Ground collision avoidance system (iGCAS)

US9633567B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventors

• Mark Skoog · Palmdale, US
• Kevin Prosser · Savannah, US
• Loyd Hook · Tulsa, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 4, 2014
• Grant date: Apr 25, 2017
• Expiry date: Nov 19, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G08G5/74
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The present invention is a system and method for aircraft ground collision avoidance (iGCAS) comprising a modular array of software, including a sense own state module configured to gather data to compute trajectory, a sense terrain module including a digital terrain map (DTM) and map manger routine to store and retrieve terrain elevations, a predict collision threat module configured to generate an elevation profile corresponding to the terrain under the trajectory computed by said sense own state module, a predict avoidance trajectory module configured to simulate avoidance maneuvers ahead of the aircraft, a determine need to avoid module configured to determine which avoidance maneuver should be used, when it should be initiated, and when it should be terminated, a notify Module configured to display each maneuver's viability to the pilot by a colored GUI, a pilot controls module configured to turn the system on and off, and an avoid module configured to define how an aircraft will perform avoidance maneuvers through 3-dimensional space.