Embodiments described herein relate generally to vehicular display systems and, more particularly, to an avionics display system and method for rendering altitude filter boundary limits on a vertical situation display (VSD) to increase a pilot's situational awareness.
Avionics display systems deployed aboard aircraft have been extensively engineered to visually convey a considerable amount of flight information in an intuitive and readily comprehensible manner. In a conventional Traffic Collision and Avoidance (TCAS) display system, the majority of the information visually expressed on a display, such as a primary flight display, pertains to the host aircraft's flight parameters (e.g., the heading, drift, roll, and pitch of the host aircraft), nearby geographical features (e.g., mountain peaks, runways, etc.), and current weather conditions (e.g., developing storm cells). Such systems also provide and display a significant amount of data relating to neighboring aircrafts. However, if this data and associated symbology were displayed for all traffic detected, the cockpit display system might soon become cluttered with intruder (i.e. neighboring aircraft) symbols. To avoid this, pilots generally select an appropriate intruder altitude filter via the TCAS control panel so that only intruders that fall within the altitude filter limits are displayed on the cockpit display, thus decluttering the display. Still, during long and tiring flights, it is especially important for a pilot to know and be made aware of the altitude filter limits within which intruder aircraft are displayed relative to the host aircraft.
Considering the foregoing, it is desirable to provide an avionics display system and method that visually renders the selected altitude filter limits (i.e. boundaries) on a display [e.g. a vertical situation display (VSD] to enhance awareness of traffic within the selected altitude filter limits.
Other desirable features will become apparent from the following detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the appended claims.
A method is provided for increasing vertical situational awareness on a vertical situation display (VSD) of a host aircraft when the display of intruder aircraft is restricted to a specific region of the VSD that is determined by an altitude filter. The method comprises displaying a first altitude filter boundary line on the VSD.
An aircraft display system for increasing vertical situational awareness on a host aircraft when display of intruder aircraft is restricted to a specific region of a display is also provided. The system comprises a monitor, a mode selection device, and a processor coupled to the monitor and responsive to the mode selection device for generating symbology on the display graphically representing altitude filter boundary lines on the display
In addition, there is also provided a method for increasing vertical situational awareness on a vertical situation display (VSD) of a host aircraft when the display of intruder aircraft is restricted to a specific region of the VSD defined by a first predetermined altitude above the host aircraft and a second predetermined altitude below the host aircraft. The method comprises displaying a first altitude boundary line at the first predetermined altitude on the VSD and displaying a second altitude boundary line at the second predetermined altitude on the VSD.
A more complete understanding of the subject matter may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in conjunction with the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to similar elements throughout the figures, and wherein:
The following Detailed Description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding Background or the following Detailed Description.
Processor 22 may comprise, or be associated with, any suitable number of individual microprocessors, flight control computers, navigational equipment, memories, power supplies, storage devices, interface cards, and other standard components known in the art. In this respect, the processor 22 may include or cooperate with any number of software programs (e.g., avionics display programs) or instructions designed to carry out the various methods, process tasks, calculations, and control/display functions described below, for example, processor 22 may be included within a Flight Management Computer of the type commonly deployed within a Flight Management System (FMS).
Image-generating devices suitable for use as monitor 24 include various analog (e.g., cathode ray tube) and digital (e.g., liquid crystal, active matrix, plasma, etc.) display devices. In certain embodiments, monitor 24 may assume the form of a Head-Down Display (HDD) or a Head-Up Display (HUD) included within an aircraft's Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS). Monitor 24 may be disposed at various locations throughout the cockpit. For example, monitor 24 may comprise a primary flight display (PFD) and reside at a central location within the pilot's primary field-of-view. Alternatively, monitor 24 may comprise a secondary flight deck display, such as an Engine Instrument and Crew Advisory System (EICAS) display, mounted at a location for convenient observation by the aircraft crew but that generally resides outside of the pilot's primary field-of-view. In still further embodiments, monitor 24 may be worn by one or more members of the flight crew as a component of an electronic flight bag.
Processor 22 includes one or more inputs operatively coupled to one or more air traffic data sources. During operation of display system 20, the air traffic data sources continually provide processor 22 with navigational data pertaining to neighboring aircraft. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
With continued reference to
TCAS is an airborne system that detects and tracks aircraft near a host aircraft. TCAS includes a processor, antennas, a traffic display (e.g. an LMAP display, a VSD, etc.), and means for controlling the system, such as is shown in
The intruder's response to interrogation enables the TCAS system to determine the (1) range between the host aircraft and the intruder, (2) the relative bearing to the intruder, (3) the altitude and vertical speed to the intruder if the intruder is reporting altitude, and (4) the closing rate between the intruder and the host aircraft. Using this data, the system can predict the time to, and the separation at, the intruder's closest point of approach. If the system predicts that certain safe boundaries may be violated, it will issue a Traffic Advisory (TA) to alert the crew that closing traffic is nearby.
As stated previously, visual advisories, in the form of for example three symbols are displayed on one of the LMAP and a VSD displays. The specific symbol type is dependent upon the intruder's location and closing rate. The symbols change shape and color as separation between the intruder and the host aircraft decreases so as to represent increasing levels of concern.
The significance of an intruder symbol on a display may be gleaned from the shape and/or color of the symbol. For example, if an intruder is considered non-threat or other traffic, it is represented graphically as a white or cyan, unfilled diamond on the display. If the intruder aircraft is within six nautical miles and has a relative altitude of ±1,200 feet, the intruder is considered proximate traffic and is represented graphically as a solid, white or cyan filled diamond on the display. An intruder of this type is still not considered a threat and is displayed to assist the pilot in visually acquiring the intruder. A yellow-filled circle is used to display intruders that have caused traffic advisory (TA) to be issued. A TA assists the pilot to visually acquire the intruder aircraft and prepares the pilot for a potential resolution advisory (RA). An RA is displayed as a red filled square.
As referred to previously, a vertical motion arrow in the same color as the intruder symbol and pointing upward or downward is placed on the right side of the symbol to indicate if the intruder is climbing or descending at a rate greater than 500 feet per minute. In addition, the intruder's relative altitude is displayed as a decimal number in units of hundreds of feet and is placed on the right side of the intruder symbol. The color is the same as the intruder symbol. If the intruder is above the host, the altitude is displayed with a plus (+) sign. If below the host, the altitude is displayed with a minus (−) sign. No altitude readout is displayed if the relative altitude is zero. In addition, a distance decimal number representing the distance in miles between the host and the intruder may be displayed above the intruder symbol. The distance is displayed in the same color as the intruder symbol.
While an LMAP display of the type shown in
One of the major benefits of a VSD is improved safety, especially with respect to early threat recognition, effectiveness when flying steep approaches, and maintenance of a stabilized path. It provides the crew with an intuitive view of the vertical situation just as the LMAP display provides an intuitive depiction of the horizontal situation. Thus, the crew can access the vertical situation quickly, reducing overall workload. However, a pilot is typically not interested in seeing intruders at all flight levels. For example, during a descent, a pilot would be more interested in intruders below the host aircraft and less interested in those above. Similarly, during an ascent, the pilot would be more interested in intruders at a higher altitude than those at a lower altitude. During level flight, the pilot would generally be equally interested in intruders above and below the host aircraft.
Referring again to
As stated previously, there are times when it is very important for a pilot to be readily aware of the altitude filter limits within which intruders are displayed. Thus,
The selected altitude filter limit (MODE 1, MODE 2, or MODE 3)) chosen by the pilot and entered via switch 29 (
Thus, there has been provided a system and method for visually renders selected altitude filter limits (i.e. boundaries) on a display (e.g. a vertical situation display (VSD)) to enhance awareness of traffic within the selected altitude limits.
While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment of the invention, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.