Method and device for calculating a path which is laterally offset with respect to a reference path

US8116970B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• THALES · FR

Inventors

• Francois Hoofd · Toulouse, FR
• Christophe Caillaud · Blagnac, FR

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 21, 2007
• Grant date: Feb 14, 2012
• Expiry date: Dec 11, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G08G5/34
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of calculating a path which is offset laterally by a first distance with respect to a reference path, comprising the calculation of a flight plan which is offset with respect to a reference flight plan. The reference flight plan is defined on the basis of waypoints and of segments defining a reference path between the waypoints. Each segment has a start point and an end point making it possible to define a course corresponding to the direction of travel by an aircraft. The laterally offset flight plan is calculated on the basis of waypoints associated with the waypoints of the reference flight plan, called associated points and being situated at the intersection. The laterally offset flight path includes lines, parallel with the segments of the reference flight plan, offset by the first distance from the reference flight plan. It is further defined by the bisectrix of the angle formed by two adjacent segments at a waypoint belonging to the reference path. The method includes detection of the segments of the offset flight plan, whose direction of travel is reversed with respect to that of the corresponding segment belonging to the reference flight p…