft, and / or information about actions taken by the person operating the aircraft. Based on these parameters, the system determines if the pilot is capable of properly operating the aircraft and, if not, control of the aircraft is assumed by an alternate source of control which lands the aircraft safely.