Patent · US Active

Advanced terrain anti-collision device

US8140264B2 · kind B2 · utility

5Cited by
25References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 8, 2004
Grant dateMar 20, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 21, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG05D1/0646
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The field of the invention is that of onboard terrain anticollision systems for aircraft. Collisions with the terrain while the aircraft is fully controlled have been and still remain one of the main causes of air disasters. Several generations of devices for warning of risk of collision with the terrain have been developed for some thirty years now. The most advanced of these systems comprise means of alarm differing according to the maneuver to be performed by the pilot. It is of course vital that the recommended maneuver best guarantee the safety of the aircraft. The device according to the invention proposes a device comprising the calculation of several different safety surfaces or profiles. Their comparisons with the topographic data of the surrounding terrain make it possible to deduce therefrom the best alarm and the best maneuver to be performed to avoid the collision between the aircraft and the ground.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.