METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETERMINING THE LATERAL PATH OF A MOVING BODY, IN PARTICULAR OF AN AIRCRAFT

Abstract

Method and device for determining the lateral path of a moving body, in particular of an aircraft. The device (1) comprises means (7) for determining, from a first lateral path and a lateral distance dependent on the external visibility, a second lateral path corresponding to the lateral path of the path, in particular a flight path, which is followed by the moving body.

Description

The figures of the appended drawing will give a good understanding of how the invention can be embodied. In these figures, identical references denote similar items.

FIG. 1 is the block diagram of a device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of an example of flight used in application of a device according to the invention.

FIG. 3 shows, diagrammatically, an area on the ground visible from an aircraft.

FIG. 4 illustrates the formation of a search strip from search areas.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of a particular embodiment of means forming part of a device according to the invention.

Claims

1. A method for determining at least the lateral path of a path of a moving body (A), according to which: a first lateral path (TL1) corresponding to the lateral path of a first path (TV1), this first path (TV1) being the path followed by an auxiliary moving body (A1) which precedes said moving body (A) is generated; andfrom said first lateral path (TL1) and a lateral distance (EL), a second lateral path (TL) corresponding to the lateral path of a second path (TV) which must be followed by said moving body (A) is determined, wherein, in addition:two half-widths of strips are determined, each of which corresponds to the area on the ground which is visible by the crew of the moving body (A) and by the crew of the moving body (A1) respectively; andthe sum of said two half-widths is produced in such a way as to obtain said lateral distance (EL) which is used for determining said second lateral path (TL).

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in an additional step, the moving body (A) is guided in such a way as to make it follow said second path (TV).

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, furthermore: there is determined an area of terrain (16) which depends on said second path (TV); andthis area of terrain is displayed to the pilot of the moving body (A) on at least one display screen (15), in conjunction with a symbol illustrating the horizontal position of said moving body (A).

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein, furthermore: a beacon is detected and located; andthere is furthermore displayed, on said display screen (15) a characteristic symbol which is positioned at the place where that beacon was located.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is produced the sum of an external horizontal visibility at the position of the moving body (A) and an external horizontal visibility at the position of said first path (TV1) in order to obtain said lateral distance.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is also taken into account at least one particular feature of said first path (TV1) in order to calculate said lateral distance.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said moving body (A) is an aircraft and said first and second paths (TV, TV1) are flight paths.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the lateral distance EL is calculated using the following expression: EL=√{square root over (v12−h12)}+√{square root over (v22−h22)}

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second flight path (TV) is defined horizontally by said second lateral path (TL) and vertically by a constant altitude.

10. A device for determining at least the lateral path of a path of a moving body (A), said device (1) comprising: third means (6) for generating a first lateral path (TL1) corresponding to the lateral path of a first path (TV1), this first path (TV1) being the path followed by an auxiliary moving body (A1), which precedes said moving body (A); andfourth means (7) for determining, from said first lateral path (TL1) and from a lateral distance (EL), a second lateral path (TL) corresponding to the lateral path of a second path (TV) which must be followed by said moving body (A),

11. The device as claimed in claim 10, which furthermore comprises guidance means (10) which are formed in such away as to assist in guiding the moving body (A) along said second path (TV).

12. The device as claimed in claim 10, which furthermore comprises display means (13) making it possible to display, on at least one display screen (15), an area of terrain which depends on said second path (TV), in conjunction with a symbol illustrating the horizontal position of said moving body (A).

13. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said third means (6) comprise input means (18) making it possible for an operator to enter data making it possible to form said first path (TV1).

14. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said third means (6) comprise data receiving means (19) able to receive data making it possible to form said first path (TV1)

15. A moving body, in particular an aircraft, which comprises a device (1) able to implement the method as claimed in claim 1.

16. A moving body, in particular an aircraft, which comprises a device (1) as claimed in claim 10.