DEVICE FOR DETERMINING A MAXIMUM LATERAL SEPARATION OF A FOLLOWER CRAFT WITH RESPECT TO A LEAD CRAFT

Abstract

Device for determining a maximum lateral separation of a follower craft with respect to a lead craft.

Description

The figures of the appended drawing will elucidate the manner in which the invention may be embodied. In these figures, identical references designate similar elements.

FIG. 1 is the schematic diagram of a device in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates refinements of a device in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 3 diagrammatically shows a particular embodiment of means forming part of a device in accordance with the invention.

Claims

1. A device for determining at least one maximum lateral separation of a follower craft with respect to a lead craft, which device is mounted on said follower craft and comprises: first means (2) for devising information relating to the trajectory of said lead craft;second means (4) allowing an operator to input a duration of movement;third means (6) for determining automatically, with the aid of said information relating to said trajectory and of said duration of movement, minimum turning radii, left and right, for a craft which follows said trajectory for said duration of movement;fourth means (9) for devising performance information relating to said follower craft;fifth means (10) for determining automatically, at least with the aid of said performance information, a maximum turning radius of the follower aircraft; andsixth means (12) for deducing automatically, from said minimum turning radii and from said maximum turning radius, the maximum possible lateral separation of the follower craft with respect to the lead craft, on each side of the trajectory of the latter.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first means (2) comprise a man/machine interface means (3) allowing an operator to input into said device (1) said information relating to the trajectory of the lead craft.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first means (2) comprise a data reception element (33) which is formed in such a way as to receive said information relating to the trajectory of the lead craft.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fourth means (9) comprise a man/machine interface means (15) allowing an operator to input said performance information into said device (1).

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fourth means (9) comprise a database (16) containing said performance information.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, which moreover comprises seventh means (17) for determining variations in altitude of the follower craft, and wherein said fifth means (10) are formed in such a way as to take into account these variations in altitude to determine said maximum turning radius.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sixth means (12) are formed in such a way as to carry out a smoothing of said maximum lateral separation at the level of the switch between two directly successive durations of movement.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, which moreover comprises display means (20) making it possible to present, on at least one viewing screen (22), an indicator of value illustrating said maximum lateral separation deduced by said sixth means (12).

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, which moreover comprises a data sending element (29) which is formed in such a way as to send said maximum lateral separation deduced by said sixth means (12).

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, which moreover comprises: eighth means (23) for devising auxiliary information relating to a patrol formed of said lead craft, of said follower craft and of at least one additional follower craft; andninth means (24) for determining, with the aid of said maximum lateral separation deduced by said sixth means (12) and of said auxiliary information devised by said eighth means (23), a recommended relative position of said follower craft with respect to said lead craft.

11. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said ninth means (24) are formed in such a way as to carry out a tailoring of said recommended relative position by integrating said duration of movement.

12. The device as claimed in claim 10, which moreover comprises a guidance system (27) for guiding the follower craft, and wherein this guidance system (27) is formed in such a way as to guide said follower craft so that it is brought to and maintained at said recommended relative position.

13. An aircraft, which comprises a device (1) such as that specified under claim 1.