Flight formation assistance system for aircraft
US12198556B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 11, 2022 |
| Grant date | Jan 14, 2025 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 20, 2043 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T50/10
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A formation flight assistance system is placed on board a follower aircraft to benefit from an upwards air flow induced by a wake vortex generated by a leader aircraft. The system determines a wake vortex effect experienced by the follower aircraft as being a difference between measurements taken by sensors and modelling in a wake vortex free environment. Using a recursive Bayesian filter, the system determines an estimated position of the wake vortex on the basis of information relating to the leader aircraft and a wake vortex model, and determines an estimation uncertainty, according to which a potential discomfort window is computed for the passengers of the follower aircraft. The system keeps the follower aircraft outside the potential discomfort window. Thus, the comfort of the passengers of the follower aircraft is provided, while benefiting from an upwards air flow induced by the wake vortex.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.