United States Patent [19] [li] Patent Number: 4,924,401
Bice et al. [45] Date of Patent: May 8, 1990
[54] AIRCRAFT GROUND COLLISION
AVOIDANCE AND AUTORECOVERY
SYSTEMS DEVICE
[75] Inventors: Gregory W. Bice; Mark A. Skoog, both of Lancaster, Calif.; John D. Howard, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
[73] Assignee: The United States of America as
represented by the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C.
[21] Appl. No.: 120,567
[22] Filed: Oct. 30, 1987
[51] Int. C1.5 G05D 1/10
[52] U.S. CI 364/433; 364/460;
244/181; 342/29; 342/65
[58] Field of Search 364/428, 433, 434, 460,
364/461; 342/29, 65; 318/584; 340/970; 73/178 T; 244/76 R, 180, 181
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
2,630,283 3/1953 Hanson 318/584 X
2,736,878 2/1956 Boyle, Jr 364/433 X
3,011,738 12/1961 Skramstad et al 364/434 X
3,245,076 4/1966 Le Tilly et al 342/65
3.396,391 8/1968 Anderson et al 342/65
3.530,465 9/1970 Treffeisen et al 342/65
3,553,689 1/1971 Bechtel 342/65
3,706,988 12/1972 Bayle et al 342/65 X
4,058,710 11/1977 Altmann 342/65 X
4,224,669 9/1980 Brame 340/970 X
4,467,429 8/1984 Kendig 364/433
4,617,633 10/1986 McAllister 318/584 X
Primary Examiner—Eugene R. LaRoche
Assistant Examiner—Benny T. Lee
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Jacob N. Erlich; Donald J.
Singer
[57] ABSTRACT
The invention comprises an aircraft ground collision avoidance system which utilizes a flight control computer for monitoring aircraft flight states and calculating preferred aircraft flyup altitudes at which automatic aircraft flyups should be initiated. The flyup altitude is determined by calculating aircraft altitude to be lost during a recovery maneuver from a current aircraft flight state. The invention also comprises an aircraft autopilot for monitoring aircraft flight states and initiating an automatic aircraft flyup when so directed by the flight control computer. The monitored aircraft states include aircraft airspeed, angle of attack, bank angle and velocity. Sensor lag, aircraft load factor and engine throttle position, are also considered in determining when to conduct an automatic aircraft flyup.
26 Claims, 13 Drawing Sheets
